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Robbins Library Digital Projects > TEAMS Middle English Texts > The Dicts and Sayings of the Philosophers > The Dicts and Sayings of the Philosophers: Thematic Index

The Dicts and Sayings of the Philosophers: Thematic Index

This index covers the major recurring themes that have been central to Dicts and Sayings since its inception in the Middle East. I have broken down the basic thematic categories ("Envy," "Kingship," etc.) into sub-groups that contain one or more proverbs; the individual proverbs, in turn, are identified by chapter and line numbers. The themes are arranged alphabetically, as are the sub-groups within each category. Unlike a traditional index, however, I have not provided a reference for every instance in which a key word or phrase appears. Rather, the entries indicate when a given word is an essential part of a proverb; passing references - for instance, the word "king" in "King Alexander defeated his foes" - have been omitted. Additionally, this index is geared toward identifying the proverbial wisdom contained in Dicts and Sayings, so in most cases I have not provided entries for words that occur in the handful of lengthy narratives that are scattered throughout the text (e.g., Socrates in his dying moments, accounts of Alexander's battles, etc.). However, if the narrative is less like a discrete tale and more like a rudimentary framework meant simply for conveying precepts (e.g., the advice Loginon addresses to his son), I have included entries for words that appear in these passages.

Charity
  • The charity of mercy: 2.46-47, 2.145-46, 11.258-63.
  • "The Golden Rule" (do unto others as you would have them do unto you): 2.27-31, 10.51-52, 11.247-48, 11.475-76, 12.207-08, 13.107-08, 14.676-77, 17.120-21, 17.146, 23.243-45.
  • He who loves God is loved by God: 9.17, 9.17-19, 13.339-41.
  • How and when to love one's fellow man: 12.454-58, 18.11-13, 23.428-30.
  • One should love one's fellow man: 9.3-6, 23.308-09.
  • On charity: 2.103-05, 23.312-14.
  • On giving charity to the needy: 1.82-86, 12.176-79, 12.348-50, 13.139-43.
  • The virtues of generosity: 2.126-27, 5.17-18, 6.15-16, 13.252-54, 16.6-8, 23.279-82.


    Counsel
  • Giving counsel reflects back upon the one who gives it: 11.367-69, 11.526-29, 12.240-42, 20.10-12.
  • People from whom one should seek counsel: 12.327-29, 12.358-61, 12.383-85.
  • Seeking counsel leads to good results: 2.156-57, 5.13-14.
  • Significance of good counsel: 6.4-6, 10.101-02, 11.369-70, 12.430-32, 12.469-71.


    Death
  • Death and the soul: 7.18-20, 7.20-24, 9.39-40, 9.50-53, 11.268-69, 11.312-13, 11.322-26, 23.162-64.
  • The death of good and evil men: 11.316, 11.317-19, 13.230-31, 23.248-49.
  • It is better to die well than to live in shame: 9.78-79, 11.313, 11.504-06, 12.169, 13.191-92, 18.2-3.
  • The next world is superior to this one: 9.149-52, 11.305-11, 23.219-22, 23.354-58, 23.368-72.
  • On fearing death: 11.364-65, 11.558-59.
  • On the inevitability of death: 11.303-05, 11.394-398, 23.195-98.
  • On the swiftness of death: 2.144-45, 11.311-12, 12.332-34, 17.177-78.
  • What a person leaves behind after death: 17.141-44, 23.103-08, 23.108-09.


    Envy
  • Avoid envying what others possess: 9.110-12, 13.109.
  • The benefits of eschewing covetousness: 2.142-44, 9.88-89, 9.89-90, 10.70-71, 10.102-04, 11.137-39, 11.413-14, 23.407-08.
  • Covetousness can be one's master or one's servant: 2.155-56, 9.146-48, 10.13-21.
  • Covetousness can lead to poverty: 5.39-40, 11.272-74, 23.28-30.
  • Covetousness is detrimental to the soul: 8.78-79, 12.211-15, 12.271-73, 13.96-98, 13.221-22.
  • The destructiveness of envy: 2.157-58, 23.284-85.
  • Do not associate with envious people: 12.221-23, 23.207.
  • How one avoids being envied: 9.34-37, 12.321-24, 23.392-93.
  • How one avoids envy: 9.84-85, 11.464-66, 11.547-550, 12.141-42, 12.464-69.
  • One should be satisfied with what one already possesses: 17.64, 23.422-24.
  • One should not covet what one cannot obtain: 8.90-91, 8.94-95, 11.199-200, 17.147-48.
  • Qualities of the covetous man: 2.153, 2.293-95, 11.313-16, 12.90-91, 12.265-66, 12.539-41, 15.39-40, 19.26-28, 23.153-54, 23.296-98, 23.378-79.
  • Reasons that men are covetous: 11.293-94, 13.368-71, 23.362-66.


    Fools and Folly
  • Avoid associating with fools: 13.358-60, 15.49-51, 23.301-04, 23.314-15.
  • Definitions of foolishness: 10.66-67, 11.248-49, 15.35-36, 17.77-111, 23.440-42.
  • On teaching a fool: 4.8-9, 13.258-60, 15.14-15, 22.46-47, 23.58-64.
  • The problems of folly: 10.64-66, 12.529-30, 13.214-15, 15.52-53, 23.345-46.
  • Wealth and folly: 10.77-78, 11.336-40, 12.499-500, 23.3-4, 23.404-05, 23.442-44.
  • The words of a fool: 11.349-50, 13.242-43, 23.110-13.


    Friendship
  • Be patient with a friend and avoid angry confrontation: 2.192-94, 9.43-44, 10.36-39, 11.212-14.
  • Be sure of a man's character before investing too much in friendship with him: 2.112-13, 11.414-16, 23.19-23.
  • The benefits of friendship: 1.42-44, 7.13-14, 11.233-35, 13.336-39, 14.629-33, 23.167-69, 23.375-77.
  • Honor and friendship: 2.25-26, 11.480-82.
  • How friendship is ruined: 12.52-54, 17.198-99, 23.191-92.
  • It is disastrous to lose a friend: 14.633-34, 23.170-73.
  • On friends and enemies: 9.69-71, 11.533-34, 14.628-29.
  • One should say good things about someone to win his friendship: 6.25-26, 11.216-18, 11.388-89, 14.634-35.
  • One should seek out friends: 11.342-43, 13.332-35, 23.267-69.
  • One should seek out friends who will improve one's moral character: 9.116-17, 12.227-29.
  • True friendship means total unity with the other person: 5.14-15, 10.33-35, 12.498-99, 12.531-32, 23.291-93.
  • Truth and friendship: 2.194-95, 6.22-23, 9.118-21.


    Gluttony and Temperance
  • A life of excess leads to unfortunate consequences: 9.73-74, 11.367, 23.113-16.
  • Qualities of the temperate man: 11.498-500, 13.316-21, 23.352-54.
  • Suggestions for practicing temperance: 9.37-39, 12.119-22, 23.201-03, 23.249-50.
  • Temperance is healthy, whereas gluttony is unhealthy: 8.72-74, 9.124-25, 23.339-42.
  • Those who should practice greater temperance: 4.9-11, 22.59-62.


    God and Spirituality
  • The ascetic life is a path to holiness: 2.96-101, 9.15-16, 9.53-55, 11.235-39, 17.232-34.
  • Do what is pleasing to God: 9.22-24, 11.534-36, 12.22-25, 12.25-33, 17.152-53, 17.190-96, 21.1-3, 23.359-61.
  • Give thanks to God: 2.22-24, 2.69-70, 4.1-4.
  • God is well served by good deeds: 1.87-89, 9.157-59, 10.146-57, 12.182-83, 12.477-80.
  • God is well served by good will: 9.20-21, 9.155-56, 17.225-27.
  • God is well served by good words: 2.205-06, 9.156-57, 15.10-11, 17.45-49, 17.58-59.
  • It is wise to fear God: 2.39-42, 2.84-87, 9.24-26, 9.57, 14.538-43, 15.8-10, 17.71, 17.74-75, 17.196-98, 17.211-17, 23.384-86.
  • Jesus Christ: 22.6.
  • Lists of virtues by which men can show true belief: 1.2-16, 2.284-88, 2.288-90, 12.166-68, 17.160-61, 23.239-45.
  • On penance: 2.48-52, 2.67-68, 9.61-68, 11.493-95.
  • On prayer: 2.93-96, 9.68-69, 11.106-07, 17.217-19.
  • On the soul: 2.36-39, 9.13-15, 9.26-27, 20.4-6.
  • One should not ask God for more than what God has given him: 8.85-89, 11.209-12, 13.85-87, 15.33-35, 17.158-59, 21.8-9, 23.159-62.
  • Pride is to be avoided: 2.74-79, 2.101-03, 2.114-17, 12.132-33, 17.154-58, 23.81-84.
  • Show proper obedience to God: 2.25-27, 11.265-67, 12.200-01, 23.386-88.
  • Turn the other cheek: 2.79-82, 15.47-49.
  • What is displeasing to God: 5.23-24, 9.41-43, 11.175-77, 12.185-96, 12.325-26, 15.11-12, 23.309-12.
  • Wisdom is a divine gift by which men should know and serve God: 2.24-25, 2.42-46, 11.160-61, 11.539-41, 12.60-62, 16.54-57.


    Good and Evil
  • Avoid corrupting associations with evil: 2.31-32, 2.87-88, 2.185-86, 2.198-99, 5.15-16, 12.231-35, 12.396-98, 12.507-08, 12.513-14, 13.102-06, 16.57-58, 17.176-77, 23.315-16.
  • Evil and material wealth: 2.90-91, 7.16, 11.530-31, 12.38-39, 12.394-95, 12.496-48, 21.3, 23.46-49, 23.245-48.
  • Failing to eschew evil makes one like a beast: 5.42-43, 11.233, 23.388-91.
  • Good and evil deeds contrasted: 1.74-77, 10.28-29, 11.159-60, 11.263-65, 11.341-42, 11.483-86, 13.226-27, 23.431-32.
  • Good and evil in the abstract: 9.12-13, 12.49-51, 12.196, 12.340-41, 12.425-27, 13.324-28, 23.198-200.
  • The good man and the evil man contrasted: 2.154-55, 9.148-49, 10.40-41, 11.381-83, 12.144-46, 12.362-63, 12.387-91, 12.422-23, 12.532-33, 13.117-21, 21.9-10.
  • The good soul and the evil soul contrasted: 6.26-31, 11.127-29, 11.129-31, 11.131-33, 11.135-36, 11.144-45, 13.341-46.
  • It is better not to succeed than to do evil: 12.198-99, 23.316-17, 23.317-18.
  • On evil words: 5.19-20, 6.17-18, 8.95-97, 11.252-53, 12.522-53, 12.527-29, 23.169-70.
  • On punishing evildoers: 2.47-48, 2.295-96, 11.120-22, 15.31-32.
  • Pursue the good and leave the evil: 5.26-27, 15.55-56, 17.54-58.
  • Qualities of the evil man: 11.153, 12.117-19, 12.439-41, 12.510-11, 13.190-91, 13.328-31, 19.11-13, 20.12-15, 23.77-79.


    Honor
  • The honorable use of material goods and wealth: 9.31-32, 11.491-92.
  • Knowledge should be held in honor: 13.178-81, 17.144-45.
  • Those who are worthy of worship: 14.614-19, 19.8-9, 25.6.
  • What leads to dishonor: 10.125-29, 11.331-33, 12.337-38, 13.101-02, 13.251-52, 23.275-76.


    Ignorance
  • How knowledge is superior to ignorance: 5.45-47, 13.349-52, 23.109-110.
  • Ignorant people are best avoided altogether: 1.52-53, 12.463-64.
  • Qualities that lead to ignorance: 2.203-04, 12.98-101, 12.103-04, 12.106-08, 23.420-21.
  • Teaching and learning are a bulwark against ignorance: 2.131-35, 12.541-43, 23.25-28.
  • Ways to recognize ignorance: 11.226-27, 11.426-30.
  • What comes of ignorance: 2.197-98, 12.87-90, 14.666-68.


    Kings and Kingship
  • Circumstances that can jeopardize a king's reign: 12.122-25, 12.436-38, 13.135-39, 16.1-7, 16.12-17, 23.65-69.
  • The dangers posed by bad kingship: 1.54-55, 2.220-23, 12.71-73, 12.110-12, 12.367-68, 12.442-45, 12.471, 19.3-4, 23.143-46, 23.320-21, 23.400-01.
  • How to serve a king well: 2.66-67, 9.76-78, 12.142-44, 12.219-21, 12.235-40, 12.314-18, 12.318-21, 12.385-86, 12.433-35, 16.30-33, 16.60-63, 19.14-15, 23.100-03, 23.293-94.
  • Individual proverbs of advice for kings: 1.33-37, 2.303-08, 3.17-18, 11.218-19, 12.298-302, 12.329-31, 12.422-24, 13.128-29, 16.20-25, 16.35-36, 16.44-47, 16.49-51, 23.234-35.
  • A king should be able to govern himself before he governs others: 2.299-303, 3.2-3, 6.35-37, 12.420-22, 13.87-94, 13.164-65, 23.44-45.
  • A king should be firm yet just in dealing with enemies: 3.3-7, 13.121-24, 13.188-89, 13.200-03, 13.207-11, 16.51-54.
  • A king should choose his servants carefully: 1.37-42, 2.206-08, 3.11-17, 9.142-46, 11.532-33, 12.293-98, 16.18-20, 16.39-42.
  • A king should demonstrate wisdom: 1.22-24, 1.24-27, 5.28-36, 9.132-34, 12.83-85, 12.112-16, 14.599-602, 23.146-50.
  • A king should follow the law of the land: 2.124-25, 6.37-39, 9.134-36, 12.304-11.
  • A king should suitably reward those who serve him well: 12.369-75, 13.185-88, 14.602-04, 16.25-28, 16.42-43.
  • Kingship as analogy: 11.294-95, 11.531-32, 13.232-33, 15.44-45.
  • Kingship and spirituality: 2.223-24, 11.107-08, 13.347-49, 17.40-45.
  • Kingship and the social order: 1.48-49, 3.9-11, 12.280-88, 13.383-87, 14.668-71, 15.29-31.
  • Kingship and treasure: 1.19-22, 3.7-9, 12.506-07, 13.266-73, 16.36-39.
  • The king as head of the body politic: 1.16-19, 1.28-31, 19.16-19.
  • Lists of advice for good kingship: 2.224-28, 2.228-83, 9.136-40, 13.155-63, 13.165-72, 13.206-11, 13.204-06.
  • A realm will prosper if the king rules well, but suffer if the king does not: 6.33-35, 12.139-41, 12.288-91, 13.94-96, 13.146-53, 13.199-200, 13.215-20, 16.28-30, 16.47-49, 18.13-15.


    Poverty
  • Being wicked is far worse than being poor: 2.70-73, 8.70-71, 11.224-26, 23.318-20.
  • How to avoid poverty: 12.75-77, 12.377-78, 23.53-55, 23.138-41.
  • A man's true character is seen when he is in adversity, not prosperity: 10.136-38, 13.181-83.
  • True poverty is not lack of wealth, but lack of wisdom: 11.299-302, 11.554-58, 13.380-83.


    Truth
  • Be truthful and avoid lying: 2.32-36, 4.11-13, 11.389-91.
  • Do not despise those who speak the truth: 11.500-02, 12.154-57, 13.172-73.
  • The many benefits of being truthful: 13.275-76, 17.201-02, 23.334-39, 23.381-82.
  • On whether truth should be spoken: 11.296-97, 12.445, 23.73-74.
  • Those who err before they know the truth are less at fault: 8.100-01, 11.221-22, 11.510-12.
  • Truth should be practiced in word and deed: 1.62-63, 6.23-25, 13.307-11, 16.33-35.


    Wealth
  • On wealthy old men: 12.273-75, 12.516-19, 18.1-2.
  • Problems to which wealth can lead: 9.127-28, 11.193-96.
  • Types of riches that are superior to material wealth: 1.47, 6.18-22, 11.502-03, 23.150-53.
  • Wealth is not bad as long as it is used wisely: 2.219-20, 12.73-75, 13.99-101, 19.25-26.


    Wisdom
  • The benefits of wisdom: 5.43-45, 11.466-67, 12.86-87, 12.128-29, 14.341-44, 15.17-18.
  • The lack of wisdom is like a tree without fruit: 2.161-63, 17.247-48.
  • One should be governed by wisdom: 2.170-71, 3.1, 5.12-13, 9.49-50, 11.231-32, 11.476-77, 12.395-96, 12.375-76, 12.550-52, 19.10-11, 23.412-14.
  • Paths to gaining wisdom: 1.59-61, 2.46, 2.123-24, 2.166-69, 12.104-06, 12.200, 13.315-16, 13.283-86, 17.65-66, 23.1-3, 23.130-34.
  • Qualities that show someone is or is not wise: 1.71, 2.163-65, 12.94-96, 12.108-09, 12.172-73, 17.161-69, 22.69-71, 23.408-09.
  • Wisdom and folly contrasted: 11.373-74, 11.490, 23.23-25, 23.277-79.
  • Wisdom and material wealth: 2.135-37, 10.114-15, 11.161-62, 11.208-09, 11.523-25, 11.550-52, 13.262-63, 14.685-86, 23.84-87.
  • Wisdom and wine are not compatible: 11.512, 11.525-26.
  • Wisdom is a bulwark against the inevitability of death: 23.120-22, 23.122-23.
  • Wisdom is a complement to many other virtues: 2.59-63, 11.197-199, 12.133-34, 12.557-60, 14.547, 15.16, 23.116-20, 23.379-81.
  • Wisdom is blind to age and social class: 2.174-75, 13.192-95, 23.10-13.
  • Wisdom is good for the soul: 2.130-31, 11.139-41, 13.143-45, 13.287-89, 23.56-57, 23.81-84.
  • Words reveal one's wisdom: 12.173-75, 13.260-61, 17.200-01.


    The Wise Man
  • Follow the wise man: 2.53, 13.124-28, 15.27-28, 17.178-81, 17.227-28, 23.74-77.
  • Qualities of the wise man: 2.137-40, 2.296-98, 11.517-20, 12.51-52, 12.161-64, 12.229-30, 12.404-05, 12.459-62, 12.481-83, 12.502-03, 12.524-27, 12.533-34, 17.111-36.
  • The wise man and anger: 11.302-03, 12.55-58, 13.224-26.
  • The wise man and death: 23.256-63, 23.305-07.
  • The wise man and his words: 11.348-50, 13.362-68, 23.49-51, 23.189-91, 23.347-48.
  • The wise man and material wealth: 1.56-58, 2.158-61, 12.81-82, 21.10-11, 23.342-44.
  • The wise man and spirituality: 1.72-74, 2.127-30, 9.115-16, 11.559, 12.543-46.
  • The wise man and the fool contrasted: 8.81-84, 11.269-70, 11.271-72, 11.513-15, 11.516-17, 12.126-28, 13.133-34, 16.58-60, 19.23-25, 23.8-10, 23.9-10, 23.372-74, 23.374-75, 23.377-78, 23.401-04.
  • The wise man must be humble: 11.239, 12.149-51, 12.210-11, 12.548-50, 17.169-74, 23.250-52.
  • The wise man restrains his will: 1.63-69, 11.378-80, 12.448-51.


    Women
  • Beauty and ugliness: 7.14-16, 11.370-73, 11.439-41.
  • The failings and vices of women: 10.110-12, 11.419-20, 11.420-21, 11.421-22, 11.422-25, 11.425-26, 11.433-35, 11.436-38, 11.446-48, 11.449-51, 23.184-85.
  • It is dangerous to dwell with a woman: 11.196-97, 23.276-77.
  • It is shameful to be overcome by women: 14.578-84, 14.619-23, 14.671-76.
  • Never obey women because they lead men astray: 11.278-280, 11.416-19, 11.432-33, 11.435-36.
  • On childbirth: 1.55-56, 11.441-46.
  • On marriage: 10.132-33, 11.4, 11.448-49, 17.174-75, 23.4-6.
  • The value of older women: 9.140-41, 22.13-15.


    Words and Deeds
  • Deeds more than words benefit the soul: 9.16-17, 12.179-81.
  • Do not do by deed what can be done by word: 12.441-42.
  • Judge a man by his deeds and not by his words: 1.31-32, 1.80-82, 9.72-73.
  • Know a man's character by his deeds more than by his words: 2.151-52, 2.177-78, 23.304-05.
  • Requite a good turn with words and especially deeds: 12.472-75.
  • The word must be followed up by the deed: 12.116-17, 14.680-82, 23.255-56.


    Wrath
  • How to avoid wrath: 10.83-90, 10.138-43, 20.18-25.
  • The importance of restraining one's anger: 2.119-20, 2.215-17, 11.515-16, 12.555-56, 13.203, 15.24-25, 21.3-6.
  • Instances in which anger is likely but should be avoided: 12.345-47, 23.141-42.
  • It is best to avoid wrath: 11.498, 12.255-56.
  • Ways in which people are made angry: 2.180, 10.129-30, 11.542-44, 13.239-42, 13.296-98, 23.323-24.
  • Wrath leads to negative consequences: 2.188-89, 11.406-07, 12.175-76, 12.253-55, 12.275-80, 12.341-44, 12.534-39, 23.173-84.

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