ey are still quoted. These
are some of the sayings that impressed Socrates, Pericles, Aristotle and
Pliny. What the Egyptians actually taught we really do not know--it was
too gaseous to last. Only the good endures. Says Pythagoras:

Cut not into the grape. Exaltation coming from wine is not good.
You hope too much in this condition, so are afterwards depressed.
Wise men are neither cast down in defeat nor exalted by success.
Eat moderately, bathe plentifully, exercise much in the open air,
walk far, and climb the hills alone.

Above all things, learn to keep silence--hear all and speak little.
If you are defamed, answer not back. Talk convinces no one. Your
life and character proclaim you more than any argument you can put
forth. Lies return to plague those who repeat them.

The secret of power is to keep an even temper, and remember that no
one thing that can happen is of much moment. The course of justice,
industry, courage, moderation, silence, means that you shall
receive your due of every good thing. The gods may be slow, but
they never forget.

It is not for us to punish men nor avenge ourselves for slights,
wrongs and insults--wait, and you will see that Nemesis unhorses
the man intent on calumny.

A woman's ornaments should be modesty, simplicity, truth,
obedience. If a woman would hold a man captive she can only do it
by obeying him. Violent women are even more displeasing to the gods
than violent men--both are destroying themselves. Strife is always
defeat.

Debauchery, riot, splendor, luxury, are attempts to get a pleasure
out of life that is not our due, and so Nemesis provides her
penalty for the idle and gluttonous.

Fear and honor the gods. They guide our ways and watch over us in
our sleep. After the gods, a man's first thought should be of his
father and mother. Next to these his wife, then his children.

So great was this power of Pythagoras over the people that many of the
women who came, hearing his discourse on the folly of pride and
splendor, threw off their cloaks, and left them with their rings,
anklets and necklaces on the altar.

With these and other offerings Pythagoras built another temple, this
time to Apollo, and the Temple to the Muses was left open all the time
for the people.

His power over the multitude alarmed the magistrates, so they