Stone tests gold. Gold tests people.
Chilon, Diogenes Laertius 1.71
The source
"Stone tests gold. Gold tests people." Chilon said it in Diogenes Laertius 1.71. Translated from the original Greek by Spartan Surfers.
"ἐν λιθίναις ἀκόναις ὁ χρυσὸς ἐξετάζεται ... ἐν δὲ χρυσῷ ἀνδρῶν ἀγαθῶν τε κακῶν τε νοῦς ἔδωκʼ ἔλεγχον."Original Greek, Diogenes Laertius 1.71. Greek: Hicks 1925 Loeb text via Perseus.
Who said it
The Spartans (8th–4th century BC). Laconic sayings from Lycurgus, Leonidas, Dienekes and the mothers of Sparta, recorded by Herodotus and Plutarch.
Questions
- Who said "Stone tests gold. Gold tests people."?
- Chilon (8th–4th century BC). Source: Diogenes Laertius 1.71.
- What is the original Greek?
- ἐν λιθίναις ἀκόναις ὁ χρυσὸς ἐξετάζεται ... ἐν δὲ χρυσῷ ἀνδρῶν ἀγαθῶν τε κακῶν τε νοῦς ἔδωκʼ ἔλεγχον. Translated from the original Greek by Spartan Surfers.
Filed under Character.
Wear Chilon
Blot out the sun? Good. We'll fight in the shade.
Dienekes, Herodotus, Histories 7.226
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With it or on it.
Spartan mother, Plutarch, Sayings of Spartan Women 241f
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Sword too short? Take one step closer.
Spartan mother, Plutarch, Sayings of Spartan Women, Anonymous 18 (241f)
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They're close? Then so are we.
Leonidas, Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Leonidas 7 (225b)
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More from The Spartans
- With it or on it.Plutarch, Sayings of Spartan Women 241f
- Come and take them.Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans 225c
- Blot out the sun? Good. We'll fight in the shade.Herodotus, Histories 7.226
- If.Plutarch, On Talkativeness 511a
- Fortify people, not walls.Epictetus, Fragment 45
- You gave me a violent young man. I give you back a good citizen.Epictetus, Fragment 67