Myson of Chenus

Myson of Chenus is one of the so-called seven sages of archaic Greece, among whom Plato included him in his dialogue Próthagoras. Later writers, however, often excluded him from the seven.

Very little is known about the life of Myson of Chene. He was supposed to have been born in the small unknown village of Chén or Chény. To this day it is not even known where it was supposed to have been, but it is said to have been somewhere in Oita (on the border of central Helada and Thessaly) or in Laconia. Other sources say it came from Arcadia. He was supposed to be the son of a lone ruler, but he still made his living as a peasant.

According to several sources, some sages (Anacharsis, Solon, Cheilon) visited Myson in Chenus. According to other sources, Myson hated people. This was confirmed by the statement, "For he was seen in Lacedaimon laughing to himself in solitude. When someone suddenly approached him and asked him why he was laughing when no one was present, he replied that it was for that reason."

Surviving statements:
"People should be ready to act, not prepare while acting."
"We must not judge actions by words, but words by actions. "

He was to die at the age of 97.