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The Golden Verses of Pythagoras · 11 of 122 · tr. Florence M. Firth

Section 6 (part 3)

A woman should not be given to loquacity; for it is a dreadful thing. 77. To be governed by a woman is the extremity of insolence and unmanliness. 78. It is the property of a divine intellect p. 27 to be always intently thinking about the beautiful. 79. He who believes that Divinity beholds all things, will not sin either secretly or openly. 80. Those who praise the unwise do them a great injury. 81. It is better to be praised by another than by oneself. 82. If you cannot reconcile to yourself the praises you receive, think that you are flattered. 83. The world is a scene; life is a transition. You came, you saw, you departed. 84. The world is a mutation: life a vain opinion.
Themes
Anthropomorphismtheology

Attributing human characteristics, emotions, or form to the divine; embodied divine imagery.

Verses 78 and 79 attribute human-like qualities such as 'intellect,' 'thinking,' and 'beholding' to the Divine.

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Body As Obstacleanthropology

The material body viewed as a prison, tomb, or source of error that hinders spiritual knowledge and return.

Verses 83 and 84 describe the world as a 'scene' and life as a 'vain opinion,' devaluing material existence.

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Inner Silencepraxis

The practice of stilling the mind and speech to open receptivity to divine knowledge or presence.

Verse 76 warns against loquacity, implying that silence or restraint in speech is a virtue.

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Living Godtheology

The divine conceived as active, present, and dynamic—not an abstract principle but a personal responsive reality.

Verse 79 depicts Divinity as an active agent that 'beholds all things,' suggesting a present and responsive reality.

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Meditationpraxis

Disciplined inward attention — sitting, focused, or open-awareness practice — as a stand-alone term that umbrellas active_contemplation, inner_silence, and dhyana-style sitting.

Verse 78 describes intently thinking about the beautiful as a disciplined intellectual activity.

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Rejection Of Hypocrisyethics

Critique of outward religious observance that lacks inner transformation; form without substance.

Verse 79 warns against secret sin and Verse 82 warns against flattery, emphasizing inner truth over outward appearance.

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Active Contemplationpraxis

A form of meditation that uses imagery, imagination, or symbolic thought rather than purely empty stillness.

[auto] Verse 78 explicitly describes the divine intellect as 'always intently thinking about the beautiful,' indicating a practice of focused contemplation.

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Self Examinationpraxis

Daily review of thought and action as spiritual practice.

[auto] Verses 79 and 82 encourage constant self-monitoring regarding sin and the authenticity of praise received.

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Related passages · 0 parallels · 1 contrast
christian_mysticism|The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme|Chapter 10 (part 13)CONTRASTS
202:2 "Jesus" means "Wisdom." Divine wisdom is love. 202:3 Woman, being on the whole more refined, more submissive and intuitional than man, is also more receptive for the germ of true spirituality. 203:1 Whether a person is of the male o…”
The passages contrast in their views on women and divinity. Passage A from the Golden Verses of Pythagoras presents a misogynistic view, while Passage B from the mystical Christian tradition elevates the feminine principle and sees it as a vehicle for divine wisdom and spirituality.