The Lives and Opinions of Eminent PhilosophersDiogenes Laertius
Philosophy
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers
Diogenes Laertius
Philosophers, Ancient -- Biography; Philosophy, Ancient
XI. He left behind him a great number of commentaries, and many
dialogues; among which was one on Aristippus; one on Riches; one on
Pleasure; one on Justice; one on Philosophy; one on Friendship; one
on the Gods; one called the Philosopher; one addressed to Cephalus;
one called Cephalus; one called Clinomachus, or Lysias; one called
the Citizen; one on the Soul; one addressed to Gryllus; one called
Aristippus; one called the Test of Art. There were also Commentaries by
way of dialogues; one on Art; and ten about those things which are alike
in their treatment. There are also books of divisions and arguments
directed to similar things; Essays on the Genera and Species of Examples;
an Essay addressed to Amartyrus; a Panegyric on Plato; Letters to Dion,
and Dionysius, and Philip; an Essay on Legislation. There is also, the
Mathematician; the Mandrobulus; the Lysias; Definitions; and a series of
Commentaries. There are in all, forty-three thousand four hundred and
seventy-five lines.
Simonides dedicated to him the Histories, in which he had related the
actions of Dion and Bion. And in the second book of his Commentaries,
Phavorinus states that Aristotle purchased his books for three talents.
XII. There was also another person of the name of Speusippus, a physician
of the school of Herophilus,[34] a native of Alexandria.
LIFE OF XENOCRATES.
I. Xenocrates was the son of Agathenor, and a native of Chalcedon. From
his early youth he was a pupil of Plato, and also accompanied him in his
voyages to Sicily.
II. He was by nature of a lazy disposition, so that they say that Plato
said once, when comparing him to Aristotle,—“The one requires the spur,
and the other the bridle.” And on another occasion, he said, “What a
horse and what an ass am I dressing opposite to one another!”
III. In other respects Xenocrates was always of a solemn and grave
character, so that Plato was continually saying to him,—“Xenocrates,
sacrifice to the Graces.” And he spent the greater part of his time in
the Academy, and whenever he was about to go into the city, they say
all the turbulent and quarrelsome rabble in the city used to make way
for him to pass by. And once, Phryne the courtesan wished to try him
and pretending that she was pursued by some people, she fled and took
refuge in his house; and he admitted her indeed, because of what was
due to humanity; and as there was but one bed in the room, he, at her
entreaty, allowed her to share it with him; but at last, in spite of
all her entreaties, she got up and went away, without having been able
to succeed in her purpose; and told those who asked her, that she had
quitted a statue and not a man. But some say that the real story is, that
his pupils put Lais into his bed, and that he was so continent, that he
submitted to some severe operations of excision and cautery.
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