Of desire also, he [i. e. Pythagoras] said as follows: This passion is various, laborious, and very multiform. Of desires however, some are acquired and adventitious, but others are connascent. But he defined desire itself to be a certain tendency and impulse of the soul, and an appetite of a plenitude or presence of sense, or of an emptiness and absence of it, and of non-perception. He also said, that there are three most known species of erroneous and depraved desire, viz. the indecorous, the incommensurate, and the unseasonable. For desire is either immediately indecorous, troublesome, and illiberal; or it is not absolutely so, but is more vehement and lasting than is fit. Or in the third place, it is impelled when it is not proper; and to objects to which it ought not to tend. Ex Aristoxeni Pythag. Sententiis. Stob. p. 132. Endeavour not to conceal your errors by words, but to remedy them by reproofs. Pythagoras. Stob. p. 146. It is not so difficult to err, as not to reprove him who errs. Pythagoras. Stob. p. 147. As a bodily disease cannot be healed, if it is concealed, or praised; thus also, neither can a remedy be applied to a diseased soul, which is badly guarded and protected. Pythagoras. Stob. p. 147. The grace of freedom of speech, like beauty in season, is productive of greater delight. It is not proper either to have a blunt sword, or to use freedom of speech ineffectually. Neither is the sun to be taken from the world, nor freedom of speech from erudition. As it is possible for one who is clothed with a sordid robe, to have a good habit of body; thus also he whose life is poor may possess freedom of speech.[84] Be rather delighted with those that reprove, than with those that flatter you; but avoid flatterers, as worse than enemies. Pythagoras. Stob. p. 149. The life of the avaricious resembles a funeral banquet. For though it has all things [requisite to a feast,] yet no one present rejoices. Stob. p. 155.[85] Acquire continence as the greatest strength and wealth. Pythagoras. Stob. p. 156. “Not frequently man from man,” is one of the exhortations of Pythagoras; by which he obscurely signifies, that it is not proper to be frequently engaged in venereal connexions. Stob. p. 156. It is impossible that he can be free who is a slave to his passions. Pythagoras. Stob. 165. Pythagoras said, that intoxication is the meditation of insanity. Stob. p. 165. Pythagoras being asked, how a lover of wine might be cured of intoxication, answered, if he frequently surveys what his actions were when he was intoxicated. Stob. p. 165. Pythagoras said, that it was either requisite to be silent, or to say something better than silence. Stob. p. 215. Let it be more eligible to you to throw a stone in vain, than to utter an idle word. Pythagoras. Stob. p. 215. Do not say a few things in many words, but much in a few words. Pythagoras. Stob. p. 216. Genius is to men either a good or an evil dæmon. Epicharmus. Stob. p. 220.