Hi Chas,
As far as I can tell, the earliest source (written) is Eliphas Levi's
'Transcendental Magic'... To quote:
"To attain the Sanctum Regnum, in other words the knowledge and power of
the Magi, there are four indispensable conditions -- an intelligence
illuminated by study, an intrepidity which nothing can check, a will
which cannot be broken, and a prudence which nothing can corrupt and
nothing intoxicate. To Know, To Dare, To Will, To Keep Silent -- such
are the four words of the Magus, inscribed upon the four symbolical
forms of the sphinx. These maxims can be combined after four manners
and explained four times by one another."
The quote can be found in chapter one of the first part of the work (pg
29 of my current 1999 Weiser edition). This is where the alternate
name, 'Powers of the Sphinx' may have also originated. I do not have
the original French version of the text but if someone else does, I
would love to see the same passage in the original French. That being
said, this is the earliest reference I have found.
Additionally, Levi footnotes this passage and indicated the reader to
"See the Tarot cards".
Hope this helps some.
Pat Bellavance
Chas S. Clifton wrote:
> Could someone please tell me where and when the "magician's
> pyramid" (to know, to will, to dare, to keep silent) originated?
> What is the earliest written reference?
>
> thanks in advance,
>
> Chas Clifton
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
> "Letter from Hardscrabble Creek" -- a Pagan writer's blog
> http://www.chasclifton.com/blogger.html
>
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