Iamblichus' Life of Pythagoras, or Pythagoric Life: Accompanied by Fragments of the Ethical Writings of certain Pythagoreans in the Doric dialect; and a collection of Pythagoric Sentences from Stobaeus and others, which are omitted by Gale in his Opuscula Mythologica, and have not been noticed by any editorIamblichus
Philosophy
Iamblichus' Life of Pythagoras, or Pythagoric Life: Accompanied by Fragments of the Ethical Writings of certain Pythagoreans in the Doric dialect; and a collection of Pythagoric Sentences from Stobaeus and others, which are omitted by Gale in his Opuscula Mythologica, and have not been noticed by any editor
Iamblichus
Ethics, Ancient; Philosophers -- Greece -- Biography; Philosophy, Ancient; Pythagoras; Pythagoras and Pythagorean school
Moreover, of perfect men there are two differences. For some of them are
naturally perfect; but others are perfect according to life. And those
indeed alone that are good, are naturally perfect. But these are such as
possess virtue. For the virtue of the nature of every thing is a summit
and perfection. Thus the virtue of the eye is the summit and perfection
of the nature of the eye. But the virtue of man is the summit and
perfection of the nature of man. Those also are perfect according to
life, who are not only good, but happy. For felicity, indeed, is the
perfection of human life. But human, life is a system of actions: and:
felicity gives completion to the actions. Virtue also and fortune give
completion to actions; virtue, indeed, according to use; but good
fortune according to prosperity. God therefore is neither good through
learning virtue from any one, nor is he happy through being attended by
good fortune. For he is good by nature, and happy by nature, and always
was and will be, and will never cease to be, such; since he is
incorruptible, and naturally good. But man is neither happy nor good by
nature, but requires discipline and providential care. And in order to
become good, indeed; he requires virtue; but in order to become happy,
good fortune. On this account, human felicity summarily consists of
these two things, viz. of praise, and the predication of beatitude. Of
praise indeed, from virtue; but of the predication of beatitude, from
prosperity. It possesses virtue therefore, through a divine destiny, but
prosperity through a mortal allotment. But mortal are suspended from
divine concerns, and terrestrial from such as are celestial. Things
subordinate, also, are suspended from such as are more excellent. And on
this account, the good man who follows the Gods is happy; but he who
follows mortal natures is miserable. For to him who possesses wisdom,
prosperity is good and useful. It is good, indeed, through his knowledge
of the use of it; but it is useful, through his co-operating with
actions. It is beautiful, therefore, when prosperity is present with
intellect, and when sailing as it were with a prosperous wind, actions
are performed looking to virtue; just as a pilot looks to the motions of
the stars. For thus, he who does this will not only follow God, but will
also co-arrange human with divine good.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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