The author of this precept "never stand surety" is Thales of Miletus (Θαλῆς ὁ Μιλήσιος), whose name has survived through the centuries. Greek philosopher and scholar, born in Miletus around 625-620 BC, died around 548-545 BC, still in Miletus, he is best known for his scientific reasoning! Legend has it that this mathematician and philosopher of nature spent time in Egypt, where he was initiated into Egyptian and Babylonian science through the teachings of the priests.

This wisdom of "nothing in excess" calls upon the physical, emotional, and psychological life of the individual. It is a daily practice of spiritual life, intimately linked to self-knowledge and scrupulous observation of oneself, and in particular of one's own needs.

In line with my reflection on kairos, which concluded on the necessary effort with which to strive towards introspective and in-depth knowledge of oneself, it is now logical that we take on board this maxim as famous as it is misunderstood: "know thyself", Γνῶθι σεαυτόν.

Here, Pittakos of Mytilene seems to urge us to discern kairos, to learn to know it. It would therefore be, not only a natural gift, an innate talent, a brilliant intuition, but also a quality to be acquired.

According to one of the seven sages of Antiquity, Bias of Priene, "Most men are wicked". It is perhaps worth revisiting this maxim today to grasp its full depth... and its warnings!

Recent years have exposed us not only to mass propaganda, but also to its shamelessness: it no longer hides, it asserts itself, it flaunts itself, it claims its own status as information prostitute. Minds that have seen these crude maneuvers, for example, those of the actors we regularly find in crisis situations, have emerged from a first Plato's Cave. But what happens to them afterwards?