Ancient wisdom: aphorisms, sayings, phrases of great people and folk wisdom

What is wisdom? Nowadays, this concept is equated rather with the mind, intellect or scientific knowledge.

However, our ancestors knew that this was not entirely true. Indeed, wisdom is not only the acquired and accumulated knowledge. Rather, it is the ability to use them, the ability to apply correctly in the current situation, the ability to intelligently assess strengths and capabilities.

Often the wisdom of ancient times came not only from philosophers and seers, the knowledge of the people, verbally passing from generation to generation, was also of great importance.

Let's try to figure out which of the statements of the ancient sages did not lose relevance in our dynamic time.

Philosophers of Ancient Greece

Typically, great sayings refer neither to religion nor to science. This is the life experience of the wisest people conveyed in concise utterances.

For example, the philosopher Thales of Milensky, who lived in the VII-VI century. BC, I was sure that everything arose and arises from the water, and then returns back to it. In the long run, is everything water? Great advice for relaxing and not worrying about trifles.

“What is easy? - Give advice to others” is another quote from this great sage. It would be nice if people at least sometimes followed similar ancient wisdom.

Famous to everyone since school, Pythagoras was not only a mathematician and inventor. He owns a lot of statements relevant to all ages.

"Do not chase after happiness: it is always in you" - advice will help you in your search for the meaning of life.

"A joke, like salt, should be consumed sparingly" - another ancient wisdom from Pythagoras, which has not lost its significance.

Here are some wise advice from the ancient Greeks, which is never too late to follow:

• "Do not laugh at someone else's misfortune" - Chilo of Sparta (VI century BC).
• "Having conceived the matter, don’t talk about it. If it doesn’t work out, they’ll make fun of it" - Pittak of Mitilensky (VII-VI century BC).
• "It is impossible to fix an evil person, he can only change his appearance, but not his temper" - Aesop (about 600 BC).

Statements of the Great Romans

The Roman Empire was famous not only for its conquests and battles of gladiators. Many great citizens of Rome left the wisdom of ancient knowledge as a warning to their descendants:

• “Running away from fate, you rush towards her” - Titus Livy, historian. Perhaps you should not vainly resist what life is pushing.
• “It is inhumane not to lend a helping hand to the falling” - Lucius Anney Seneca, Roman historian. After all, the concepts of morality and help to those in need have never been alien to people.
• “Life is short, but misery makes it longer” - Publius Syr, a former slave who became a popular mimic poet of the era of Julius Caesar. Who else, if not a slave, should know about the sorrows of life.
• “If there is love in the world (and it is!), Then it is not far from madness” - Mark Cicero, the great commander and philosopher. Throughout the ages, lovers have done many strange things in the name of their feelings. And, fortunately, they never stop doing it.

Chinese wisdom

This great country has long been isolated from other cultures. However, even in our time, the ancient wisdom of Chinese thinkers is striking, revealing the meaning of life and motivating active actions.

One of the most famous sages of ancient China was Confucius, the founder of the doctrine of the pursuit of excellence in both small and great. This teaching today is the basis of Chinese philosophy:

• "It's much easier to light one small candle than curse the darkness."
• "People can be made to obey, but not made to understand why."
• "A noble man blames himself; a petty person always blames others."
• "One who speaks beautifully and has a good appearance is rarely truly humane."

In addition to Confucius, the philosophical teachings of China developed Lao Tzu, Chuang Tzu, Mo Tzu and many other thinkers. The thoughts of these great people are surprisingly consonant with the principles of modern life:

• “There are many roads that lead to the top. But the landscape remains the same” - Lao Tzu’s saying.
• “Babies cry everywhere the same. When they grow up, they have different habits. This is the result of education,” Lao Tzu.
• “It’s worth turning around and you’ll hurt someone right away. If you move it, it will feel bad for someone.” - Chuang Tzu.
• “Having given a man a fish, you will feed him once. Teach him to fish, and he will eat it all his life” - a Chinese proverb. It turns out that this familiar phrase reflects all the ancient wisdom of the simple people of the East.
• "True words are not pleasant, pleasant words are not true" is another saying that has not lost its relevance.

Aphorisms of the arab east

The multifaceted Arabian culture has given us not only a convenient calculus system and aerial architecture. Aphorisms of Arab philosophers may well be parting words for different occasions. Here are just a few of the wisdom of the ancient knowledge of the East:

• “Not the one who knows how to distinguish good from evil, but the one who can choose the lesser of two evils” - Al-Harizi, an Arab scholar.
• “Do not tell your friend what you want to hide from the enemy, because it is not guaranteed that friendship will last forever” - Abu L'Faraj, Syrian scholar and writer.
• "Appetite comes with the first piece, and a quarrel - with the first word" - Eastern folk wisdom.
• “Make friends with a smart one, for a fool is sometimes more dangerous than a smart enemy” - Jalaladdin Rumi, Sufi sheikh, poet.

Christian prophets and mentors

Many standards of life are reflected in the ancient wisdom of life expressed by the prophets of Christianity. These are words about faith, forgiveness and harmony with the world and oneself:

• “In our eyes we don’t feel the logs, but in a stranger we see a bitch” - Jesus Christ. He owned many wise sayings that taught patience and humanity.
• “There are people who walk a lot and do not advance anywhere” - Jesus Christ.
• “I often had to regret what I said, but I so rarely repented of being silent,” said theologian Thomas Aquinas back in the 14th century.
• “If you love a person as he is, then you love him. If you try to change him radically, then you love yourself” - Augustine Aurelius, Christian theologian and politician.
• “There is no great merit in living for a long time, nor even in living forever, but the merit of those who live virtuously is enormous” - also Augustine Aurelius.

Thoughts of religious figures of the East

Religious ministers from ancient times tried to instruct people on the right path and not to commit illegal acts. Many ancient wisdom about life, love and humility belong to prominent servants of the faith:

• “Hatred can end not with hatred, but only with love” - Buddha.
• “If you have a problem, try to solve it. If you can’t solve it, then don’t make a problem out of it” - Buddha.
• “Thousands of candles can be lit from the only one, and her life will not be shorter. Happiness will not be less if you share it” - Buddha.
• "A good deed is that which causes a smile of joy on the face of another person" - the Prophet Muhammad.
• "There is no happiness equal to peace" - the Prophet Muhammad.

Ancient wisdom says that any knowledge is priceless, most importantly, to be able to dispose of it correctly. Even after centuries, aphorisms of philosophers and prophets can help find a way out of a difficult situation or stop committing unworthy acts.