--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [Dialogue between Solon and an Egyptian…" description: "\"“[Dialogue between Solon and an Egyptian Priest] In the Egyptian Delta, at the head of which the river Nile divides, there is a certain district which ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6a/plato-103_communication_dialogue-between-solon-and-an-egyptian-p_3131852.jpg" --- # \[Dialogue between Solon and an Egyptian Priest\] In the… ![“[Dialogue between Solon and an Egyptian Priest] In the Egyptian Delta, at the head of which the river Nile divides, there is a certain district which is called the district of Sais [...] To this city came Solon, and was received there with great honour; he asked the priests who were most skilful…” quote by Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6a/plato-103_communication_dialogue-between-solon-and-an-egyptian-p_3131852.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6a/plato-103_communication_dialogue-between-solon-and-an-egyptian-p_3131852.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6a/plato-103_communication_dialogue-between-solon-and-an-egyptian-p_3131852.jpg) > ““\[Dialogue between Solon and an Egyptian Priest\] In the Egyptian Delta, at the head of which the river Nile divides, there is a certain district which is called the district of Sais \[...\] To this city came Solon, and was received there with great honour; he asked the priests who were most skilful in such matters, about antiquity, and made the discovery that neither he nor any other Hellene knew anything worth mentioning about the times of old. On one occasion, wishing to draw them on to speak of antiquity, he began to tell about the most ancient things in our part of the world-about Phoroneus, who is called "the first man," and about Niobe; and after the Deluge, of the survival of Deucalion and Pyrrha; and he traced the genealogy of their descendants, and reckoning up the dates, tried to compute how many years ago the events of which he was speaking happened. Thereupon one of the priests, who was of a very great age, said: O Solon, Solon, you Hellenes are never anything but children, and there is not an old man among you. Solon in return asked him what he meant. I mean to say, he replied, that in mind you are all young; there is no old opinion handed down among you by ancient tradition, nor any science which is hoary with age.”” [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The priest argues that Greeks lack ancient tradition and deep historical knowledge, emphasizing cultural humility and the limits of recorded memory. **In simple terms:** Greeks know little of ancient history. Key Takeaway Value humility and seek broader perspectives. Themes humility history knowledge culture Mood reflective inquisitive Type philosophical historical When to use this quote - education - archaeology - cross‑cultural exchange - historical research Key Concepts cultural relativism epistemology Questions to Reflect On - What histories are we missing? - How can we preserve cultural memory? A Different Perspective Ancient traditions may be lost or overlooked. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Dialogue Solon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dialogue-solon-5541687/) [Egypt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/egypt/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Old man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-man/) [Said Solon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-solon-5541689/) [Solon Egyptian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solon-egyptian-5541688/) [Solon Hellenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solon-hellenes-5541690/) [Tell Ancient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tell-ancient-4537228/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Years ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-ago/) ## Related quotes > [“It’s like we've been flung back in time," he said. 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On one occasion, wishing to draw them on to speak of antiquity, he began to tell about the most ancient things in our part of the world-about Phoroneus, who is called \"the first man,\" and about Niobe; and after the Deluge, of the survival of Deucalion and Pyrrha; and he traced the genealogy of their descendants, and reckoning up the dates, tried to compute how many years ago the events of which he was speaking happened. Thereupon one of the priests, who was of a very great age, said: O Solon, Solon, you Hellenes are never anything but children, and there is not an old man among you. Solon in return asked him what he meant. 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