Gnomic poetry consists of concise, meaningful sayings put into verse to aid memory, forming a key part of wisdom literature that expresses general truths about the world. Flourishing in ancient Greece around the 6th century BC, poets like Theognis, Solon, and Hesiod (whose Works and Days is an early example) crafted moral aphorisms, many popularly attributed to the "Seven Wise Men" with maxims such as "Know thyself."
These gnomes were crucial for the direct development of moral philosophy and marked a significant transition from early epic poetry to later dramatists and moralists. While much of this ancient Greek work exists only in fragments, Theognis's collection was notably preserved around 300 BC. Beyond Greece, gnomic literature also appeared in the ancient literatures of Arabia, Persia, India, and medieval Europe, including Anglo-Saxon poetry and German priamel, demonstrating its widespread and enduring influence on ethical thought.