Pseudo-Phocylides

The Sententiae of Pseudo-Phocylides (Greek: Φωκυλίδου γνῶμαι, Phokylídou gnômai) are an apocryphal work of Jewish wisdom literature falsely ascribed to Phocylides, a Greek gnomic poet of the 6th century BC. Textual and linguistic evidence suggests a date of composition between 100 BC and 100 AD. Quotes ἢν σὺ κακῶς δικάσῃς, σὲ θεὸς μετέπειτα δικάσσει. If ill thou judgest, God will judge thee after. Line 11 πτωχῷ δ᾿ εὐθὺ δίδου μὴ δ᾿ αὔριον ἐλθέμεν εἴπῃς. Give to the beggar now; bid him not come to-morrow. Line 22 τὸ ξίφος ἀμφιβαλοῦ μὴ πρὸς φόνον, ἀλλ᾿ ἐς ἄμυναν. Gird on thy sword for safety, not for slaughter. Line 32 ἡ φιλοχρημοσύνη μήτηρ κακότητος ἁπάσης. The love of money is the mother of all evil. Line 42 σεμνὸς ἔρως ἀρετῆς, ὁ δὲ Κυπρίδος αἶσχος ὀφέλλει. On Love of Virtue Reverence attends, But Sensual Pleasure in our Ruin ends. Line 67 (tr. Anonymous, 1711) Πειθὼ μὲν γὰρ ὄνειαρ, Ἔρις δ᾿ ἔριν ἀντιφυτεύει. Most helpful is persuasion, but strife strife begets. Line 78 λαῷ μὴ πίστευε, πολύτροπός ἐστιν ὅμιλος·λαὸς ⟨γὰρ⟩ καὶ ὕδωρ καὶ πῦρ ἀκατάσχετα πάντα. Trust not the people; fickle is the mob,Like fire and water, uncontrollable. Line 95–96 πνεῦμα γάρ ἐστι θεοῦ χρῆσις θνητοῖσι καὶ εἰκών. The spirit is the image of God, and His vehicle of communication with men. Line 106 μέμνησ᾿ ὅτι θνητὸς ὑπάρχεις. Remember that thou art mortal. Line 109 καιρῷ λατρεύειν, μὴ δ᾿ ἀντιπνέειν ἀνέμοισιν. Be servant of the occasion; blow not 'gainst the winds. Line 121 ὅπλον τοι λόγος ἀνδρὶ τομώτερόν ἐστι σιδήρου. The tongue's a sharper weapon than the sword. Line 124 ἀμφότεροι κλῶπες, καὶ ὁ δεξάμενος καὶ ὁ κλέψας. Thieves are they both, who steals and who receives. Line 136 ἀρχόμενον τὸ κακὸν κόπτειν ἕλκος τ᾿ ἀκέσασθαι. When first the canker shows use steel, and staunch the wound. Line 143 μὴ κακὸν εὖ ἔρξῃς· σπείρειν ἴσον ἔστ᾿ ἐνὶ πόντῳ. Seek not the bad to benefit; 'tis sowing seed in the ocean. Line 152 αἰδεῖσθαι πολιοκροτάφους, εἴκειιν δὲ γέρουσινἕδρης καὶ γεράων πάντων. Aye reverence grey hairs, and to the agedYield up your seat, and every mark of honour. Lines 220–221 References Text Young, Thomas. Theognis, Ps.-Pythogoras, Ps.-Phocylides, Chares, Anonymi aulodia, fragmentum teliambicum. Stuttgart-Leipzig: B. G. Teubner, 21971. Translations Harbottle, Thomas Benfield. Dictionary of Quotations (Classical). London: Swan Sonnenschein, 1897. Internet Archive External links Category:Ancient Greek texts Category:Jewish texts