The Seven Sages
Published in
2 min readJan 31, 2020
Every New Year I choose a theme word instead of making resolutions. This year I picked the word “Sage.”
Sage is the name of a plant. A title given to a wise person. A shade of green. In France, parents tell their children to “sois sage,” to act sensibly.
The Top 7
After some googling, I learned about the Seven Sages of Ancient Greece. They were seven men grouped together as exemplars of wisdom. I wish the list included women.
There are a few variations of the list, but here are the men, along with one of their famous sayings:
1. Thales of Miletus: “Know Thyself”
2. Pittacus of Mytilene: “Whatever you do, do it well”
3. Bias of Priene: “I carry all my effects with me”
4. Solon of Athens: “Virtue’s a thing that none can take away”
5. Cleobulus, Tyrant of Lindos: “Do nothing by force”
6. Periander of Corinth: “Be moderate in prosperity, prudent in adversity”
7. Chilon of Sparta: “Brevity is the soul of wit”
The Quest for Sages
Were these names familiar to you? Do you have suggestions for the top 7 sages of our time? What about a list of top 7 ancient female sages?
Let me know in the comments.
