Background:
The earliest known use of this expression is in The Lives and Opinions of
Eminent Philosophers written by Digenese Laërtius around 300 AD. In this he
attributes Chilon of Sparta as saying "don't badmouth a dead man." Chilon was
one of the Seven Sages of Greece - a title given by Ancient Greek tradition to
seven 6th century BC philosophers and statesmen who were revered for their
wisdom.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I wonder if Chilon cared to explain why. Is this, like other proverbs, a summary
of wisdom gained through misery and suffering? I doubt it.
The philosopher could be full of philanthropy and pissed off by unsavory remarks
toward some deceased person he pitied for no other reason than empathy. The fox
grieved the death of the hare, as the Chinese saying goes.
Besides, the dead can't defend themselves and humans despise a freeloader, one
who wins with no skin in the game.
