The Delphic maxims are a set of maxims inscribed on the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. Originally, they were said to have been given by the Greek god Apollo’s Oracle at Delphi, Pythia, and therefore were attributed to Apollo. The 3rd century doxographer Diogenes Laertius attributed them to the Seven Sages of Greece as did the 5th century scholar Stobaeus. Contemporary scholars, however, hold that their original authorship is uncertain and that ‘most likely they were popular proverbs, which tended later to be attributed to particular sages.’ Roman educator Quintilian argued that students should copy those aphorisms often to improve their moral core. Perhaps the most famous of these maxims is ‘Γνῶθι σεαυτόν’ - ‘Know thyself,’ which was the first of three maxims carved above the entrance to the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. Some more info on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delphic_maxims
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