Chilon of Sparta

"Seek no excess —all timely things are good."

"Suretyship, and then destruction."

"To threaten no one; for that is a womanly trick."

"To be more prompt to go to one’s friends in adversity than in prosperity."

"To make but a moderate display at one’s marriage."

"Not to speak evil of the dead."

"To honor old age."

"To keep a watch upon oneself."

"To prefer punishment to disgraceful gain; for the one is painful but once, but the other for one’s whole life."

"Not to laugh at a person in misfortune."

"If one is strong to be also merciful, so that one’s neighbors may respect one rather than fear one."

"To learn how to regulate one’s own house well."

"Not to let one’s tongue outrun one’s sense."

"To restrain anger."

"Not to dislike divination."

"Not to desire what is impossible."

"Not to make too much haste on one’s road."

"When speaking not to gesticulate with the hand; for that is like a madman."

"To obey the laws."

"To love quiet."

"a sole governor is in a slippery position at home; and I consider that tyrant a fortunate man who dies a natural death in his own house."

"The reason is because I know how to bear injustice, but you do not."

"In good hopes."

"To be silent about secrets; to make good use of one’s leisure, and to be able to submit to injustice."

"To rule one’s tongue, especially at a banquet, and not to speak ill of one’s neighbors; for if one does so one is sure to hear what one will not like."