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The Golden Verses of Pythagoras: And Other Pythagorean Fragments: [1904]
About Book:
This little collection of sayings, attributed to the Greek philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras and his followers, embody what we know about his teachings today. Besides exhortations to live a moral, simple and contemplative life, these pithy aphorisms allow a glimpse of a bit of the Pythagorean schools' deeper knowledge.
About Author:
Pythagoras of Samos (Ancient Greek: Πυθαγόρας ὁ Σάμιος [Πυθαγόρης in Ionian Greek] Pythagóras ho Sámios "Pythagoras the Samian", or simply Πυθαγόρας; b. about 570 – d. about 495 BC[1][2]) was an Ionian Greek philosopher, mathematician, and founder of the religious movement called Pythagoreanism. Most of the information about Pythagoras was written down centuries after he lived, so very little reliable information is known about him. He was born on the island of Samos, and might have travelled widely in his youth, visiting Egypt and other places seeking knowledge. Around 530 BC, he moved to Croton, a Greek colony in southern Italy, and there set up a religious sect. His followers pursued the religious rites and practices developed by Pythagoras, and studied his philosophical theories. The society took an active role in the politics of Croton, but this eventually led to their downfall. The Pythagorean meeting-places were burned, and Pythagoras was forced to flee the city. He is said to have ended his days in Metapontum.
This little collection of sayings, attributed to the Greek philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras and his followers, embody what we know about his teachings today. Besides exhortations to live a moral, simple and contemplative life, these pithy aphorisms allow a glimpse of a bit of the Pythagorean schools' deeper knowledge.
About Author:
Pythagoras of Samos (Ancient Greek: Πυθαγόρας ὁ Σάμιος [Πυθαγόρης in Ionian Greek] Pythagóras ho Sámios "Pythagoras the Samian", or simply Πυθαγόρας; b. about 570 – d. about 495 BC[1][2]) was an Ionian Greek philosopher, mathematician, and founder of the religious movement called Pythagoreanism. Most of the information about Pythagoras was written down centuries after he lived, so very little reliable information is known about him. He was born on the island of Samos, and might have travelled widely in his youth, visiting Egypt and other places seeking knowledge. Around 530 BC, he moved to Croton, a Greek colony in southern Italy, and there set up a religious sect. His followers pursued the religious rites and practices developed by Pythagoras, and studied his philosophical theories. The society took an active role in the politics of Croton, but this eventually led to their downfall. The Pythagorean meeting-places were burned, and Pythagoras was forced to flee the city. He is said to have ended his days in Metapontum.
106 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 496
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About the author
Hierocles of Alexandria
12 books3 followersHierocles of Alexandria (Greek: Ἱεροκλῆς) was a Greek Neoplatonist writer who was active around AD 430
For more information, see also Hierocles.
For more information, see also Hierocles.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 7, 2023
I'd not heard of these 71 verses until a trip to Greece where I saw this book. I'm not sure these basic aphorisms for living a good life can be attributed to Pythagoras as we're constantly told he never wrote anything down - a bit like Socrates - but then we're asked to believe in the veracity of these verses dating from the 5th Century AD, almost 1000 years after Pythagoras's death.
If you follow the principles outlined, you won't go far wrong, although there are elements of Stoicism and Buddhism in the words.
If you follow the principles outlined, you won't go far wrong, although there are elements of Stoicism and Buddhism in the words.
May 6, 2017
I think it's a great work.
Some of the parts of the sections from other pythagoreans are quite patchy and a tad too religious. The Golden verses are pretty great, it's kind of a how to guide for living a good and wise life. You'll find some are similar to common sayings or christian preachings, they are probably things that people have been repeating to each other since language began.
The best part for me is the symbols of pythagoras which are cryptic sayings that are alternately baffling, mad as a box of frogs, truly thought provoking and maybe even genuinely useful. For example -
cut not fire with a sword
departing from your house turn not back for the furies will be your attendants
walk in unfrequented paths
eat not beans
Sacrifice and adore unshod
Each saying has an explanation after it, which is usually quite wordy but tends to throw light onto even the most bizarre instruction these are by Iamblichus, though this edition doesn't really make this clear. The main failing of this book is that it seems like something that was just grabbed when it went public domain and printed off with little care to properly format or explain what it is. A better book in this regard is the Pythagorean Sourcebook by Guthrie, which I read after this, even though it still has pretty much the same golden verses. That one is more expensive but well worth it, more symbols, some biographies, a nice essay, some various pythagorean fragments.
This one is still worth reading, if you just want the verses and the main symbols, quick and easy, but then so is just checking wikipedia.
Some of the parts of the sections from other pythagoreans are quite patchy and a tad too religious. The Golden verses are pretty great, it's kind of a how to guide for living a good and wise life. You'll find some are similar to common sayings or christian preachings, they are probably things that people have been repeating to each other since language began.
The best part for me is the symbols of pythagoras which are cryptic sayings that are alternately baffling, mad as a box of frogs, truly thought provoking and maybe even genuinely useful. For example -
cut not fire with a sword
departing from your house turn not back for the furies will be your attendants
walk in unfrequented paths
eat not beans
Sacrifice and adore unshod
Each saying has an explanation after it, which is usually quite wordy but tends to throw light onto even the most bizarre instruction these are by Iamblichus, though this edition doesn't really make this clear. The main failing of this book is that it seems like something that was just grabbed when it went public domain and printed off with little care to properly format or explain what it is. A better book in this regard is the Pythagorean Sourcebook by Guthrie, which I read after this, even though it still has pretty much the same golden verses. That one is more expensive but well worth it, more symbols, some biographies, a nice essay, some various pythagorean fragments.
This one is still worth reading, if you just want the verses and the main symbols, quick and easy, but then so is just checking wikipedia.
February 10, 2017
A masterpiece!
March 27, 2021
This book contains short aphorisms by Pythagoras and some selected disciples of his. It is interesting to see how some of these thoughts seemed to influence later philosophies like Plato's and the Stoics. Some very good aphorisms are in here.
April 25, 2015
I loved the aphorisms in this shorter book. I have to admit that I thought that the translator was reaching a bit when interpreting the "Symbols" in the last chapter.
January 21, 2025
A lot of weighty ideas to consider. Most of the verses are the height of wisdom, but a few sound like nonsense, at least today.
Many of the ideas are a portent of things to come because the bulk of the advice lined up squarely with Christianity. The only time it strays far is when it recommends that you not talk to just anybody about God because not everybody GETS it and you can't waste your wisdom on them.
Many of the ideas are a portent of things to come because the bulk of the advice lined up squarely with Christianity. The only time it strays far is when it recommends that you not talk to just anybody about God because not everybody GETS it and you can't waste your wisdom on them.
February 16, 2015
I don't have much context for this; as far as I can tell, a lot of the material arguably consists of Neoplatonic shout-outs to Pythagoras rather than truly Pythagorean writings. Anyway, it all makes for fairly compelling reading, but the Golden Verses are a real standout.
August 19, 2023
Bella introduzione alla figura di Pitagora basata su una attenta analisi delle fonti. Buoni i riferimenti ad altri testi utili per approfondire.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews