Herodotus, Histories 1.29.2 · 1.29.2
Bound by oath
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αὐτοὶ γὰρ οὐκ οἷοί τε ἦσαν αὐτὸ ποιῆσαι Ἀθηναῖοι· ὁρκίοισι γὰρ μεγάλοισι κατείχοντο δέκα ἔτεα χρήσεσθαι νόμοισι τοὺς ἄν σφι Σόλων θῆται.
The Athenians themselves were not able to do it, for they were bound by solemn oaths to live for ten years by whatever laws Solon laid down for them.
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Why Solon had to leave.
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The Athenians have bound themselves by horkia megala, "great oaths," to live under Solon's laws for ten years, whatever those laws turned out to be. That is why they cannot repeal them, and why Solon cannot stay: if he were in Athens, the pressure would fall on him to change them himself. So the lawgiver removes himself, and lets his laws stand without their author.
It is one sentence, and Herodotus tells it in passing, but it shows what he admires about Solon before Solon has said a word. This is a man who treats nomos, law and custom, as stronger than any person, himself included. The king he is about to meet has conquered half of Asia Minor and thinks of nothing as stronger than himself.
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