one of the seven sages of Greece, and of the ephori of Sparta; the place of his birth, flourished about 556 years before Christ. He was accustomed to say that there were three things very difficult: "To keep a secret; to know how best to employ our time; and to suffer injuries without murmuring." According to Pliny, it was he who caused the short sentence Know thyself; to be written in letters of gold in the temple of Delphos. It is said that he died of joy, while embracing his son, who had been crowned at the Olympic games.