Anacharsis (fl. 6th century BCE) was a legendary Scythian prince who has come to exemplify the wise barbarian. He is included in some ancient Greek lists as one of the Seven Wise Men and is extolled as a paradigm of primitive virtue.
According to the Greek historian Herodotus, Anacharsis traveled extensively in quest of knowledge and gained a high reputation for wisdom. He visited Athens during Athenian statesman Solon’s time. Later historians credit Anacharsis with ten letters and numerous aphorisms and refer to an interview between him and Solon. (The Roman statesman-philosopher Cicero translated one of the ten letters.)
The Cynic philosophers represented Anacharsis as a “noble savage,” to be differentiated with the “degenerate” civilized Greeks. Tradition maintains that Anacharsis despised all Greeks except the Spartans.
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These written laws are just like spiders’ webs; the small and feeble may be caught and entangled in them, but the rich and mighty force through and despise them.
—Anacharsis
Written laws are like spiders’ webs; they will catch, it is true, the weak and poor, but would be torn in pieces by the rich and powerful.
—Anacharsis
Topics: Lawyers
Play so you may be serious.
—Anacharsis
Topics: Pleasure
Every man is his own chief enemy.
—Anacharsis
Every man is his own chief enemy.
—Anacharsis
Topics: Danger
Play so that you may be serious.
—Anacharsis
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