Dusty Phrases

Hi! Welcome to “Dusty Phrases.” You will find below an ancient phrase in one language or another, along with its English translation. You may also find the power to inspire your friends or provoke dread among your enemies.

For other examples, visit HERE:

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Greek:

γηράσκω δ᾽ αἰεὶ πολλὰ διδασκόμενος.
Gēraskō d’ aíeí pollâ didaskómenos.

English:

I grow old always learning many things.


This phrase is attributed to Solon, the Athenian. He was one of the “seven sages of Greece.” More from Wiki:

The Seven Sages (of Greece) or Seven Wise Men (Greek: οἱ ἑπτὰ σοφοί hoi hepta sophoi) was the title given by classical Greek tradition to seven philosophers, statesmen, and law-givers of the 7–6th century BC who were renowned for their wisdom.

Typically the list of the seven sages includes:

Diogenes Laërtius points out, however, that there was among his sources great disagreement over which figures should be counted among the seven. Perhaps the two most common substitutions were to exchange Periander or Anacharsis for Myson. On Diogenes’ first list of seven, which he introduces with the words “These men are acknowledged wise”, Periander appears instead of Myson; the same substitution appears in The Masque of the Seven Sages by Ausonius. Both Ephorus and Plutarch (in his Banquet of the Seven Sages) substituted Anacharsis for Myson. Diogenes Laërtius further states that Dicaearchus gave ten possible names, Hippobotus suggested twelve names, and Hermippus enumerated seventeen possible sages from which different people made different selections of seven. Leslie Kurke contends that “Aesop was a popular contender for inclusion in the group”; an epigram of the 6th century AD poet Agathias (Palatine Anthology 16.332) refers to a statue of the Seven Sages, with Aesop standing before them

Solon is perhaps better known today as the ancestor of Plato. In Plato’s dialogues, Timaeus and Critias, he claims Solon learned the story of Atlantis from Egyptian priests. The account of Solon’s travel to Egypt is also mentioned by Herodotus and Plutarch. Just imagine how much time on The History Channel might be redirected in other directions if Solon had visited some place else.

There are some curious features in the topography of the Atlantic Ocean’s floor, of course.