Wider Ancient Witness Archive · 4.2 Greek and Greco-Roman Moral Wisdom Background Archive
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Pseudo-Democritus — Wisdom Sayings
This text is included as a comparative, historical, philosophical, ritual, textual, or fragmentary witness. It is not presented as part of the Restored Bible.
Pseudo-Democritus — Wisdom Sayings
[Gnomic sayings on cheerfulness and moderation, gathered under the name of Democritus; a selection.]
Happiness dwells not in possessions or in gold;
the soul is the dwelling place of one’s fortune.
Cheerfulness comes to a man through moderation of pleasure
and a measured life.
It is better to correct your own faults than another’s.
Refrain from wrongdoing not from fear but from duty.
To do good is greater than to speak well.
The cause of error is ignorance of the better.
Many who have not learned reason still live reasonably.
Hope of unjust gain is the beginning of loss.
The brave man is not only he who masters enemies,
but he who masters his own pleasures.
Word is the shadow of deed.
He who has a well-ordered character has a well-ordered life.
Accept nothing for its pleasantness unless it is also good.
Contentment with little is the riches of nature.