Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers

​To him belongs the saying “Know thyself,” though Antisthenes in his Successions of Philosophers says that it belongs to Phemonoe, and that Chilon appropriated it as his own. Now concerning the Seven—for it is fitting here to make general mention of them all—the following accounts are given. Damon of Cyrene, who wrote On the Philosophers, blames them all, but especially the Seven. Anaximenes says that they all applied themselves to poetry. Dicaearchus, however, says that they were neither wise men nor philosophers, but certain intelligent men and legislators. Archetimus of Syracuse has recorded a gathering of theirs at the court of Cypselus, at which he says he was himself present; and Ephorus records one at the court of Croesus, with the exception of Thales. Some say that they also met at Panionium, at Corinth, and at Delphi.

​Their apophthegms are also disputed, and different people attribute different sayings to different men, as for instance the following: “Chilon was a wise Lacedaemonian, who spoke these words: Nothing in excess; at the opportune moment all good things attend.” There is also a dispute concerning their number. For Maeandrius, instead of Cleobulus and Myson, includes Leophantus son of Gorgiadas, a Lebedian or Ephesian, and Epimenides the Cretan; Plato, in the Protagoras, includes Myson instead of Periander; Ephorus, instead of Myson, Anacharsis; and others add Pythagoras. Dicaearchus hands down four who are agreed upon by us: Thales, Bias, Pittacus, Solon. And he names six others, of whom three are to be selected: Aristodemus, Pamphylus, Chilon the Lacedaemonian, Cleobulus, Anacharsis, Periander. Some add Acusilaus son of Cabas or Scabras, of Argos.

​Hermippus, in his work On the Sages, says there are seventeen, from whom different authors choose different sets of seven: namely, Solon, Thales, Pittacus, Bias, Chilon, 〈Myson〉, Cleobulus, Periander, Anacharsis, Acusilaus, Epimenides, Leophantus, Pherecydes, Aristodemus, Pythagoras, Lasus son of Charmantides or Sisymbrinus (or, as Aristoxenus says, of Chabrinus), of Hermione, and Anaxagoras. Hippobotus, in his List of Philosophers, records: Orpheus, Linus, Solon, Periander, Anacharsis, Cleobulus, Myson, Thales, Bias, Pittacus, Epicharmus, Pythagoras. The following letters of Thales are also preserved:

​Thales to Pherecydes “I learn that you are the first of the Ionians intending to publish discourses concerning divine matters for the Greeks. And perhaps your judgment is right in making your writing a common possession, rather than committing the matter to whoever it may be to no purpose. If then it is more agreeable to you, I wish to become an interlocutor concerning what you write; and if you bid me, I will come to Syros to visit you. For truly, Solon the Athenian and I would not be in our right minds if, having sailed to Crete to make inquiries there, and having sailed to Egypt to converse with those who are priests and astronomers there, we should not sail to visit you. For Solon too will come, if you permit.

​You, however, out of love for your own country, rarely travel to Ionia, nor does any longing for foreign men possess you; but, as I expect, you apply yourself to one thing alone, your writing. We, on the other hand, who write nothing, wander throughout Greece and Asia.” Thales to Solon “It seems to me that after withdrawing from Athens you would most suitably establish a home in Miletus among your own colonists; for there is nothing to fear for you here either. Even if you will be grieved that we Milesians are also ruled by a tyrant—for you hate all absolute rulers—yet you would find pleasure living together with us, your companions. Bias has also sent you word to come to Priene; but if the city of the Prienians is more agreeable to you, live there, and we ourselves will come and live near you.”