The Golden Verses of Pythagoras · 4 of 122 · tr. Florence M. Firth
Section 4 (part 1)
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1 THE GOLDEN VERSES OF PYTHAGORAS 1.
First worship the Immortal Gods, as they are established and ordained by the Law.
2.
Reverence the Oath, and next the Heroes, full of goodness and light.
3.
Honour likewise the Terrestrial Dæmons by rendering them the worship lawfully due to them.
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2 4.
Honour likewise thy parents, and those most nearly related to thee.
5.
Of all the rest of mankind, make him thy friend who distinguishes himself by his virtue.
6.
Always give ear to his mild exhortations, and take example from his virtuous and useful actions.
7.
Avoid as much as possible hating thy friend for a slight fault.
8.
[And understand that] power is a near neighbour to necessity.
9.
Know that all these things are as I have told thee; and accustom thyself to overcome and vanquish these passions:-- 10.
First gluttony, sloth, sensuality, and anger.
11.
Do nothing evil, neither in the presence of others, nor privately; 12.
But above all things respect thyself.
13.
In the next place, observe justice in thy actions and in thy words.
14.
And accustom not thyself to behave thyself in any thing without rule, and without reason.
15.
But always make this reflection, that it is ordained by destiny that all men shall die.
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3 16.
And that the goods of fortune are uncertain; and that as they may be acquired, so may they likewise be lost.
17.
Concerning all the calamities that men suffer by divine fortune, 18.
Support with patience thy lot, be it what it may, and never repine at it.
19.
But endeavour what thou canst to remedy it.
20.
And consider that fate does not send the greatest portion of these misfortunes to good men.
21.
There are among men many sorts of reasonings, good and bad; 22.
Admire them not too easily, nor reject them.
23.
But if falsehoods be advanced, hear them with mildness, and arm thyself with patience.
24.
Observe well, on every occasion, what I am going to tell thee:-- 25.
Let no man either by his words, or by his deeds, ever seduce thee.
26.
Nor entice thee to say or to do what is not profitable for thyself.
27.
Consult and deliberate before thou act, that thou mayest not commit foolish actions.
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4 28.
For it is the part of a miserable man to speak and to act without reflection.
29.
But do that which will not afflict thee afterwards, nor oblige thee to repentance.
30.
Never do anything which thou dost not understand.
31.
But learn all thou ought'st to know, and by that means thou wilt lead a very pleasant life.
32.
in no wise neglect the health of thy body; 33.
But give it drink and meat in due measure, and also the exercise of which it has need.
34.
Now by measure I mean what will not incommode thee.
35.
Accustom thyself to a way of living that is neat and decent without luxury.
36.
Avoid all things that will occasion envy.
37.
And be not prodigal out of season, like one who knows not what is decent and honourable.
38.
Neither be covetous nor niggardly; a due measure is excellent in these things.
39.
Do only the things that cannot hurt thee, and deliberate before thou dost them.
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5 40.
Never suffer sleep to close thy eyelids, after thy going to bed, 41.
Till thou hast examined by thy reason all thy actions of the day.
42.
Themes
◆Active Contemplationpraxis
A form of meditation that uses imagery, imagination, or symbolic thought rather than purely empty stillness.
The text advises to 'make this reflection' and 'deliberate before thou act', indicating a practice of mental engagement.
Pronoia — the doctrine that the divine actively orders the unfolding of the cosmos and human affairs toward intelligible ends, against pure chance or blind necessity.
References to 'destiny' and 'divine fortune' ordering human life and calamities indicate a belief in divine governance.
A chain of divine beings or principles flowing downward from a single transcendent source (the One or the Father), each level less perfect than the one above.
A hierarchy of divine beings is presented for worship: Immortal Gods, Heroes, and Terrestrial Dæmons.
Disciplined inward attention — sitting, focused, or open-awareness practice — as a stand-alone term that umbrellas active_contemplation, inner_silence, and dhyana-style sitting.
Instructions to 'make this reflection' and 'deliberate' constitute a disciplined inward attention to thought and action.
Iamblichean ritual practice that engages the gods directly through consecrated material symbols and actions, on the premise that divine power descends into properly prepared matter — distinct from philosophical contemplation alone.
Rendering 'worship lawfully due' to Dæmons and Gods implies ritual actions intended to engage divine powers.
The material body viewed as a prison, tomb, or source of error that hinders spiritual knowledge and return.
[auto] The passage instructs the reader to overcome passions such as gluttony and sensuality, which are associated with bodily desires hindering virtue.