The Golden Verses of Pythagoras

Nightly self-assessment sheet

“Never allow sleep to close your eyelids, after you’ve gone to bed, until you have
examined all your actions of the day by your reason. In what have I done wrong?
What have I done? What have I omitted that I ought to have done? If in this
examination you find that you have done wrong, reprove yourself severely for it;
and if you have done any good, rejoice.”

Golden Verses of Pythagoras 40 - 44

Day 1 “First worship the Immortal gods, as they are established and ordained
by the Law.” Verse 1
What have I done wrong?

What have I not done that I should have done?

What have I done that was good?

Day 2 “Honor likewise your parents, and those most nearly related to you.”
Verse 4
What have I done wrong?

What have I not done that I should have done?

What have I done that was good?

Day 3 “Of all the rest of mankind, make him your friend who distinguishes
himself by his virtue.” Verse 5
What have I done wrong?

What have I not done that I should have done?

What have I done that was good?

Day 4 “Avoid as much as possible hating your friend for a slight fault.” Verse
7
What have I done wrong?

What have I not done that I should have done?

What have I done that was good?

Day 5 “Accustom yourself to overcome and vanquish these passions: first
gluttony, sloth, sensuality, and anger. Do nothing evil, neither in the
presence of others, nor privately; but above all things respect yourself.”
Verses 9 - 12
What have I done wrong?

What have I not done that I should have done?

What have I done that was good?

Day 6 “Observe justice in your actions and in your words.” Verse 13
What have I done wrong?

What have I not done that I should have done?

What have I done that was good?

Day 7 “And do not accustom yourself to behave yourself in anything without
rule, and without reason.” Verse 14
What have I done wrong?

What have I not done that I should have done?

What have I done that was good?

Day 8 “But always make this reflection, that it is ordained by destiny that all
men shall die. And that the goods of fortune are uncertain; and that
just as they may be acquired, they may likewise be lost.” Verses 15 - 16
What have I done wrong?

What have I not done that I should have done?

What have I done that was good?

Day 9 “Concerning all the calamities that men suffer by divine fortune,
support your lot with patience - it is what it may be - and never complain
at it. But endeavor what you can to remedy it.” Verses 17 - 19
What have I done wrong?

What have I not done that I should have done?

What have I done that was good?

Day 10 “And consider that fate does not send the greatest portion of these
misfortunes to good men.” Verse 20
What have I done wrong?

What have I not done that I should have done?

What have I done that was good?

Day 11 “There are many sorts of reasonings among men, good and bad; do not
admire them too easily, nor reject them.” Verses 21 - 22
What have I done wrong?

What have I not done that I should have done?

What have I done that was good?

Day 12 “If falsehoods are advanced, hear them with mildness, and arm yourself
with patience.” Verse 23
What have I done wrong?

What have I not done that I should have done?

What have I done that was good?

Day 13 “Do not let any man, either by his words or by his deeds, ever seduce
you. Nor lure you to say or to do what is not profitable for yourself.”
Verses 25 - 26
What have I done wrong?

What have I not done that I should have done?

What have I done that was good?

Day 14 “Consult and deliberate before you act, that you may not commit foolish
actions.” Verse 27
What have I done wrong?

What have I not done that I should have done?

What have I done that was good?

Day 15 “It is the part of a miserable man to speak and to act without reflection.
But do the thing which will not afflict you afterwards, nor oblige you to
repentance.” Verses 28 - 29
What have I done wrong?

What have I not done that I should have done?

What have I done that was good?

Day 16 “Never do anything which you do not understand. But learn all you
ought to know, and by that means you will lead a very pleasant life.”
Verses 30 - 31
What have I done wrong?

What have I not done that I should have done?

What have I done that was good?

Day 17 “In no way neglect the health of your body; but give it drink and food in
due measure, and also the exercise of which it needs.” Verses 32 - 33
What have I done wrong?

What have I not done that I should have done?

What have I done that was good?

Day 18 “Accustom yourself to a way of living that is neat and decent without
luxury.” Verse 35
What have I done wrong?

What have I not done that I should have done?

What have I done that was good?

Day 19 “Avoid all things that will occasion envy.” Verse 36
What have I done wrong?

What have I not done that I should have done?

What have I done that was good?

Day 20 “Do not be prodigal out of season, like someone who does not know what
is decent and honorable.” Verse 37
What have I done wrong?

What have I not done that I should have done?

What have I done that was good?

Day 21 “Neither be covetous nor stingy; a due measure is excellent in these
things.” Verse 38
What have I done wrong?

What have I not done that I should have done?

What have I done that was good?

Day 22 “Only do the things that cannot hurt you, and deliberate before you do
them.” Verse 39
What have I done wrong?

What have I not done that I should have done?

What have I done that was good?

Day 23 “Never begin to set your hand to any work, until you have first prayed
the gods to accomplish what you are going to begin.” Verse 48
What have I done wrong?

What have I not done that I should have done?

What have I done that was good?

Day 24 “According to Law, the nature of this universe is in all things alike, so
that you shall not hope what you ought not to hope; and nothing in this
world shall be hidden from you.” Verses 52 - 53
What have I done wrong?

What have I not done that I should have done?

What have I done that was good?

Day 25 “Men draw upon themselves their own misfortunes voluntarily, and of
their own free choice.” Verse 54
What have I done wrong?

What have I not done that I should have done?

What have I done that was good?

Day 26 “Few know how to deliver themselves out of their misfortunes. Such is
the fate that blinds humankind, and takes away his senses.” Verses 56
- 57
What have I done wrong?

What have I not done that I should have done?

What have I done that was good?

Day 27 “For fatal strife, natural, pursues them everywhere, tossing them up
and down; nor do they perceive it. Instead of provoking and stirring it
up, they ought to avoid it by yielding.” Verses 59 - 60
What have I done wrong?

What have I not done that I should have done?

What have I done that was good?

Day 28 “Oh! Jupiter, our Father! If you would deliver men from all the evils that
oppress them, show them of what daemon they make use.” Verses 61 -
62
What have I done wrong?

What have I not done that I should have done?

What have I done that was good?

Day 29 “But take courage; the race of humans is divine. Sacred nature reveals
to them the most hidden mysteries.” Verse 63 - 64
What have I done wrong?

What have I not done that I should have done?

What have I done that was good?

Day 30 “By the healing of your soul, you will deliver it from all evils, from all
afflictions.” Verse 66
What have I done wrong?

What have I not done that I should have done?

What have I done that was good?

Day 31 “Leave yourself always to be guided and directed by the understanding
that comes from above, and that ought to hold the reins.” Verse 69
What have I done wrong?

What have I not done that I should have done?

What have I done that was good?