At the entrance of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, ancient Greece, three famous Delphic maxims (箴言) were inscribed. These succinct mottos were central to Greek philosophy and ethics:
- Γν?θι σεαυτ?ν (Gnōthi seautón) —
Know thyself (認識你自己)
- Μηδ?ν ?γαν (Mēdén ágan) —
Nothing in excess(凡事勿過度)
- ?γγ?α π?ρα δ'?τα (Engýa, pára d’ áta) —
Give a pledge and ruin is near(立誓則禍隨之;承諾易招災)