tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454629732437271562.post1012778070126685273..comments2023-11-03T09:23:15.000-04:00Comments on Glaux's Nest: Thoughts on a MaximNataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04771272894499874372noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454629732437271562.post-4435438508003541502010-12-26T01:34:09.239-05:002010-12-26T01:34:09.239-05:00Okay, I've been looking into the matter quite ...Okay, I've been looking into the matter quite closely, and here's what I've learned. <br /><br />The maxim <i>gnôthi seauton</i>, "know thyself", is far too widely attested as a Delphic maxim by ancient authorities to be dismissed. (For a start, try <i>"Know Thyself" in Greek and Latin Literature</i> by Eliza Gregory Wilkins, which is available in Google Books; but the documentation has grown since Wilkins' day--the saying is attested in its traditional context, for example, at the gymnasium of the ephebes at Thera, 4th c. BCE (IG XII 3.1020 4).)<br /><br />The maxim <i>seauton isthi</i>, "be thyself", by contrast, occurs in just one place, the list in Stobaeus of the sayings of the seven sages as reported by Sosiades [or 'Sosiados'] (3.1.173). Stobaeus himself, however, includes <i>gnôthi seauton</i> among the sayings of the sages as reported by Demetrius Phalerus (3.1.172), who specifically attributes <i>gnôthi seauton</i> to Chilon of Sparta; and Stobaeus devotes an entire chapter of his <i>Florilegium</i> (chap. 21) to what various authors had to say about the phrase <i>gnôthi seauton</i>, in which it seems to be taken for granted that it is a Delphic maxim.<br /><br />Now, strictly with regard to the alternate list given by Sosiades, it may be valid to ask whether <i>seauton isthi</i> has replaced <i>gnôthi seauton</i>; but if it has, this list is a minority of one in doing so, and no one to my knowledge has ever made the claim that <i>seauton isthi</i> stands in place of <i>gnôthi seauton</i>.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454629732437271562.post-75602000540737998232010-12-21T22:43:41.555-05:002010-12-21T22:43:41.555-05:00@henadology: I found it here...
http://www.flyalln...@henadology: I found it here...<br />http://www.flyallnight.com/khaire/DelphicMaxims/maxims.htm<br />I admit that I know very little Greek, and cannot vouch for the validity of this link.Nataliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04771272894499874372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454629732437271562.post-13414049727225038632010-12-11T23:16:18.491-05:002010-12-11T23:16:18.491-05:00I'm confused; I thought that the maxim was gnô...I'm confused; I thought that the maxim was gnôthi seauton, "know yourself"; where did you find it recorded as seauton isthi?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454629732437271562.post-5133866690066020932010-12-05T14:22:19.094-05:002010-12-05T14:22:19.094-05:00My own illness causes this constant self-talk whic...My own illness causes this constant self-talk which can be maddening. It also makes meditation difficult. Still. I believe that my constant re-examining of my life and where it is going is a positive, I doubt that I could really "Be myself" without critical examination of where i am, where I have been and where I am going. On the other hand, maybe it just makes me nuts,or more so. Now I've gone and confused myself! :)Roibeard Ruahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14022643145632112709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454629732437271562.post-74746984795851916152010-12-03T12:48:52.846-05:002010-12-03T12:48:52.846-05:00I know, I'm late to the party, but "know ...I know, I'm late to the party, but "know thyself" does not represent a static concept to me, because the "self" is not a static thing. Also it's been said that the highest intellect is to know that you really *know* nothing. "Know Thyself" to me just means that you should recognize the potential for mutability and change within yourself. :P Omnia Mutantir, Nihil Interit. Or something.Raving Bacchantehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12648227518531183573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454629732437271562.post-83120795839797976972010-12-02T15:28:47.409-05:002010-12-02T15:28:47.409-05:00@Rev. Allyson: Yeah, I had thought of "Know T...@Rev. Allyson: Yeah, I had thought of "Know Thyself" as more understanding and less navel gazing, but the Gide quote really shook me up. I know that I fall prey to self-talk constantly (which is, in its own way a part of knowing myself) and benefit greatly from the kind of detached observation you discussed.Nataliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04771272894499874372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454629732437271562.post-51949796386588930882010-12-02T15:25:33.242-05:002010-12-02T15:25:33.242-05:00@temperance: Thanks! Feel free to use the Thelemic...@temperance: Thanks! Feel free to use the Thelemic soapbox whenever you need to. I find it particularly useful for housecleaning. ;)Nataliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04771272894499874372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454629732437271562.post-18331665319015068162010-12-02T10:31:17.499-05:002010-12-02T10:31:17.499-05:00You know, I was starting to formulate an intellige...You know, I was starting to formulate an intelligent response to this, but then I got to the Thelemic soapbox. Sorry, all rational thought was then drowned in a sea of LULZ. :Dtemperatelogichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05656972350499066690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454629732437271562.post-22315395219657703562010-12-02T08:34:40.126-05:002010-12-02T08:34:40.126-05:00Interesting thoughts. :) They mimic what I have be...Interesting thoughts. :) They mimic what I have been studying in seminary this month. We've been going over the idea of stepping back from ourselves as helpers, and "observing ourselves observing." The idea is to see ourselves watching the world as if on a television screen, sort of a "once removed" viewing. It's a difficult practice, not meant to be done constantly, but more as a peek once in a while to see we're not getting caught up in our own internal messes.<br /><br />I always see "know thyself" as meaning to understand and be aware of our pros and cons, our foibles and fantasies. I'm not spending vast amounts of time staring into my navel, but I am taking time once a day to meditate on what I've done throughout the day, and ask myself if I am living up to my own ideals. :)RevAllysonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08647500969442410706noreply@blogger.com