The Golden Verses of Pythagoras

by Pythagoras, Hierocles of Alexandria, Antoine Fabre d'Olivet

This little collection of sayings, attributed to the Greek philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras and his followers, embody what we know about his teachings today. Besides exhortations to live a moral, simple and contemplative life, these pithy aphorisms allow a glimpse of a bit of the Pythagorean schools' deeper knowledge. Introduction The Golden Verses of Pythagoras Notes on the Golden Verses of Pythagoras from the Commentaries of Hierocles The Golden Sentences of Democrates The Pythagorean Sentences of Demophilus The Similitudes of Demophilus Pythagorean Ethical Sentences from Stobæus Select Sentences of Sextus the Pythagorean Pythagorean Sentences from the Protreptics of Iamblichus The Symbols of Pythagoras

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, Poetry, Occult, Mathematics, Esoterica, Classics

288 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1917

About the author

Pythagoras, one of the most famous and controversial ancient Greek philosophers, lived from ca. 570 to ca. 490 BCE. He spent his early years on the island of Samos, off the coast of modern Turkey. At the age of forty, however, he emigrated to the city of Croton in southern Italy and most of his philosophical activity occurred there. Pythagoras wrote nothing, nor were there any detailed accounts of his thought written by contemporaries. By the first centuries BCE, moreover, it became fashionable to present Pythagoras in a largely unhistorical fashion as a semi-divine figure, who originated all that was true in the Greek philosophical tradition, including many of Plato's and Aristotle's mature ideas. A number of treatises were forged in the name of Pythagoras and other Pythagoreans in order to support this view.

The Pythagorean question, then, is how to get behind this false glorification of Pythagoras in order to determine what the historical Pythagoras actually thought and did. In order to obtain an accurate appreciation of Pythagoras' achievement, it is important to rely on the earliest evidence before the distortions of the later tradition arose. The popular modern image of Pythagoras is that of a master mathematician and scientist. The early evidence shows, however, that, while Pythagoras was famous in his own day and even 150 years later in the time of Plato and Aristotle, it was not mathematics or science upon which his fame rested. Pythagoras was famous (1) as an expert on the fate of the soul after death, who thought that the soul was immortal and went through a series of reincarnations; (2) as an expert on religious ritual; (3) as a wonder-worker who had a thigh of gold and who could be two places at the same time; (4) as the founder of a strict way of life that emphasized dietary restrictions, religious ritual and rigorous self discipline.

It remains controversial whether he also engaged in the rational cosmology that is typical of the Presocratic philosopher/scientists and whether he was in any sense a mathematician. The early evidence suggests, however, that Pythagoras presented a cosmos that was structured according to moral principles and significant numerical relationships and may have been akin to conceptions of the cosmos found in Platonic myths, such as those at the end of the Phaedo and Republic. In such a cosmos, the planets were seen as instruments of divine vengeance (“the hounds of Persephone”), the sun and moon are the isles of the blessed where we may go, if we live a good life, while thunder functioned to frighten the souls being punished in Tartarus. The heavenly bodies also appear to have moved in accordance with the mathematical ratios that govern the concordant musical intervals in order to produce a music of the heavens, which in the later tradition developed into “the harmony of the spheres.” It is doubtful that Pythagoras himself thought in terms of spheres, and the mathematics of the movements of the heavens was not worked out in detail. There is evidence that he valued relationships between numbers such as those embodied in the so-called Pythagorean theorem, though it is not likely that he proved the theorem.

Pythagoras' cosmos was developed in a more scientific and mathematical direction by his successors in the Pythagorean tradition, Philolaus and Archytas. Pythagoras succeeded in promulgating a new more optimistic view of the fate of the soul after death and in founding a way of life that was attractive for its rigor and discipline and that drew to him numerous devoted followers.

Reviews

[Owlseyes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am very much interested in this book and character. One of the reasons: why was he declared a NON-PERSON, by Napoleon? what’s a non-person? Why was he condemned by the Pope?


(Hermes)

Fabre, before approaching the verses attributed to Pythagoras, wrote some reflections on world poetry….the essence thereof. He himself invented a new (melodious) form of poetry. He got familiar with several Semitic languages.

I’ve read some of his reflections and don’t agree with his assertion that Camões failed.



He wrote about the Christian Cabala, about music (as a science) and the language of the Hebrews 'restored'….and provided a new interpretation of the book of Genesis*. I need to find more.



On his biography I was surprised to find: he had been "initiated" in Germany,...and had had a 10 years sort of seclusion (“disconcerting" by some). He believed in reincarnation (metempsychosis); and had a strange death: “at the foot of his altar”.

I’ll be back on him.
----

Well, I'm back.

Someone said (jokingly; but very appropriately) that Fabre was looking for the lost word (“la parole perdu”).Very true.

From my French readings he lived the last years of his life as a protestant. It all seems, he’s been persecuted; at 58, he left 3 children.

All those malevolent (?) words such as “mediocre literate” (“littérateur mediocre”) or “so strange “ and “crazy apocalyptic visionary” are not just. He had a great linguistic talent, whether approaching Latin-based languages (namely the Occitan, and its poetry) or the Semitic languages. Even his most daring hypothesis like the Hebrew as the pure idiom of the ancient Egyptians, should be closely examined.

Nayán Louise Redfield, in 1815, called his work a “prodigious” one. His “neoteric” translation of the first 10 chapters of the Sepher of Moses (Genesis) deserve proper attention.

Finally, the Golden verses.

They are a set of principles (some say “moral exhortations) for a correct/healthy livelihood. On the whole, they consist of 37 recommendations/exhortations on how properly (virtuously) a Pythagorean Philosopher should behave and act.

These principles (commented by Fabre) cover several areas: friendship, sobriety, autonomous thinking, self-respect, freedom of choice, reflection before action; how to subdue the passions; …and avoid wrath.

Some are like this in formulation: “Revere the memory of the illustrious heroes”;”be a good son, just father…”; "choose for thy friend, the friend of virtue” etc.



I cannot avoid expressing some sympathy for the “tolerance” (Polytheism) imbued in this approach; versus the Christian severity.

"A Christian philosopher could not, without perjuring himself and committing a frightful impiety, bend the knee in China before Kong-Tse, nor offer incense to Chang-Ty nor to Tien; he could neither
render, in India, homage to Krishna, nor present himself at Benares as a worshipper of Vishnu; he could not even, although recognizing the same God as the Jews and Mussulmans, take part in their ceremonies, or what is still more, worship this God with the Arians, the Lutherans, or Calvinists, if he were a Catholic".

And: >"This is what was done by the disciples of Pythagoras, according to the commandment of their master; they saw in the gods of the nations, the attributes of the Ineffable Being...".

The 37th and last principle looks like a reward to those who follow such code on Pythagorean conduct.

37. So that, ascending into radiant Ether,
Midst the Immortals, thou shalt be thyself a God


To those who follow those wise and golden rules. Golden, because they conceal “the most pure doctrine”.

Fabre followed the Greek text.
Fabre,... the person.

*https://medium.com/@graham-pemberton/...

[G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful book. The search for knowledge and the search for virtue are the same in these verses. Even the agnostic reader might find many reasonable suggestions. I have no idea about the philology of this book, but its core ideas are really interesting. The split we take as natural came during the last centuries.

[Vaishali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting collection of maxims, some of which are divided mid-sentence. Perhaps this is proper grammar in ancient Greek? Anyways, useful and beautiful. A shame that humanity still has not mastered these.

A few samples:
---------------
7. Avoid as much as possible hating your friend for a slight fault.

12. But above all things respect yourself.

32. In no way neglect the health of your body.

39. Do only that which will not hurt you, and think carefully about what you are going to do before you do it.

67. But abstain from meat, which will prevent you from the purifying and the deliverance of your soul.

[Nox Prognatus · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very interesting book as Olivet uses the first part of the book to show his thoughts on poems, and ancient writings and how they relate to Pythagorean thinking, further to that how some poems have become much removed from the original intent of the Pythagorean verse. He shows how Pythagoras, in his opinion, used the Golden Verses to convey much more than was written. Or should I say Lysis, one of his students, did.

The remainder of the book takes you verse by verse into the interpretation and extrapolation of Olivets's interpretation of the Verses. There is some interesting thought, and other paths in his thinking too. He is very conversant with ancient writings, and is said to have infuenced the writings of E. Levi. Anyway, a good read, and worth reading, if Pythagoras interests you.

[Airam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy shit

[Myhte]

But above all things respect yourself.

the world is a scene, a mutation, life a transition, a vain opinion, you came, you saw, you departed.

[Truls Ljungström · Rating 5 out of 5]

Denna hade kunnat ligga under moderna tolkningar också. De gyllne verserna är en av de bevarade texterna som sammanfattar Pythagoras lära, såsom den tedde sig 800 år senare. Skribenten var övertygad pythagorée. Det är ett intressant dokument, och har, föga förvånade, mycket gemensamt med dagens självhjälpslitteratur: du behöver vidmakthålla självrespekt genom att vårda dina relationer och ditt omdöme; värdera varje dag vad du har gjort med den; historien är nödvändig - framtiden skapar du - ögonblicket är kombinationenen, som i den bästa av alla värdar är godhet, genom insikt. Insikten att mycket går igen, är själva det legitimerande i filosofin som ämne - om människan är den samma, bör det som fungerar gå igen.

d'Olivet som kommentator är användbar. Jag hade aldrig hört om honom tidigare, men det han gör är att kontextualisera påståeendena till modernare filosofer, såsom Bacon, Kant och Leibnitz. Detta gör en del påståenden tydligare; passagen om jämförelsen mellan Pythagoras syn på själen och Kants förnuftsbegrepp hjälper mig om inte annat att förstå Kant bättre.

Boken är riktigt bra, och tänkvärd. Jag rekommenderar den för hågade nördar.

[Damien · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although it does have its interesting moments and parts of it are still occasionally relevant, this commentary seems a bit outdated. For example, d'Olivet seems to think that Egyptian civilization began only through the influence of India. I can only guess that he (and others of his time) might have thought that because Hindus usually like to exaggerate how ancient Vedic traditions were.
Many of his long tangents on poetry and philosophy often get tedious.

[Dirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

nice but very short book

[Niel · Rating 5 out of 5]

And When you have eventually divested yourself of your mortal body, you will arrive at the most pure Ether

[Wallace Henrique · Rating 5 out of 5]

Um livro com um vocabulário mais simples sobre os versos dourados de Pitágoras. Leitura dinâmica e rápida, que consegue passar, de forma mais resumida, as principais ideias do Pitágoras.

[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart · Rating 4 out of 5]

@Janka At least I finished reading it before I lost it :(

[OSCAR · Rating 2 out of 5]

Estos versos aúreos, atribuidos a Pitágoras, a mi parecer son una versión más condensada pero ambigua de las máximas délficas. Recalca la piedad que debemos tener para con los dioses y con los demás. Enseña a moderar las pasiones y a conducirnos con templanza.

Son perlas de sabiduría estos versos de oro.

[❀ Diana ❀ · Rating 5 out of 5]

De reținut două vorbe mari și late:

Nicicând să nu-ți urăști prietenul pentru o greșeală de nimic, atât cât poți.

Multe vorbe, bune sau răutăcioase, ies din gura oamenilor; nu le-arăta prea multă prețuire, dar nici nu le-nfiera. Chiar lucruri mincinoase de auzi, îndură cu răbdare și blândețe.

:)

[Thomas Singler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quelques vers de Pythagore seulement. Texte extrêmement court au sein duquel ma seule surprise a été de constater à quel point la philosophie pythagoricienne préfigurait les bases du catholicisme près de 500 av. J-C

[Gledynthon Ortiz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Los versos de oro de Pytágoras, son un conjunto de principios, desde la visión del autor, que permiten llevar una vida digna y buena.

Muchas de sus ideas me parecen válidas y otras no tanto.

[Francisco Espejo Elgueta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gusto a poco

bien pero con gusto A poco quizás se debe a la ausencia de material acerca de este gran filósofo que pérdida más grande para la humanidad

[Stefano Amadei · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ma che meraviglia!

[Paolo Bagnato · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probabilmente tutto quello che c’è da sapere per condurre una buona vita raccolto in poche pagine. Da riprendere e rileggere ogni tanto, per ricordarsi di mettere in pratica quello che c’è scritto