The Lives and Opinions of Eminent PhilosophersDiogenes Laertius
Philosophy
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers
Diogenes Laertius
Philosophers, Ancient -- Biography; Philosophy, Ancient
He was once asking a favour of Dionysius for a friend, and when he could
not prevail, he fell at his feet; and when some one reproached him for
such conduct, he said, “It is not I who am to blame, but Dionysius who
has his ears in his feet.” When he was staying in Asia, and was taken
prisoner by Artaphernes the Satrap, some one said to him, “Are you still
cheerful and sanguine?” “When, you silly fellow,” he replied, “can I have
more reason to be cheerful than now when I am on the point of conversing
with Artaphernes?” It used to be a saying of his, that those who had
enjoyed the encyclic course of education, but who had omitted philosophy,
were like the suitors of Penelope; for that they gained over Melantho
and Polydora and the other maid-servants, and found it easier to do that
than to marry the mistress. And Ariston said in like manner, that Ulysses
when he had gone to the shades below, saw and conversed with nearly all
the dead in those regions, but could not get a sight of the Queen herself.
On another occasion, Aristippus being asked what were the most necessary
things for well-born boys to learn, said, “Those things which they will
put in practice when they become men.” And when some one reproached him
for having come from Socrates to Dionysius, his reply was, “I went to
Socrates because I wanted instruction (παιδεῖας), and I have come to
Dionysius because I want diversion (παιδιᾶς).” As he had made money by
having pupils, Socrates once said to him, “Where did you get so much?”
and he answered, “Where you got a little.” When his mistress said to him,
“I am in the family way by you,” he said, “You can no more tell that,
than you could tell, after you had gone through a thicket, which thorn
had scratched you.” And when some one blamed him for repudiating his son,
as if he were not really his, he said, “I know that phlegm, and I know
that lice, proceed from us, but still we cast them away as useless.”
One day, when he had received some money from Dionysius, and Plato had
received a book, he said to a man who jeered him, “The fact is, money is
what I want, and books what Plato wants.” When he was asked what it was
for which he was reproached by Dionysius, “The same thing,” said he, “for
which others reproach me.” One day he asked Dionysius for some money, who
said, “But you told me that a wise man would never be in want;” “Give
me some,” Aristippus rejoined, “and then we will discuss that point;”
Dionysius gave him some, “Now then,” said he, “you see that I do not want
money.” When Dionysius said to him;—
“For he who does frequent a tyrant’s court,[25]
Becomes his slave, though free when first he came:”
He took him up, and replied:—
“That man is but a slave who comes as free.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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