A short anecdote or saying attributed to a famous person, used as a teaching tool in ancient rhetoric and education.
From Greek 'χρεία' (chreia) meaning 'usefulness' or 'need.' It became a standard term in ancient Greek and Roman rhetorical training for brief illustrative stories or witty remarks.
Chria were to ancient students what memes are to modern ones—short, memorable, and usually about famous philosophers or leaders—they were the building blocks of classical education.
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