Family Bonds

Family Bonds

Man is a social animal. He has learnt from very old times to live in communities and groups with other people. His family, however, is the group that provides a safe life full of love and security. Family is very important part of our everyday life. It helps us in improving our personality. It also helps us in shaping our life. It teaches us the value of love, affection, care, truthfulness and self-confidence and provides us tools and suggestions which are necessary to get success in life.

Family is a place where you can be yourself. It is a place where you are accepted for what you are. This is where you are completely tension free and everyone is there to help you. Family encourages you when you are surrounded by problems. It helps you survive through tough times and bring joy and happiness into life.

Decency and dignity are very important in the activities of daily life. They help us make strong relationships and bonds with others and make us come across as a very gentle, intelligent and likable person. We all love to be in a company of such a person. Family helps bring decency and dignity into our life which is necessary to lead a happy and balanced life.

One of the most important aims of our life is to build a successful and highly rewarding career. Our families help us in creating a strong future. It gives us valuable suggestion about different career prospective. It not only guides us in choosing the best but also financially helps us to cover the expenses of education. Thus it helps us in making a good future.

Today, most people don't realize the importance of family. They prefer to spend most of their time with their friends. But when they are surrounded by problems, it was their family that helped them get rid of problems. At the time, when even our best friends refuse to help us, it was our family that came to help us. So it is very important for each and every individual to give importance to their families above anything else and enjoy spending time with family members.

It is very difficult, if not impossible, for anyone, to live happily, survive and prosper without the support and long-term bonds of a family. Also parents are considered to be the most valuable thing for all human beings. For this exact reason we have an obligation to always respect, honor, support and love them. Finally it is also our divine duty and moral (and legal) responsibility to also support, love, care, educate, train and provide for our children, to the best of our abilities, for the very simple reason that we brought them to this world.

And as the ancient Greek thinkers have said, thousands of years ago: ‘Every person must honor his (or her) parents’ (Aeschylus), ‘Family is the cell of life’ (Aristotle), ‘The person who does not take care of his (or her) parents is an enemy of both people and Gods’ (Dimosthenis), ‘There are three rules to be followed by anyone who wants to be right: To love his (or her) parents, to love other human beings and to love what is just’ (Euripides), ‘We should behave towards our parents the same way we would want our children to behave towards us’ (Isocrates), ‘Correct education is one therapeutic way for our soul’ (Plato), ‘There are three bases that contribute to a child’s good upbringing: Nature, education and exercise’ (Plutarch), and ‘Education comprises the festive activities of the soul, as it includes many games, events and activities that support and improve our souls’ (Socrates).

MAXIMS OF WISDOM OF ANCIENT GREECE

E-Book: ‘MAXIMS OF WISDOM OF ANCIENT GREECE’.

39 Pages, English  and Ancient Greek. Cost: Free.

Publisher: John Kyriazoglou (July, 2011).

Available at: http://www.free-ebooks.net/?page=4&category=Philosophy

Summary: This book contains the ethical maxims and quotations (in English with their ancient Greek translation in the appendix) of the seven sages (Solon, Thales, Chilon, etc.) of ancient Greece (about 600 B.C.) on all aspects of life, in a simple, quick, practical and easy-to use guide, to enable, help and support all people (young, old, men, women, students, etc.) in their potential efforts to improve their life at all levels: personal, family, professional, community, etc.

Contents: Preface, The Maxims of Delphi, The Quotations of the Seven Sages of Ancient Greece, Appendix A: The Maxims of Delphi in English and Ancient Greek, Appendix B: The Quotations of the Seven Sages in English and Ancient Greek, and Bibliography.

Improving your Relationships with Friendship and Love (Greek)

E-Book:  ‘IMPROVING YOUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH FRIENDSHIP AND LOVE’

277 Pages. Greek only. Cost: $4.50. Publisher: John Kyriazoglou (July, 2011).

Available at: http://store.payloadz.com/details/956192-ebooks-self-help-improving-your-relationships-with-friendship-and-love.html

Περίληψη: Ένα βιβλίο που αποσαφηνίζει τις έννοιες και προσεγγίσεις της φιλίας και της αγάπης (από τον αρχαίο κόσμο έως σήμερα) και παρέχει ορισμένες τεχνικές και τρόπους αυτοβοήθειας που μας υποστηρίζουν στην βελτίωση των σχέσεων μας σε όλα τα επίπεδα (προσωπικό, οικογενειακό, εργασιακό, κλπ.), μέσω της φιλίας και της αγάπης, και χωρίς την συνδρομή των ειδικών, σε πρώτη φάση.

AN ESSAY ON MAN IN THE 21ST CENTURY (Greek)

E-Book: ‘ Ο ΑΝΘΡΩΠΟΣ ΣΤΗΝ ΗΛΕΚΤΡΟΝΙΚΗ ΕΠΟΧΗ’
(‘AN ESSAY ON MAN IN THE 21^ST CENTURY’)

20 Pages, Greek only. Cost: $1.50. Publisher: John Kyriazoglou (July, 2011).

Available at: http://store.payloadz.com/details/956285-ebooks-social-science-an-essay-on-man-in-the-21st-century.html

Περίληψη: Ένα δοκίμιο για την κατάσταση του ανθρώπου στον 21^ο αιώνα, τα προβλήματα της υπερπληροφόρησης, και πως μπορούμε όλοι να αντιδράσουμε για να βελτιώσουμε την ζωή μας και να ζήσουμε πιο ήρεμα και ευτυχισμένα.

Anthology on Friendship and Love (Greek)

1. E-Book:  ‘ΑΝΘΟΛΟΓΙΑ ΦΙΛΙΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΑΓΑΠΗΣ’

                 (Anthology on Friendship and Love)

ISBN: 978-960-9520-14-0.

84 Pages (Σελίδες).  Greek only. Date (Ημερ/νία): 7/2011

Cost (Κόστος): Euro 4.50. Publisher (Εκδότης): Digital Content A.E.

Available at: http://www.e-bookshop.gr/book.asp?Bookid=881

Περίληψη: Μια συλλογή διηγημάτων, ποιημάτων, ύμνων, προσευχών, γνωμικών και τεχνικών που βασίζονται στην φιλία και την αγάπη και που μπορούν να συνδράμουν στην βελτίωση της ζωής μας.

Maxims of Delphi and Quotations of the Seven Sages of ancient Greece

MAXIMS OF DELPHI AND QUOTATIONS OF THE SEVEN SAGES OF ANCIENT GREECE

                               (SUMMARY)

by John Kyriazoglou

ISBN 978-1-4507-5833-8

This is available at: http://store.payloadz.com/details/956148-ebooks-philosophy-maxims-and-quotations-of-the-seven-sages-of-ancient-greece.html, and
 http://i-proclaimbookstore.com/maofdeandquo.html

SYNOPSIS

This book contains a set of wisdom pieces of ancient Greece, in terms of the maxims of the oracle of Delphi and the quotations of the seven sages of ancient Greece.

 These maxims and quotations were translated from ancient Greek into English.

The original maxims and quotations (ancient Greek and current Greek) can be sent to anyone interested by a request to the author, without charge.

 The purpose of this book is to make all readers (general public, educated and not, young, old, men, women, high school, college and university students, managers, workers, professionals, etc.) aware of a set of classical quotations that could be used to help them in all walks and stages in their personal and professional life, and hopefully enable them to understand, reflect upon, and improve their relationships, in the long term.

 The translation of the maxims and quotations into English were done by the author on the basis of the original texts in both ancient Greek and current Greek and other sources noted in the bibliography.

 The Seven Sages (of ancient Greece) or Seven Wise Men  was the title given by ancient Greek cultural tradition to seven early 6th century B.C. philosophers, poets, rulers, statesmen and law-makers who were renowned in the following centuries for their wisdom, and which is still valid today. The seven sages were Thales, Pittacos, Bias, Solon, Cleovoulos, Periandros, and Chilon. They lived in ancient Greece over 600 years B.C. and before the advent of the classical Greek philosophers, like Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, etc.

Aristotle esteemed the wisdom of Bias. So did Plato who praises Bias, and Pittacos. Heracleitus had a very high respect for Bias and Pittacos. Also Plutarch, in his famous ‘Dinner of the seven sages’, refers to all seven sages with the highest remarks.

Their maxims and quotations set the background for the development of the classical Greek philosophy. The purpose of this book is to offer any reader a very simple guide into the wisdom of ancient Greece, improve his or her learning and thinking, because as Empedocles has said ‘learning really cultivates thinking’ and possibly allow him or her to gain some better understanding of this very old wisdom, and therefore see with their own ‘eyes’ and soul how these can help them in their every-day life.

 A SAMPLE OF THE MAXIMS OF DELPHI FOLLOW.

1. Follow God.

2. Obey the law.

3. Worship God.

4. Respect your parents.

 A SAMPLE OF THE QUOTATIONS OF THE SEVEN SAGES FOLLOW.

 
Quotations of Cleovoulos) 

1. The measure (limit, analogy) in all things is the best.

2. Respect your father.

3. Maintain your body and mind in good order.

Quotations of Solon

1. Never exaggerate.

2. Do not take the position of a judge, as in this case you will be hated by the condemned.  

4. Keep the politeness and goodness of your character more faithful than your oath.   

Quotations of Chilon

1. Know yourself.

8. Respect your elders.

15. Control your anger.

Quotations of Thales

2. Remember your friends, both, when they are near you, as well as when they are far away.

3. Do not beautify your external appearance, but you should look to become good in your behavior. 

4. Do not get rich in a bad way.           

Quotations of Pittacos

7. Show tolerance to small damages inflicted upon you by your neighbors.

12. Acquire what is not destroyed by time: piety, education, prudence, thoughtful mind, truth, belief, expense, skills and dexterities, co-operation, care, effective management, professional knowledge.

Quotations of Bias

2. Look into your mirror, and if you look nice, you must do nice things if, however, you look ugly, you must correct your physical deficiency with politeness and goodness

3. Do not be in a hurry to undertake something. When, however, you start, stay fixed to that until the end.

Quotations of Periandros

1. Exercising is the best thing.

2. To be quiet is a nice thing, to be arrogant and abusive, a dangerous one.

3. Profit is shameful.

THOUGHTS ON FRIENDSHIP AND LOVE (Greek)

THOUGHTS ON FRIENDSHIP AND LOVE (Greek)

Author: John Kyriazoglou

YADES PUBLISHERS, 2009, Greece.

SUMMARY- BOOK WRITTEN IN GREEK

SYNOPSIS: This book presents definitions of friendship and love in ancient cultures (Greek Latin, etc.), in religions, and in latest times, as expressed by writers, poets and philosophers. Also short 'how to' instructions or guidelines are offered for use to improve one's personal and business life on the basis of friendship and love.

This book is written in Greek. ISBN: 978-960-89676-3-2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART A. DEFINITIONS OF FRIENDSHIP AND LOVE OVER THE AGES

Chapter 1: Classical definition of friendship and love in ancient Greece

Chapter 2: Classical definition of friendship and love in other civilizations

Chapter 3: Classical definition of friendship and love in the Christian tradition

Chapter 4: Modern definition of friendship and love

Chapter 5: The relationship between friendship and love

Chapter 6: Other characteristics of friendship and love

PART B. IMPROVING RELATIONSHIPS WITH FRIENDSHIP AND LOVE

Chapter 7: Small secrets of a happy couple relationship

Chapter 8: Improving relationships between two friends

Chapter 9: Improving professional relationships

Chapter 10: Improving relationships by using the maxims of Epicurus

PART C. IMPROVING YOURSELF

Chapter 11: How to evaluate your relationships

Chapter 12: How to enhance your self-confidence

Chapter 13: How to relax

Chapter 14: How to deal with failure

Chapter 15: How to deal with depression

Chapter 16: Self-help by using quotations of friendship and love

PART D. FINAL CONCLUSIONS AND EPILOGUE

Chapter 17: Final conclusions

Chapter 18: Epilogue

BIBLIOGRAPHY