The history of philosophy, in eight parts by Thomas Stanley.

CHAP. III.

His Apophthegmes.

OF his Apophthegmes are remembered these.* 1.1

He proved Labour to be good, by the examples of Her∣cules and Cyrus, one a Grecian, the other a Barbarian.

He first defined Speech thus, Speech is that which declareth that which is or was.

To a young man of Pontus that came to be his Disciple, and asked him what he must bring with him, he answered, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a new Book, a new pen, and a new tablet, where the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is equivocall, and signifieth (divided 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) Wit.

To one, demanding what kinde of Wife he should take; If a fair one, saith he, she will be common; if foul, a torment.

Hearing that Plato spoke ill of him; it is King-like, saith he, to do well, and be ill spoken of.

Being initiated into the Orphick solemnities, the Priest telling him, that they who were initiated into those rites, were made partakers of many excellent things in the next world: Why then, saith he, do you not die?

To one that reproached him that both his Parents were not free, Neither, saith he, were they both wrastlers, and yet I am a wrastler.

Being demanded why he had few Disciples, I beat them away, saith he, with a silver staffe.

Being demanded why he rebuked his Disciples so sharply; So, saith he, do Physicians the sick.

Seeing an Adulterer running away, Unhappy man, saith he, how much danger might you have escaped for one halfe penny.

He said according to Hecaton, It is better to fall among Crowes then flatterers; for those only devour the dead, these the living.

Being demanded what was most happy for man, he answered, To die in prosperity.

To a friend, complaining he had lost his notes; You should have writ them in your minde, saith he, and not in your book.

As rust consumeth iron, so envy, saith he, consumeth the envious man.

Those who would never die, saith he, must live piously and justly.

He said, Citties were then perishing, when they could not distinguish the good from the bad.

Being commended by some wicked men;* 1.2 I am troubled, saith he, to think what ill I have done.

He said, the cohabitation of concording Brethren is firmer then any wall.

He said, we ought to carry such provision along with us, as if

we should happen to be shipwra••k'd, we might swimme away with.

To those who reproached him for conversing with wicked per∣sons; So do Physicians with the sick, saith he, yet are not sick them∣selves.

He said, It is absurd to separate corn from the weeds, and in way to reject the unserviceable person; 〈◊〉〈◊〉, in a Common-wealth, not to extirpa••e the wicked.

Being demanded what he had gain'd by Philosophy, he an∣swer'd, that I can converse with myselfe.

At a Feast, to one that said to him, 〈◊〉〈◊〉; he reply'd, Do you then pipe.

Diogenes demanding a Coat, he bad him double his Cloak.

Being demanded what learning is most necessary; That, saith he, which unlearneth ill.

He advised those who were provoked by revilings, to bear it with greater Fortitude, then if stones were cast at them.

He derided Plato, as being proud, and seeing at a show a horse going loftily, turning to Plato, Me thinks, saith he, you would have acted the part of this horse very well. This he said, because Plato at the same time had commended the horse.

Another time visiting Plato, as he lay sick, and looking into the basin whereinto he had vomited, I see here, saith he, the choler, but not the pride.

He advised the Athenians to love Asses as well as Horses, which they conceiving absurd; and yet, saith he, you choose those for Generalls, who know nothing, but how to stretch out the hand.

To one that said to him, many praise thee; Why, saith he, what ill have I done?

To one that demanded (as Phanias saith) what he should do to be a good and an honest man: if you learn, saith he, of knowing persons, that the vices which you have are to be avoided.

To one that praised a life full of delicacies; Let the sons of my enemies, saith he, live delicatly.

To a young man, who desired his statue might be made hand∣somer then himselfe; Tell me, saith he, if the brasse it selfe could speak, what you think it would boast of; the other answer'd, of its handsome figure: Are you not ashamed then, replies he, to be proud of the same that an inanimate creature would be?

A young man of Pontus promised to supply him, as soon as his ship came home laden with saltfish; hereupon he took him to a meal-woman, and filling his satchell departed; she calling to him for mony: This young man, saith he, will pay you as soon as his ship comes home.

When at any time he saw a woman richly dress'd, he went to her house, and bad her husband bring out his horse and armes, that

if he were so provided, he might allow her those freedomes, be∣ing better able to justifie the injuries it occasion'd; otherwise, that he should take off her rich habit.

He said,* 1.3 Neither a feast is pleasant without company, nor riches with∣out Vertue.

He said,* 1.4 Those pleasures which come not in at the dore, must not go out by the dore, but by incision or purging with Hellebor, or by* 1.5 star∣ving, so to punish those sur••eits which we have incurred for a short plea∣sure.

He said,* 1.6 Whosoever seareth others is a slave, though he know it not himselfe.

He said,* 1.7 No covetous man can be a good man, or a King, or a free∣man.

Being demanded what a feast is,* 1.8 he answered, The occasion of surfeits.

He said,* 1.9 We ought to aim at such pleasures as follow labour, not at those which go before labour.

He said,* 1.10 Common Executioners are better then Tyrants; those p••t on∣ly guilty men to death, Tyrants, the innocent.

He said,* 1.11 We ought to wish our enemies all good things but Fortitude, for that they possesse would fall into the hands of the Victor, not the Owner.

Him that contradicteth, he said,* 1.12 he said, we must not again contradict, but instruct; for a mad-man is not cured by anothers growing mad also.

He said,* 1.13 A man should alwaies have in readinesse his wits or a rope.

Seeing the Thebans much exalted with their successe at the Luctrian sight, he said, They were like boyes that triumph when they have beaten the. Masters.

To some that commended a Piper;* 1.14 But, saith he, he is an ill man, for else he would never have been so good a Piper.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Laert.
• * 1.2

  Laert. Stob.
• * 1.3

  Stob. Ser. 1.
• * 1.4

  Stob. Ser. 38.
• * 1.5

  Ser. 44.
• * 1.6

  Ser. 50.
• * 1.7

  Ser. 53.
• * 1.8

  Ser. 87.
• * 1.9

  Ser. 117.
• * 1.10

  Ser. 148.
• * 1.11

  Ser. 171.
• * 1.12

  Ser. 212.
• * 1.13

  Plut. rep. Stoic. Plut. vit. Lyc.
• * 1.14

  Plut. vit. Per.