In Ancient Greece, the “7 wise men” are considered the founders of ancient philosophy. Why in quotes? Because in reality there were more sages. There are several lists where different names appear. But the quantity is the same everywhere.
The first list that has come down to us belongs to Plato and dates back to the 4th century. BC. According to Plato, the list of “Seven Wise Men” includes: Thales of Miletus, Bias of Priene, Solon of Athens, Pittacus of Mytilene, Chilon of Sparta, Mison of Chaenean, Cleobulus of Lindia.
A later version of the list belongs to Diogenes Laertius (Laertius). No, this is not the Diogenes who lived in a barrel. Diogenes Laertius - late antique historian of philosophy. So on his list, instead of the little-known Mison, there is the name of the tyrant ruler Periander of Corinth. It is believed that Plato specifically removed Periander because of his hatred of despots and tyrants. There are other lists as well. All of them invariably contain 4 names: Thales, Biant, Solon and Pittacus. Over time, the names of the sages became overgrown with legends. This is how the ancient Greek philosopher Plutarch, in his work “The Feast of the Seven Wise Men,” described their non-existent meeting in Corinth.
The wisdom of the 7 Sages is neither mythological nor scientific. This is rather purely worldly wisdom, expressed in concise wise statements.
Let's take a closer look at the sages and their great sayings .
Thales of Miletus (640 – 546 BC)
Thales was one of the first ancient philosophers and the founder of the so-called Ionian school. He was born in the city of Miletus, located in Asia Minor, in the territory of modern Turkey, from where he received his nickname. In addition to philosophy, he achieved special knowledge in astronomy and geometry, thanks to the study of the heritage of the Egyptians and Mesopotamian scientists. It is he who is credited with dividing the calendar year into 365 days. Unfortunately, all the thoughts and sayings of Thales of Miletus came to us only through the works of later philosophers.
Cleobulus of Lindia (VI-V centuries BC)
Cleobulus of Lindia is an ancient Greek sage, famous for his riddles, songs and great sayings. He was handsome and strong. He was interested in Egyptian philosophy. Some of his sayings are carved on the Delphic Temple of Apollo.
Solon of Athens (640 – 559 BC)
Solon is a famous Athenian philosopher, poet and legislator. According to legend, he came from the royal family of the Codrids, but despite this, his parents were people of little income. Then Solon was able to get rich, and then became the most influential political figure in Athens. It is he who is considered the creator of democratic laws, which lasted almost unchanged in this city for several centuries. Towards the end of his life he voluntarily stepped down from power. Solon was also highly valued by his contemporaries as a poet and thinker. When asked by the Lydian king Croesus whether Solon knew anyone happier than him, the Athenian philosopher replied that this can only be judged after the death of a person.
Chilo Spartan (VI century BC)
Chilo of Sparta is an ancient Greek poet and politician. He was a member of the government board in Sparta. Some researchers believe that many of the norms of the living structure of Sparta belong to Chilon. Although he was not distinguished by his verbosity, the speeches he made aroused respect and honor. They say that in his old age Chilo admitted that he had not committed a single illegal act. Only once did he ask his comrade to justify a friend who had been convicted by law.
Biant of Priene (590 – 530 BC)
Biant is probably a more mysterious figure than the rest of the sages of Ancient Greece. Very little is known about his life. He was a judge in the city of Priene, where he became famous for his wise decisions, and once even saved his hometown from the Lydian king Alliatus. But when his homeland was conquered by the Persian ruler Cyrus, Biant had to leave the settlement without taking anything with him.
Pittacus of Mytilene (651 – 569 BC)
Pittacus was a famous sage, commander and ruler of the Asia Minor city of Mytilene.
He earned the fame of a tyrant fighter by liberating his hometown from the despotism of Melanchr. Also known as an outstanding legislator. His saying that even the gods do not argue with inevitability was very highly valued, like other aphorisms of the sages of Ancient Greece. Voluntarily relinquished power. All of the above thinkers and philosophers were included in the list of the 7 sages of Ancient Greece in absolutely all editions. Those who will be discussed below were included in Plato’s version of the list of the greatest people of Hellas and some other compilers. But still, they are not found in all lists that include seven sages from Ancient Greece.
Mison of Heney (VII-VI centuries BC)
Mison of Heney is an ancient Greek sage who lived a quiet, modest life in his village. The philosopher Aristoxenus believes that Mison remained unknown precisely because he was not from the city. Mison Heneysky died at the age of 97. His name in Plato's list speaks of the wisdom of his sayings.
The most famous saying of the sage Mison of Heney.
List of Diogenes Laertius
In addition to Plato's list, the most famous list includes the seven sages of Ancient Greece, the outstanding historian of philosophy Diogenes Laertius, who presumably lived at the end of the 2nd - beginning of the 3rd century. AD The only difference between this list and the previous one is that instead of Mison, the Corinthian tyrant Periander is included in it. Some scholars consider this list to be the original one, despite the fact that Diogenes lived much later than Plato. This paradox is explained by the fact that the latter, due to his rejection of tyranny, could exclude Periander from the list and include the lesser-known Mison. Diogenes used a more ancient source in his work.
The names of all other sages in both lists are exactly the same.
Idioms
The true calling of everyone consists of only one thing - to come to oneself, to find one’s own, and not a loved one’s, destiny and to surrender to it internally, completely and unshakably.
Hermann Hesse
“And yet death remains forever and ever the only predetermined event for each of us.”
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“What would we do if we built the world, brought into being a great being and saw that here something has failed, there is only half in order, and here both are out of place? Now they would intervene, tear it out, destroy it, right?
We would not notice the value contained even in the imperfect, the spark of true light in the failed, we would forget how important it is.”
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"Only one step between me and death"
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“What is the longest word? Eternity. The shortest now. It doesn't even last a second. Think that now this is the time during which we must prepare for eternity.”
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“One should be extremely humble and have nothing to defend, not even one’s own personality. One's own personality must be protected, but not defended.
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“If you ignore the enemy and yourself, then you are a complete fool and will definitely be defeated in every battle. If you know yourself but don't know the enemy, for every battle you win you will lose the next. If you know the enemy and know yourself, you will win every battle.”
Sun Tzu
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“Failure is simply an opportunity to start again, but more wisely.”
Henry Ford
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“If a problem can be solved, there is no need to worry about it. If a problem cannot be solved, there is no point in worrying about it.”
Dalai Lama
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“Even if you are very talented and put in a lot of effort, some results just take time: you won’t get a baby in a month even if you get nine women pregnant.”
Warren Buffett
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“Our big flaw is that we give up too quickly. The surest path to success is to always try again.”
Thomas Edison
“The most outstanding talents are ruined by idleness.”
Montaigne
“A smart person loves to learn, a fool loves to teach.”
Bulat Okudzhava
“The best that we are capable of manifests itself in us when we are backed against the wall, when we feel the sword raised above our heads! Personally, I wouldn’t want it any other way!”
Carlos Castaneda
“Do not be timid before the enemy: man’s fiercest enemy is himself.”
Kozma Prutkov
“Only he is worthy of life and freedom who goes to battle for them every day...”
I.V. Goethe
“Truth is not transmitted, truth is perceived.”
“The happiest people don’t have the best of everything. But they make the best of what they have.”
“If you are upset about something, then you are living in the past; if you are worried about something, you are living in the future; if you are experiencing bliss and lightness, you are living in the present.”
Where are you now?
“We don’t see everything as it is - we see everything as we are.”
“No matter what the rake teaches, the heart believes in miracles”
“Most people are only as happy as they decide to be.”
Lincoln
“Sometimes it’s good to be silent so that you can be heard. And disappear to be noticed"
Keep busy. This is the cheapest medicine on earth - and one of the most effective."
“Real men have a happy woman, others have a strong woman”
“If you managed to kick the ass of the person responsible for most of your troubles, you would not be able to sit for a week.”
“The downside of loneliness is that after a while you start to enjoy it, and you simply don’t let anyone into your life.”
“Courage is not in the strength of the hand or the art of wielding a sword, courage is in self-control.”
“Each of us has only one true calling - to find the path to ourselves.”
Hermann Hoesse
“There are no unattainable goals, there is a high coefficient of laziness, a lack of ingenuity and a stock of excuses.”
“You shouldn’t waste time on a person who doesn’t want to spend it on himself.”
Gabriel Marquez
“Where there are few words, they have weight”
Shakespeare
“There is a Sun in every person, just let it shine”
“Follow your desire and it will follow you. The universe will open doors for you where there used to be walls.”
Joseph Cambale
“The less a person needs, the closer he is to the gods”
Socrates
“Take care of those who love you: they usually come suddenly and leave quietly”
“Don’t lose the worthy... for the sake of the affordable”
“Life begins where your comfort zone ends”
Napoleon Hill
“It doesn’t matter how slow you go as long as you don’t stop.”
Confucius
“Any goal will be achieved by the one whose deeds, thoughts and words are united!”
“When we lose our sense of self-importance, we become invulnerable.”
“Everyone knows from childhood that such and such is impossible. But there is always an ignoramus who does not know this. He makes discoveries."
Einstein
“Life is not a property to be protected, but a gift to be shared with other people.”
William Faulkner
“Dreams are reality waiting to happen”
“The temptation to give up is especially strong shortly before victory.”
“The greatest pleasure is to do what others think you cannot do.”
“There are no hopeless situations, unnecessary people, random meetings and wasted time.”
“Ancient Wisdom is learned not in order to dominate and command over someone, and not in order to be proud of other Clans. Ancient Wisdom has always been learned in order to understand one’s Life Path, and in order to pass it on to Descendants.”
“When you wake up in the morning, ask yourself: “What should I do?” In the evening, before falling asleep: “What have I done?”
Pythagoras
“If a problem can be solved, there is no need to worry about it. If a problem cannot be solved, there is no point in worrying about it.”
Dalai Lama
“Once in a lifetime, fortune knocks on every person’s door, but at that time a person often sits in the nearest pub and does not hear any knock.”
Mark Twain
“Our big flaw is that we give up too quickly. The surest path to success is to always try again.”
Thomas Edison
“The poor, unsuccessful, unhappy and unhealthy is the one who often uses the word “tomorrow.”
Robert Kiyosaki
“Old people always advise young people to save money. This is bad advice. Don't save nickels. Invest in yourself. I never saved a dollar in my life until I was forty.”
Henry Ford
“Hard work is the accumulation of easy things you didn’t do when you should have done them.”
John Maxwell
"I used to say, 'I hope things change.' Then I realized that the only way for everything to change was for me to change.”
Jim Rohn
“Do today what others do not want, tomorrow you will live as others cannot.”
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Methuselah lived 969 years. You, dear boys and girls, will see more in the next ten years than Methuselah saw in his entire life.
Mark Twain
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If you hate, it means you've been defeated
Confucius
Life itself is a blank canvas, and it will become the way you paint it. You can paint suffering, or you can paint bliss. In this freedom is your greatness.
“Bliss is not something that can be achieved. It already exists—you are born with it.”
“There are things that can only appear because of you, and there are things that can only appear when you are not there. There are things that can only be done in deep non-action: birth, death, love, meditation. Everything that is beautiful just happens to you - remember that. Remember this firmly. You can't do it yourself."
OSHO
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Success and fame do not change people - it only reveals what is inherent in them.
Periander of Corinth (667 – 585 BC)
Periander, the ruler of Corinth, is probably the most controversial figure of all the 7 wise men of Ancient Greece. On the one hand, he was distinguished by an amazing mind, was a great inventor and builder, who modernized the portage across the isthmus that separated the Peloponnesian Peninsula from the mainland, and then began to build a canal through it. In addition, Periander patronized the arts and also significantly strengthened the army, which allowed Corinth to rise as never before. But on the other hand, historians characterize him as a typical cruel tyrant, especially in the second half of his reign.
According to legend, Periander died because he could not bear the death of his son, to which he himself doomed him.
Great quotes from Omar Khayyam that will surprise you with their wisdom and depth
The biography of Omar Khayyam is full of secrets and mysteries, and his image is covered in legends. In the Ancient East he was revered as a scientist. To us, he is better known as a poet, philosopher, keeper of wisdom - aphorisms full of humor and slyness. Omar Khayyam is a humanist, for him the spiritual world of a person is above all. He appreciates the joy of life and enjoyment from every minute. And his style of presentation made it possible to express what could not be said out loud in open text.
A plucked flower must be given as a gift, a poem that has been started must be completed, and the woman you love must be happy, otherwise there would be no point in undertaking something that is beyond your strength.
You can seduce a man who has a wife, you can seduce a man who has a mistress, but you cannot seduce a man who has a beloved woman!
Those who lose heart die before their time.
Don't be afraid to lose those who weren't afraid to lose you. The brighter the bridges behind you burn, the brighter the road ahead...
In this unfaithful world, don’t be a fool: Don’t you dare rely on those around you. Look with a steady eye at your closest friend - A friend may turn out to be your worst enemy.
Be easier on people. If you want to be wiser, don’t hurt with your wisdom.
A true friend is a person who will tell you everything he thinks about you and tell everyone that you are a wonderful person.
You must be good with both friend and enemy! He who is good by nature will not find malice in him. If you offend a friend, you will make an enemy; if you hug an enemy, you will gain a friend.
I think it’s better to be lonely than to give the heat of the soul to “someone” A priceless gift given to just anyone When you meet your loved one, you won’t be able to love.
Have smaller friends, don't expand their circle. Rather, better than close ones, a friend living far away. Take a calm look at everyone who is sitting around. In whom you saw support, you will suddenly see your enemy.
We change rivers, countries, cities. Other doors. New Years. But we can’t escape ourselves anywhere, and if we escape, we can only go nowhere.
You got out of rags to riches, but quickly becoming a prince... Don’t forget, so as not to jinx it..., princes are not eternal - dirt is eternal.
I have never been repulsed by a person’s poverty; it’s another matter if his soul and thoughts are poor.
Good does not put on the mask of evil, but often evil, under the mask of good, does its crazy things.
A pensive soul tends towards loneliness.
When you leave for five minutes, do not forget to leave warmth in your palms. In the palms of those who are waiting for you, In the palms of those who remember you...
He who has been beaten by life will achieve more; he who has eaten a pound of salt values honey more highly. He who shed tears laughs sincerely, He who died knows that he lives.
Love can do without reciprocity, but friendship never can.
Only the essence, how worthy of men, speak, Only answering the words, master, speak. There are two ears, but one tongue is not given by chance - Listen twice and speak only once!
Be happy in this moment. This moment is your life.
Don’t trust someone who speaks beautifully, there is always a game in his words. Trust the one who silently does beautiful things.
What is the use of interpreting for someone who is clueless!
Don’t forget that you are not alone: in the most difficult moments, God is next to you.
There will be no forgiveness for anyone who has not sinned.
You are a mine, since you go in search of a ruby, You are loved, since you live in the hope of a date. Delve into the essence of these words - both simple and wise: Everything you are looking for, you will certainly find in yourself!
Passion cannot be friends with deep love; if it can, then they will not be together for long.
Don’t look at whether someone is superior in intelligence to everyone else, but look at whether he is true to his word. If he doesn’t throw his words to the wind, there is no price for him, as you yourself understand.
Like the wind in the steppe, like water in a river, The day has passed - and will never come back. Let us live, oh my friend, in the present! Regretting the past is not worth the effort.
When people gossip about you, it means that you are angry not only about yourself, but also about others. They fill themselves with you.
I would compare the world to a chessboard - sometimes it’s day, sometimes it’s night, and you and I are the pawns. They move you quietly and beat you up and put you in a dark box to rest!
The ocean, made of drops, is large. The continent is made up of dust particles. Your coming and going doesn't matter. Just a fly flew into the window for a moment...
We will leave without a trace - no names, no signs. This world will last for thousands of years. We weren’t here before, and we won’t be here after. There is no harm or benefit from this.
Do not frown because of the blows of fate, He who is discouraged dies before his time. Neither you nor I have control over fate. It is wiser to come to terms with it. More use!
You should never explain anything to anyone. The one who does not want to listen will not hear or believe, but the one who believes and understands does not need explanations.
There is no point in locking the door in front of the future, There is no point in choosing between evil and good. The sky is throwing dice blindly - Everything that falls out, you must have time to lose!
Don't punish yourself for what didn't come. Don't curse yourself because of what has passed away. Get rid of the vile life - and don’t scold yourself. Until the sword raises doom - live, take care of yourself.
Life is ashamed of those who sit and mourn, who do not remember joys, who do not forgive insults...
Happiness is given to the brave, it does not like the quiet ones, You go into the water and into the fire for happiness. Before God, both the rebel and the submissive are equal, Don’t yawn - don’t waste your happiness.
The time of quiet love is more of a concern... To catch it in the eyes, to understand it at a glance. After all, love, oddly enough, is a big job if you value it and don’t want to lose it.
Appreciate even the bitter days of life, because they too are gone forever.
Nobility and meanness, courage and fear - everything is inherent in our bodies from birth. Until death we will become neither better nor worse; we are the way Allah created us.
It is known that everything in the world is just vanity of vanities: Be cheerful, don’t worry, this is the light. What happened is past, what will happen is unknown, - So don’t worry about what doesn’t exist today.
Noble people, loving each other, See the grief of others, forget themselves. If you desire honor and the shine of mirrors, do not envy others, and they will love you.
I wish I could mold my life out of the smartest things I could do. I didn’t think of it there, I couldn’t do it here at all. But Time is our efficient teacher! As soon as you give me a slap on the head, you have become a little wiser.
Don't say the man is a womanizer! If he were monogamous, then your turn would not have come.
We come sinless - and we sin, We come cheerful - and we grieve. We burn our hearts with bitter tears and descend into dust, scattering life like smoke.
Don’t share your secret with people, Because you don’t know which of them is mean. As you yourself act with God’s creation, expect the same from people.
Love in the beginning is always tender. In my memories - always affectionate. And if you love, it’s pain! we torment and torment each other
I came to the sage and asked him: “What is love?” He said, "Nothing." But, I know, many books have been written. “Eternity” - some write, while others say “moment”. Either it will scorch with fire, or it will melt like snow, What is love? - “It’s all a person!” And then I looked him straight in the face: “How can I understand you? Nothing or everything? He said, smiling: “You yourself gave the answer!” - “Nothing or everything! There is no middle ground here!
How I want to say good words... Let the snow fall, and with it renewal. What a beautiful and kind life! Appreciate all these sweet moments! After all, our life is made up of moments like these. And if we believe in such a miracle... The soul sings, and the heart rushes upward... And the evil blizzard is not afraid of us! Envy and lies do not exist. But only peace, warmth and inspiration. We are on earth for happiness and love! So let this moment of glow last!
Can only be shown to sighted people. Sing the song - only to those who hear. Give yourself to someone who will be grateful, who understands, loves and appreciates.
Never go back. There is no point in going back anymore. Even if there are the same eyes in which thoughts were drowning. Even if you are drawn to where everything was so nice, don’t ever go there, forget forever what happened. The same people live in the past that they always promised to love. If you remember this, forget it, don’t ever go there. Don't trust them, they are strangers. After all, they once left you. They killed faith in their souls, in love, in people and in themselves. Just live what you live and even though life looks like hell, look only forward, never go back.
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Other lists
In the lists of other authors, only the names of Thales, Solon, Biant and Pittacus remain unchanged. The personalities of the remaining sages may vary and differ significantly from the two classical versions.
Akusilaus (VI century BC) - Hellenic historian who lived before Herodotus. Dorian by origin. Tradition ascribes to him the first historical work written in prose.
Anaxagoras (500 - 428 BC) - philosopher and famous mathematician from Asia Minor. He also practiced astronomy. Tried to explain the structure of the Universe.
Anacharsis (605 - 545 BC) - Scythian sage. He was personally acquainted with Solon and the Lydian king Croesus. He is credited with the invention of the anchor, sail and potter's wheel. In addition, Anacharsis is known for his valuable sayings. He was killed by the Scythians for adopting Hellenic customs. The reality of its existence is questioned by many scientists.
Pythagoras (570 – 490 BC) is a famous ancient Greek philosopher and geometer. It is to him that the famous theorem on the equality of angles in a right triangle is attributed. In addition, he is the founder of a philosophical school that later adopted the name Pythagoreanism. He died of his own death in old age.
In addition, among those who were recorded as the sages of Ancient Greece, one can name the names of Forecydes, Aristodemus, Linus, Ephorus, Lasas, Epimenides, Leophanthus, Pamphilus, Epicharmus, Peisistratus and Orpheus.
“[Brahmana Vidura, respected by all, said:] He who sets the goal of life as self-knowledge, abstinence and steadfastness in righteous deeds is considered wise. Indulging in actions worthy of praise and abstaining from actions worthy of blame, having faith and respect for others - these are the distinguishing characteristics of a wise person. The one whom neither anger, nor joy, nor pride, nor modesty, nor torpor, nor vanity deviates from those high goals of life is considered wise. One whose intentions are unknown to enemies and whose actions are known only when they are already executed is called wise. He whose intended work is not hindered by cold, heat, fear, affection, wealth, poverty, or adversity is considered wise. One is also considered wise who, following the dharma, prefers useful things to pleasures and does not succumb to worldly desires. He who devotes all his strength to a good cause and acts with the best intentions, without neglecting small things, is called wise […]
One who listens with attention and is receptive in understanding what he hears, who confidently strives for his goal and does not waste energy on other people's affairs unless asked to do so, is called wise. He who does not try to achieve the unattainable, who does not grieve for what is lost and does not grieve in times of trouble, is endowed with wisdom. He who begins a task and carries it through to the end, who never wastes time and keeps his feelings in check, is invariably considered wise. The wise always act only for the benefit of others and never ridicule noble deeds [...] He who does not rejoice at the honors given to him and does not grieve at the neglect of others, who remains unperturbed, like the lake in the Ganges, is called wise.
He is wise who knows the true nature of living beings, who sees the consequences of any action and knows what means people resort to to achieve their goals. He who speaks intelligently and convincingly, who can talk on any topic and prove what is said with words from the sacred scriptures, who is gifted with a brilliant mind and is able to clearly explain what is written in books, is considered wise. One who uses reason in learning and follows the instructions of the scriptures, who always honors people worthy of respect, he is recognized as wise.
[…] whoever, having achieved great wealth and greatness or acquired extensive knowledge, does not behave arrogantly, is called wise.” (M-b., 5.16). 203/4*223-225.
“[Brahman Vidura said:] He is wise who does not neglect even a weak enemy, who uses reason in dealing with enemies, who does not desire enmity with the stronger and who shows courage at the right time. He who, finding himself in adversity, never grieves, but acts with maximum effort and patiently endures the hardships of fate, is undoubtedly an outstanding person, and all his enemies are defeated. He is always happy who does not live in a foreign land, far from home, who does not make friends with the wicked, who does not dishonor other people’s wives, who does not indulge in arrogance, does not steal, does not slander and does not indulge in drunkenness. He is wise who never strives for wealth, voluptuousness and fame, who speaks only the truth, who does not quarrel with friends and never gets angry, even if he is neglected.
He who bears no malice towards anyone, who is kind to everyone, who, being weak, does not challenge others, who does not speak arrogantly and forgives insults, is praised everywhere. A person who never assumes an arrogant appearance, never blames others while praising himself, and never speaks harsh words to others is loved by everyone. Whoever does not incite forgotten enmity, who does not behave with defiant pride and does not flaunt his humility, who, even when in trouble, is not inclined to vicious activities, virtuous people consider him a person of impeccable behavior. One who does not rejoice in happiness and does not rejoice in the misfortune of others, who does not express regret after distributing gifts, is considered a person of worthy behavior and high character. He who strives to learn the customs and morals of different countries, the languages of different peoples, as well as the laws of the four varnas, and who sees things high and low, gains power even over happy people.
A person who has purified his mind, rejects pride, malice, madness, envy, sin, hostility towards the king and enmity with others, and also never enters into disputes with those who are prone to drunkenness, madness and sin, is the best of people.
Whoever is always pure, controls his senses, worships the demigods, performs religious rites and performs his prescribed duty, the gods themselves bestow prosperity upon him.
The actions of an educated person are determined by the fact that he marries a girl of the same caste as him, but not a lower one, makes friends, communicates and converses with his equals and puts people ahead of him who are more outstanding in their merits. He who eats moderately, having first divided the food among his subordinates, who sleeps little after hard work, who is ready to give gifts even to his enemies, is self-controlled and will never get into trouble.
The one whose words do not diverge from deeds, whose plans are not upset by malicious people, because they are always kept secret, invariably achieves success in any business. He who does not harm any creature, who is truthful and meek, generous and pure in his thoughts, is like a precious stone among godly men. He who feels shame before himself, although his misdeeds are known to no one except him, enjoys the respect of people. Endowed with limitless power, with a pure heart and centered within himself, he is compared to the shining sun.” (M-b., 5.16). 203/4*229-231.
Listing principles
It can be concluded that the Hellenes included representatives of a wide variety of activities in the list of the wisest people, but most often they were philosophers. Although, in fact, they could combine this subject with another important activity - the study of mathematics, astronomy, natural science, and government. However, almost all sciences of that time were inextricably linked with philosophy.
These lists could vary significantly and differ from the two so-called classic versions. In many ways, the specific names included in them depended on the place of residence and political views of the compiler. Thus, Plato, apparently, precisely for these reasons excluded the Corinthian tyrant Periander from the number of great sages.
The lists of great thinkers did not always include only Greeks. Representatives of other peoples were sometimes included there, such as the Hellenized Scythian Anacharsis.
The importance of the topic today
Certainly, the attempt of the Greeks to select from their number the most outstanding representatives and systematize them is one of the first of its kind in the ancient world. By studying this list, we can judge which personal qualities were considered the most significant in the ancient world and were associated with wisdom. It is important to familiarize yourself with these ideas of the Hellenes in order to be able to look through the eyes of a modern person at the evolution of this concept over many centuries.
In Russia, a separate topic is dedicated to the study of this aspect in the school course - “The Sages of Ancient Greece.” 5th grade is the optimal learning period for understanding such fundamental issues.
