Diogenes Laërtius quotes - page 3

Diogenes Laërtius was an ancient Greek biographer and historian, best known for his work "Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers." His writings are one of the main sources of information about the lives and teachings of Greek philosophers. He preserved many anecdotes and fragments that might otherwise have been lost. Here are 107 of his quotes:

That virtue was sufficient of herself for happiness.

Diogenes Laërtius

Let no one be slow to seek wisdom when he is young nor weary in search thereof when he is grown old. For no age is too early or too late for the health of the soul. And to say that the season for studying philosophy has not yet come, or that it is past and gone, is like saying that the season for happiness is not yet or that it is now no more.

Diogenes Laërtius

He said that there was one only good, namely, knowledge; and one only evil, namely, ignorance.

Diogenes Laërtius

It takes a wise man to discover a wise man.

Diogenes Laërtius

Another was, "Watch your opportunity."

Diogenes Laërtius

The market is a place set apart where men may deceive each other.

Diogenes Laërtius

Another of his sayings was, that education was the best viaticum of old age.

Diogenes Laërtius

He used to teach that God is incorporeal, as Plato also asserted, and that his providence extends over all the heavenly bodies.

Diogenes Laërtius

He used to define justice as "a virtue of the soul distributing that which each person deserved."

Diogenes Laërtius

Of a rich man who was niggardly he said, "That man does not own his estate, but his estate owns him."

Diogenes Laërtius

The road to Hades is the easiest to travel.

Diogenes Laërtius

He declared that he knew nothing, except the fact of his ignorance.

Diogenes Laërtius

All things are in common among friends.

Diogenes Laërtius

Epimenides was sent by his father into the field to look for a sheep, turned out of the road at mid-day and lay down in a certain cave and fell asleep, and slept there fifty-seven years; and after that, when awake, he went on looking for the sheep, thinking that he had been taking a short nap.

Diogenes Laërtius

Once he saw a youth blushing, and addressed him, "Courage, my boy! that is the complexion of virtue."

Diogenes Laërtius

The chief good he has defined to be the exercise of virtue in a perfect life.

Diogenes Laërtius

He alludes to the appearance of a face in the orb of the moon.

Diogenes Laërtius

Aristotle was once asked what those who tell lies gain by it. Said he, "That when they speak truth they are not believed."

Diogenes Laërtius

Asked what he gained from philosophy, he answered, "To do without being commanded what others do from fear of the laws."

Diogenes Laërtius

One of his sayings was, "Even the gods cannot strive against necessity."

Diogenes Laërtius

Among what he called his precepts were such as these: Do not stir the fire with a sword. Do not sit down on a bushel. Do not devour thy heart.

Diogenes Laërtius

It was a common saying of Myson that men ought not to investigate things from words, but words from things; for that things are not made for the sake of words, but words for things.

Diogenes Laërtius