Philotimo (Filotimo) – Greek Virtue – The Untranslatable Greek Word

Philotimo – The Virtue of the Greeks

Philotimo (Φιλότιμο) is a unique ancient Greek word, which since the time of the ancient Greek philosophers has remained untranslatable.

This doesn’t mean that the word can’t be explained or that the essence of it can’t be felt.

Philotimo, a noun, translates literally as:

“Lover of honour”

Philotimo – Lover of Honour

The word philotimo is a combination of two words; “Philos” – that which is loved or important, or from a friend and “Timi“- Honour.

Philotimo is a blend of honor, integrity, duty, pride, dignity and courage.

In ancient Greece the worst thing that could happen to a man was to lose his honesty, his honor, in other words, his “philotimo”.

Any man accused of this was judged by his fellow Athenians, if voted as dishonorable, he was thrown out of Athens, out of society and lost all his civil rights.

It was far worse, than being accused of theft, or murder!

The Ancient Greek Philosophers Thoughts on Philotimo

Philotomo – The greatest virtue

The word Philotomo was used profusely in Hellenistic literature.

In early writings it was actually given a negative sense by the philosopher, Plato, who in his in his work, “The Republic” used the word philotimo ironically, insinuating, that the love of honor and pride, or distinction vigor, strength and ambition, was akin to being prodigal, lavish and conceited.

However, Plato seemed to be in the minority, here’s what other prominent Greek philosophers have written about philotimo;

Socrates (469 – 399 BC)

“If a man lacked most virtues but had unconditional courage, he will be saved”

Aristotle (384 BC – 322 BC)

“You will never do anything in this world without courage.It is the greatest thing next to honour”

Thales of Miletus (c. 624–620 – c. 548 – 545 BC)

“Philotimo is part of the essence of being Greek”

“Philotimo to the Greek is like breathing. A Greek is not a Greek without it. He might as well not be alive.”

I think maybe the quotation from philosopher Thales of Miletus, one of the Seven Sages of Greece, best describes, what philotimo means.

Philotimo in Modern Greece

Greek Courage – Greek revolution – War of Independence – 1821

Today, in Greece, if someone acts inappropriately, they are likely to be asked;

“How could you act that way, Have you lost your philotimo?”

Since the emergence of Christianity, philotimo has been known as a good, positive word, which appears at least three times in the New Testament, written by Apostle Paul, a native Greek speaker, well educated in Greek literature.

Philotimo is not only a trait to be admired, it is expected, it is an ideal, a concept, a lifestyle, philotimo is pride in oneself, family and the community.

Duty – Greek Evzone or Tsolias, guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Athens

Philotimo is respecting others, helping others, not because there might be something in it for you, but because you have a duty to do the right thing.

The Image of Philotimo – Greek man from Crete, in traditional Cretan costume.

It is philotimo, which kept the close-knit Greek community, strong for thousands of years.

During WWII, strong bonds were formed, which still exist.

Locals risked their own lives, without expecting anything in return, sheltering Australian and British soldiers, in Nazi-occupied Crete.

What the World has to say about Greeks

My thoughts on Philotimo

It is the pride of the Greek man, I do think that this is more of a male trait than female.

It is his pride in his country, the love for his country, the pride in himself, his hospitality, to help people, to open his house to people.

He will fight to the death for his family and for Greece.

Strength and Courage – Spartan King Leonidas

I remember touring Crete with my Father, on a quiet country road, an elderly gentleman, waved us down with his walking stick.

We stopped the car, he approached and asked the time, yes, he stopped us just to ask the time, but then he told us he lived nearby, would we like to come and have lunch with him and his family.

Sadly, we had to decline this impromptu invitation, from this wonderful Cretan character, we were on a tight schedule, but had we accepted, he would have made us feel like members of his family.

It was his duty, his honor to do this.

This is philotimo.

The meaning of the unique Greek word “Philotimo”

I was a stranger here in Greece more than forty years ago but I was accepted, I was looked after.

After being here for only a few months, my husband, MGG (My Greek God), had to leave to do his national service.

I was a bit worried about being on my own with not much understanding of the Greek language.

I shouldn’t have worried, I never had a minute to myself, I was invited out for meals, for coffee, into people’s homes.

Any of them that had relatives or friends over from America, Canada and Australia, came to find me, so that I could meet them, speak my own language, they didn’t want me to feel alone.

Yes, they did it for me, but mostly I think they did it for my husband it was their duty, to me they showed me the meaning of philoxenia, another wonderful Greek trait.