Solon
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Jump to navigationJump to searchAthenian sage of the 5th? century bc. According to the the historian Herodotus of Halicarnassus, he was once asked by Creosus, the hugely rich despot from Asia minor 'who is the the happiest man in the world'. Creosus expected to be told 'you are' but was given the names of several men he had never heard of. He asked Solon why they were happier than him. Solon's famous reply was: "Call no man happy, who is not dead." It was recalling this story which, again according to Herodotus saved Creosus from execution when his kingdom was overcome by invading Persians.