Gnom. Vat.

English translations from the Gnomologium Vaticanum

Translation progress badge

  1. Ἀντισθένης τοὺς πόνους ἔφησεν ὁμοίους εἶναι κυσί· καὶ γὰρ ἐκεῖνοι τοὺς ἀσυνήθεις δάκνουσιν.

    Antisthenes said that tasks are like dogs: for they too bite those unfamiliar with them.

  2. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς ὑπό τινος, εἰ γήμῃ, εἶπεν· „εἰ μὲν καλήν, κοινὴν ἕξεις· εἰ δὲ αἰσχράν, ποινήν“.

    Someone asked [Antisthenes] if they should marry, he said, “if they’re good, you’ll hold a common wealth, if they’re shameful, you’ll hold a heavy load.”

  3. Ὁ αὐτὸς εἶπε τοὺς ἀπαιδεύτους ἐνύπνια ἐγρηγορότα.

    [Antisthenes] said that the uneducated are awoken from dreams.

  4. Ὁ αὐτὸς πρότερον ῥητορικὴν ἐδίδασκεν· ἔπειτα Σωκράτους εἰπόντος μετεβάλετο· ἐντυχὼν δὲ τοῖς ἑταίροις, „πρότερον“, ἔφη, „ἦτέ μου μαθηταί· νῦν δ’ ἂν νοῦν ἔχητε, ἔσεσθε συμμαθηταί“.

    [Antisthenes] first taught rhetoric; when Socrates spoke he converted. Happening upon his friends afterwards, he said: “Earlier, you were my students. But now, if you have half a brain, you will become my fellow-students.”

  5. Ὁ αὐτὸς Διονυσίου λυπουμένου, ὅτι θνητός ἐστιν, „ἀλλὰ σύ γε“, ἔφη, „προελθόντος τοῦ χρόνου λυπηθήσῃ, ὅτι μηδέπω ἀποθνήσκεις“.

    When Dionysius was lamenting that he would die some day, [Antisthenes] said “for you, as time marches on, you will lament that you have not yet died.”

  6. Ὁ αὐτὸς πυνθανομένου τοῦ τυράννου, τί δήποτε οὐχ οἱ πλούσιοι πρὸς τοὺς σοφοὺς ἀπίασιν, ἀλλ’ ἀνάπαλιν, εἶπεν· „ὅτι οἱ σοφοὶ μὲν ἴσασιν ὧν ἐστιν αὐτοῖς χρεία πρὸς τὸν βίον, οἱ δ’ οὐκ ἴσασιν, ἐπεὶ μᾶλλον χρημάτων ἢ σοφίας ἐπεμελοῦντο.“

    [Antisthenes] was asked by a tyrant, why the rich don’t seek out the wise, but instead the opposite happens, he said: “The wise know what things they need in life, but the rich do not know, since they consider things better than wisdom.”

  7. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς ὑπό τινος, τί· τὸν υἱὸν διδάξει, εἶπεν· „εἰ μὲν θεοῖς αὐτὸν συμβιοῦν ἐθέλοις, φιλόσοφον· εἰ δὲ ἀνθρώποις, ῥήτορα“.

    [Antisthenes] was asked by someone, what he should teach his son, he said: “If you wish for him to live together with the gods, philosophy; if with mortals, rhetoric.”

  8. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς ὑπό τινος, πῶς ἂν προσέλθοι πολιτείᾳ, εἶπεν· μήτε λίαν ἐγγύς, ἵνα μὴ κατακαῇ, μήτε πόῤῥω, ἵνα μὴ ῥιγοῖ.

    [Antisthenes] was asked by someone, how the government of a city should be approached, he said: “not too close, so that you won’t get burned, but not too far either, so that you won’t freeze.”

  9. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐπαινούμενος ὑπὸ μοχθηρῶν, „ἀγωνιῶ“, ἔφη, „μή τι κακὸν εἴργασταί μοι, ὅτι τοιούτοις ἀρέσκω“.

    When [Antisthenes] was being praised by idiots, he said: “I’m agonizing that I might’ve done something wrong, if I’m pleasing to these sorts.”

  10. Ὁ αὐτὸς λοιδοροῦντος αὐτόν τινος ὡς οὐκ Ἀθηναῖον, „καὶ μήν“, εἶπεν, „οὐδεὶς ἑώρακε λέοντα Κορίνθιον οὐδ’ Ἀττικόν, ἀλλ’ οὐδὲν ἧττον γενναῖόν ἐστι τὸ ζῷον“.

    When [Antisthenes] was being rebuked by someone for being non-Athenian, he said: “And nobody’s seen a lion that’s Corinthian or Athenian, but the beast is no less noble for it.”

  11. Ὁ αὐτὸς θεασάμενος ἐν πίνακι γεγραμμένον τὸν Ἀχιλλέα Χείρωνι τῷ Κενταύρῳ διακονούμενον, „εὖ γε, ὦ παιδίον“, εἶπεν, „ὅτι παιδείας ἕνεκεν καὶ θηρίῳ διακονεῖν ὑπέμεινας.“

    When [Antisthenes] saw a tablet engraved with a drawing of Achilles serving Chiron the Centaur, he said: “Well done, child, that on account of child-rearing you’ve patiently endured to serve even a beast.”

  12. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔφη τὴν ἀρετὴν βραχύλογον εἶναι, τὴν δὲ κακίαν ἀπέραντον.

    [Antisthenes] said that virtue is succinct, but vice is voluminous.

  13. Ὁ αὐτὸς Πλάτωνός ποτε ἐν τῇ σχολῇ μακρολογήσαντος εἶπεν· „οὐχ ὁ λέγων μέτρον ἐστὶ τοῦ ἀκούοντος, ἀλλ’ ὁ ἀκούων τοῦ λέγοντος.“

    [Antisthenes], when Plato had spoken at length in his school, said: “the speaker is not the measure of the listener, but the listener of the speaker.”

  14. Ἀνάχαρσις ἔφη τοὺς Ἕλληνας ἁμαρτάνειν, ὅτι παρ’ αὐτοῖς οἱ μὲν τεχνῖται ἀγωνίζονται, οἱ δ’ ἀμαθεῖς κρίνουσιν.

    Anacharsis said that the Greeks screwed up, since their skilled workers contend among themselves, but the unskilled judge them.

  15. Ὁ αὐτὸς λοιδορούμενος ὑπό τινος, ὅτι Σκύθης εἴη, ἔφη· „γένει, ἀλλ’ οὐχὶ τοῖς τρόποις· [ἐν ἤθεσι γὰρ ἡ σοφία]“.

    [Anacharsis] being rebuked by someone, that he might be Scythian, said: “by birth, but not by customs; [for wisdom is in customs.]”

  16. Ὁ αὐτὸς λοιδορούμενος ὑπ’ Ἀθηναίων ἐπὶ τῷ σολοικίζειν εἶπεν· „Ἀνάχαρσις Ἀθηναίοις σολοικίζει, Ἀθηναῖοι δὲ Ἀναχάρσιδι“.

    [Anacharsis] being rebuked by an Athenian on account of a solecism said: “Anacharsis solecises according to Athenians, Athenians according to Anacharsis.”

  17. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἀστραγαλίζων καὶ ἐπιτιμηθείς, διότι παίζει, ἔφη· „ὥσπερ τὰ τόξα διὰ παντὸς τεταμένα ῥήσσεται, ἐπὰν δὲ ἀνεθῇ, εὔχρηστα γίνεται πρὸς τὰς ἐν τῷ βίῳ χρείας, οὕτω καὶ ὁ λογισμὸς ἐπὶ τῶν αὐτῶν μένων κάμνει“.

    [Anacharsis] was playing knucklebones, and being rebuked on account of his playing, said: “Just as a bow stretched too far breaks, but one relaxed, becomes useful to the matters of life, thus also we should treat the reasoning which remains toiling upon itself.”

  18. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς ὑπό τινος, τί ἐστι πολέμιον ἀνθρώποις, εἶπεν· „αὐτοὶ ἑαυτοῖς“.

    [Anacharsis] having been asked by someone, what is the enemy of humanity, said: “they themselves.”

  19. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς ὑπό τινος, διὰ τί οἱ φθονεροὶ ἄνθρωποι ἀεὶ λυποῦνται, ἔφη· „ὅτι οὐ μόνον τὰ ἑαυτῶν αὐτοὺς κακὰ δάκνει, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὰ τῶν πέλας ἀγαθὰ λυπεῖ“.

    [Anacharsis] having been asked by someone, what made jealous people so distressed, said: “Not only do their own misfortunes sting them, but good things happening to their neighbors distresses them as well.”

  20. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς ὑπό τινος, τί ἐθεάσατο ἐν τῇ Ἑλλάδι παράδοξον εἶπε, τὸ τοὺς νεκροὺς καίεσθαι μὲν ὡς ἀναισθήτους, ἀποκαίεσθαι δὲ αὐτοῖς ὡς αἰσθανομένοις.

    [Anacharsis] having been asked by someone, what sight in Greece is incredible, said: “the bodies being burnt like they cannot feel it, or the ones being cauterized by the same people like they can.”

  21. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς ὑπό τινος, ποῖός ἐστι θάνατος χαλεπώτερος, εἶπεν· „ὁ τῶν εὐτυχούντων“.

    [Anacharsis] having been asked by someone, for whom death is harder, said: “the fortunate.”

  22. Ὁ αὐτὸς ὀνειδιζόμενος ὑπό τινος, ὅτι Σκύθης ἐστίν, εἶπεν· „καὶ γὰρ τὰ ῥόδα ἐν ἀκάνθαις φύεται, ἀλλ’ ἐν ἡδονῇ καὶ κάλλει διαφέρει.“

    [Anacharsis] being reproached by someone, on account of being Scythian, said: “The rose too is grown in thorns, but in pleasure and beauty distinguishes itself.”

  23. Ἀρίστιππος, ὁ Κυρηναῖος φιλόσοφος, πλέων εἰς Ἀθήνας ἐναυάγησεν καὶ ὑποληφθεὶς ὑπ’ Ἀθηναίων ὡς ἠρωτήθη, τί μέλλει εἰς Κυρήνην ἐπανελθὼν λέγειν πρὸς τοὺς οἰκείους, ἔφη· „τοιαῦτα ἐφόδια κτᾶσθαι, ἃ καὶ ναυαγοῦσι συν<εκ>νήχεται“.

    Aristippus the Cyrenian philosopher was shipwrecked sailing into Athens, and having been taken in by the Athenians and asked what he intended to tell his friends back home after returning to Cyrene, said: “to procure the sorts of travel provisions, which will float together with a shipwreck.”

  24. Ὁ αὐτὸς παρὰ τῶν μαθητῶν λαμβάνειν ἔφασκε μισθόν, οὐχ ὅπως τὸν βίον ἐπανορθώσῃ, ἀλλ’ ὅπως ἐκεῖνοι μάθωσιν εἰς τὰ καλὰ δαπανᾶν.

    [Aristippus] said he took a fee from his students, not to correct their life, but so that they would learn that they can put their money towards fine things.

  25. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἄσωτον γενόμενον τὸν υἱὸν ἐξέκλεισεν· τῆς δὲ γυναικὸς μεμφομένης, ὅτι αὐτὸν οὐ προσίεται καὶ λεγούσης παρ’ ἕκαστα, ὡς καὶ οὗτος ἐξ αὐτοῦ εἴη, ἀποπτύσας [ὁ Ἀρίστιππος] <ἔφη·> „καὶ γὰρ καὶ τοῦτο ἐξ ἐμοῦ ἐστιν, ἀλλ’ ἀποῤῥίπτω αὐτό, ὅτι με λυπεῖ“.

    [Aristippus] shut out his son because he became profligate. But when his wife reproached him because he did not admit him and said each time that this man also was from him, Aristippus, spitting, said, “No, for this also is from me, but I get rid of it because it pains me.”

  26. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτώμενος, τί θαυμαστόν ἐστιν ἐν βίῳ <εἶπεν>· „ἄνθρωπος ἐπιεικὴς καὶ μέτριος, ὅτι ἐν πολλοῖς ὑπάρχων μοχθηροῖς οὐ διέστραπται“.

    [Aristippus] being asked, what is amazing in life, said: “a person who is fair and moderate, since being among many wretched leaders they were unable to be twisted.”

  27. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἀνθρώπου αὐτὸν ἀδικήσαντος καὶ περιφεύγοντος καὶ ἀπαντᾶν διατρεπομένου συντυχὼν ἅπαξ εἶπεν· „οὐ σὲ χρὴ ἐμὲ φεύγειν, ἀλλ’ ἐμὲ σὲ ὄντα φαῦλον“.

    [Aristippus] having happened upon a man who was unjust and hiding from him and altogether in the wrong, once said: “You don’t need to hide from me, but me from your being so low.”

  28. Ὁ αὐτὸς ὀνειδιζόμενος ὑπό τινος, ὅτι Κυρηναῖος ὑπάρχων ἐκ τῆς πατρίδος πεφυγάδευται, „καί“, εἶπε, „νεανίσκε, μεγάλα με ἡ πατρὶς ἠδίκησεν ἐκ τῆς Λιβύης με εἰς τὴν Ἑλλάδα ἐκβαλοῦσα“.

    [Aristippus] was being being reproached by someone, that the Cyrenian leaders had banished him from their homeland, and said: “Yes, young man! My homeland did a great wrong in casting me out of Libya and into Greece.”

  29. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔφη δεῖν ἐθίζειν ἀπὸ ὀλίγων ζῆν, ἵνα μηδὲν αἰσχρὸν χρημάτων ἕνεκεν πράττωμεν.

    [Aristippus] said that it was necessary to be used to living with little, so that we might not do anything shameful on account of money.

  30. Ὁ αὐτὸς Πλάτωνος εἰσελθόντος πρὸς αὐτὸν μαλακῶς ἔχοντα καὶ πυθομένου, πῶς διάγει, ἔφη τὸν μὲν σπουδαῖον καὶ πυρέττοντα καλῶς ἔχειν, τὸν δὲ φαῦλον καὶ μὴ πυρέττοντα κακῶς.

    Once, Plato approached [Aristippus] when he had a fever and asked, “How are you?”, and he said: “Those who are good and feverish are well, but those who are bad and feverless are ill.”

  31. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐγκαλοῦντός τινος ἀνθρώπῳ τινί, ὅτι λαβὼν ἀργύριον οὐκ ἀπέδωκε, „σαυτῷ δέ“, φησίν, „οὐκ ἐγκαλεῖς, εἰ μὴ ὀρθῶς ἐδοκίμασας, ᾧ ἐδίδους;“

    [Aristippus] on being accused by someone, that he took money and didn’t give it back, said: “Are you not accused by yourself, if you didn’t choose rightly, o giver?”

  32. Ὁ αὐτὸς καθόλου τὸ εὔχεσθαι τὰ ἀγαθὰ καὶ ἀπαιτεῖν τι παρὰ τοῦ θεοῦ ἔφη γελοῖον εἶναι· οὐ γὰρ τοὺς ἰατροὺς ὅταν ἄῤῥωστος αἰτῇ τι βρωτὸν ἢ ποτόν, τότε διδόναι, ἀλλ’ ὅταν αὐτοῖς δοκήσῃ συμφέρειν.

    [Aristippus] said that to pray for something good and demand it from god is generally laughable; for doctors do not give the sick food or drink whenever they ask for it, but whenever they think it will help them.

  33. Ὁ αὐτὸς ὁρκίζοντός τινος παῖδα χρηστὸν γενέσθαι καὶ δίκαιον εἰς αὐτὸν εἶπεν· „ὅρκωσον αὐτὸν καὶ γραμματικὸν καὶ μουσικὸν γενέσθαι καὶ ὅρα, εἰ ἔσται μηδὲν μαθὼν τῶν τοιούτων“.

    [Aristippus], when an enslaved person was swearing to become good and just, said: “Swear to become a grammarian and musician and see, if you ever learn these things.”

  34. Ὁ αὐτὸς εἶπεν· „ὥσπερ τὰ σώματα ἡμῶν τρεφόμενα μὲν αὔξεται, γυμναζόμενα δὲ στερεοῦται, οὕτω καὶ ἡ ψυχὴ μελετῶσα μὲν αὔξεται, καρτεροῦσα δὲ βελτίων γίνεται“.

    [Aristippus] said: “Just as our bodies are grown by nourishment, but strengthened by exercise, thus also the soul is grown by thinking, but becomes better by patience.”

  35. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς ὑπὸ Διονυσίου τοῦ τυράννου, πότε παύσεται αἰτῶν αὐτόν, „ὅτε“, ἔφη, „καὶ σὺ διδούς· τοῦτο δὲ ἔσται, ὅταν μὴ εὐαρεστήσωμεν ἀλλήλοις“.

    [Aristippus] having been asked by the tyrant Dionysius, when he would stop begging, said: “Whenever you also stop giving; but you’ll be able to do this, when we’re not pleasing to one another.”

  36. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθείς, τί αὐτῷ περιγέγονεν ἐκ φιλοσοφίας, ἔφη· „τὸ ἀδεῶς τοῖς ἐντυγχάνουσιν ὁμιλεῖν“.

    [Aristippus] having been asked, what advantage he’d gained from philosophy, said: “Effortlessly keeping company with anyone I meet.”

  37. Ὁ αὐτὸς εἰπόντος τινὸς αὐτῷ, διὰ τί τοῖς μοχθηροῖς πλησιάζει, εἶπεν· „ὅτι καὶ ἰατροὶ τοῖς νοσοῦσιν.“

    [Aristippus], when someone asked why he associated with bad people, said: “Since doctors also associate with sick people.”

  38. Ὁ αὐτὸς θεασάμενός τινα ὀργιζόμενον καὶ διὰ τῶν λόγων σφοδρῶς χαλεπαίνοντα ὑποτυχὼν ἔφη· „μὴ τοὺς λόγους δι’ ὀργῆς ἄγωμεν, ἀλλὰ τὴν ὀργὴν διὰ τῶν λόγων καταλύωμεν“.

    [Aristippus], seeing someone angry and furious on account of an argument, interrupting him said: “Let us not conduct argument through anger, but instead dissolve anger through argument.”

  39. Ὁ αὐτὸς οὐκ ὀλίγα χρήματα παρὰ Διονυσίου [καὶ] μετὰ τὸν ἀπόπλουν λαβὼν καὶ δι’ αὐτὰ ἐπιβουλεύεσθαι μέλλων ὑπὸ τῶν ναυτῶν, μεταβὰς ἐκ τοῦ μέσου τῆς νηὸς παρ’ ἕνα τοῖχον ἐκέλευσε ἐκκενωθῆναι τὰ ἀγγεῖα ἐπὶ τῶν σανίδων ὡς ἀριθμεῖν τὸ ἀργύριον ἐσπουδακώς, περινεύσας δὲ ἐξέβαλεν αὐτὸ εἰς τὸν βυθόν· τῶν δὲ ναυτῶν ἐπὶ τούτῳ δυσφορησάντων εἶπε· “λυσιτελεῖ δι’ ἐμὲ τὸ ἀργύριον ἀπολέσθαι ἢ ἐμὲ δι’ αὐτό.”

    [Aristippus] had taken a lot of money from Dionysius when sailing back and because of this the sailors were plotting against him, so he moved from the middle of the boat to one side and ordered them to empty the money out onto the benches as though they could immediately count the money, but instead he turned around and threw it into the deep; and with the sailors being furious at this, he said: “Better to lose the money because of me than to lose me because of the money.”

  40. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐπιλαμβανομένου αὐτοῦ ποτε Πλάτωνος [ἐπὶ] τῶν δώδεκα δραχμῶν πολυτελῆ ἰχθὺν πρίασθαι ἠρώτησεν, εἰ αὐτὸς ἂν δραχμῆς τὸν αὐτὸν ἰχθὺν ὠνήσατο· τοῦ δὲ συνθεμένου ἔφη μηδὲ αὑτῷ πολλοῦ καθεστηκέναι· „ὃ γάρ ἐστι Πλάτωνι ἡ μία δραχμή, τοῦτο Ἀριστίππῳ αἱ δώδεκα.“

    When Plato rebuked [Aristippus] for trying to buy a fancy fish for 12 drachmas he asked, if [Plato] would buy the same fish for a drachma; and when he agreed, [Aristippus] said it wouldn’t be too great a cost for him, “Since what is one drachma for Plato, is twelve for Aristippus.”

  41. Ὁ αὐτὸς παρὰ Διονυσίῳ ποτὲ τῷ τυράννῳ γυναικείων ἐσθήτων περιφερομένων ἐν τῷ συμποσίῳ τοῖς βουλομένοις ἐνδύσασθαι καὶ συμπαῖξαι ἡνδήποτε παιδιὰν καὶ τοῦ Πλάτωνος παραιτησαμένου διὰ τοιούτου στίχου·

    οὐκ ἂν δυναίμην θῆλυν ἐνδῦναι στολὴν

    [ὁ Ἀρίστιππος] εἶπεν· δός·

    καὶ γὰρ ἐν βακχεύμασιν

    οὖσ’ ἥ γε σώφρων οὐ διαφθαρήσεται.

    When [Aristippus] was at Dionysius the tyrant’s, women’s clothes were being passed around in the symposium for those wishing to put them on and play together in some kind of game, and Plato declined with this line of verse:

    It’s not possible for me to put on a woman’s garment

    [Aristippus] said: Yield,

    For even in Bacchic rituals,

    a woman who is truly self-controlled will not be seduced.

  42. Ὁ αὐτὸς μεταπεμπομένου πολλάκις αὐτὸν τοῦ πατρός, ὡς οὐχ ὑπήκουσεν γράψαντος, ὅτι πωλήσει αὐτὸν κατὰ τοὺς πατρίους νόμους, ἀντέγραψεν ὀλίγον ἔτι περιμεῖναι χρόνον· καὶ <γὰρ> πλείονος ἄξιον γενόμενον πλείονος πωλήσειν.

    [Aristippus] was being sent for by his father repeatedly, but since he did not obey, his father wrote that he would sell him into slavery in accordance with the parental laws; so Aristippus wrote back to wait a little while longer: for becoming more worthy he would be able to be sold for more.

  43. Ὁ αὐτὸς μέλλων ἐντυγχάνειν Φαρναβάζῳ, τῷ βασιλέως σατράπῃ, [καὶ] λέγοντός τινος αὐτῷ· „θάρσει, ὦ Ἀρίστιππε“, ἔφη· „εἴ τι ἕτερον ἔχεις, λέγε· ἐγὼ δὲ, ἐξ οὗ Σωκράτει ὡμίλησα, οὐδενὸς ἀνδρὸς ὁμιλίαν ηὐλαβήθην“.

    [Aristippus] was about to meet Pharnabazus, the king’s satrap, and someone said to him: “Cheer up, Aristippus!”, so he said: “If you have something else to say, say it; for my part, ever since I conversed with Socrates, I haven’t been wary of conversing with any other man.”

  44. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔφησεν· „καὶ εἰ μηδὲν ἄλλο, ἐκ φιλοσοφίας τοῦτό μοι περιγέγονε· τὸ τοῖς προσπίπτουσι κατὰ λόγον ὑπαντᾶν.“

    [Aristippus] said: “If nothing else, I’ve gained this from philosophy: to meet the things that befall me rationally.”

  45. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐπιλαβομένων αὐτοῦ τῶν πολιτῶν, ὅτι μειρακίοις μᾶλλον συνδιατρίβει διαλεγόμενος αὐτοῖς περὶ φρονήσεως, ἔφη· „καὶ γὰρ ὑμᾶς, ὦ πολῖται, ὁρῶ οὐ τοὺς γέροντας τῶν ἵππων δαμάζοντας, ἀλλὰ τοὺς πώλους.“

    [Aristippus] having been rebuked by the populace, that he spent more time talking with youths about wisdom than with them, said: “Because, citizens, I don’t see you taming the old horses, but the young ones.”

  46. Ἄλεξις, ὁ τῶν κωμῳδιῶν ποιητής, ἐπειδή τις αὐτὸν ὄντα πρεσβύτην ἑώρα μόλις πορευόμενον καὶ ἠρώτα· „τί ποιεῖς“; „κατὰ σχολήν“, φησίν, „ἀποθνήσκω“.

    Alexis, the comic poet, when someone saw him as an old man walking slowly and asked: “What are you doing?”, said: “By slowness, dying.”

  47. Ἀριστείδης ὁ δίκαιος ὀνειδιζόμενός ποτε ἐπὶ πενίᾳ εἶπεν· „ἀλλ’ ἐμοὶ μὲν ἡ πενία οὐδὲν συνιστορεῖ κακόν, σοὶ δὲ ὁ πλοῦτος πολλά“.

    Aristides the Just being reproached when he was in poverty, said: “But my poverty suggests nothing bad, while your wealth suggests much.”

  48. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἀκούσας, ὅτι τὰς εἰκόνας αὐτοῦ κατέβαλον οἱ Ἀθηναῖοι, „ἀλλ’ οὐ τὴν ἀρετήν,“ ἔφη, „δι’ ἣν ἐκείνας ἀνέστησαν“.

    [Aristides], hearing that the Athenians had destroyed the statues of him, said: “But not the virtue they erected them on account of.”

  49. Ἀριστοτέλης ὁ φιλόσοφος ἰδὼν νέον σπουδάζοντα περὶ τὰς θέας, „ὅρα“, εἶπεν, „ὦ νεανίσκε, μὴ σπουδάζων περὶ τὸ θεᾶσθαι ἑτέρους αὐτὸς μηδὲν ἄξιον σχῇς θέας“.

    Aristotle the philosopher, seeing a young man anxious about getting a view, said: “Watch, o young man, lest, while being anxious about viewing others, you yourself have nothing worthy of a view.”

  50. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔφη τὴν παιδείαν εὐτυχοῦσι μὲν εἶναι κόσμον, ἀτυχοῦσι δὲ καταφύγιον.

    [Aristotle] said that education is an ornament for those faring well, and a refuge for those faring ill.

  51. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς ὑπό τινος, διὰ τί οἱ Βυζάντιοι λάλοι εἰσίν, εἶπεν· „ὅτι ἐπὶ τοῦ στόματος οἰκοῦσιν“.

    [Aristotle] having been asked by someone why the Byzantines are talkative, said: “Because they live at the mouth.”

  52. Ὁ αὐτὸς Θεοφράστου ποτὲ καὶ Καλλισθένους μελετώντων παρ’ αὐτῷ καὶ τοῦ μὲν εὐροοῦντος ἐν τῷ λέγειν, τοῦ δὲ βραδύτερον γυμναζομένου ᾧ μὲν ἔφησε δεῖν χαλινὸν περιτεθῆναι, ᾧ δὲ προσαχθῆναι μύωπα.

    [Aristotle], once when Theophrastus and Callisthenes were studying at his side and the former was flowing well in speaking and the latter was practicing more slowly, said that the bridle must be placed upon the one, and the gadfly must be applied to the other.

  53. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς ὑπό τινος, τί ἄνθρωπος ἶσον ἔχει θεῷ, εἶπε· „τὸ εὐεργετεῖν“.

    [Aristotle], having been asked by someone how a man is equal to a god, said: “In doing good deeds.”

  54. Ὁ αὐτὸς θεασάμενός τινα ταῖς τοῦ πατρὸς ἀπειλαῖς ἀχθόμενον εἶπε· „μὴ εἰς τοὺς λόγους αὐτοῦ ἀπόβλεπε, μειράκιον, ἀλλ’ εἰς τὰ σπλάγχνα“.

    [Aristotle], seeing someone grieved at the threats of his father, said: “Do not pay heed to his words, young man, but to his heart.”

  55. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔφη τοὺς ἀπαιδεύτους ἐν τοῖς ζῶσι νεκροὺς περιπατεῖν.

    [Aristotle] said that the uneducated walk about as corpses among the living.

  56. Ὁ αὐτὸς συνηδομένου τινὸς αὐτῷ, ὅτι Ἀλέξανδρον μαθητὴν ἔχει, „ἐκείνῳ“, ἔφη, „συνήδου, ὅτι Ἀριστοτέλην ὑφηγητὴν ἔχει.“

    [Aristotle], when someone was rejoicing with him, because he had Alexander as a student, said: “Rejoice with that man, because he has Aristotle as a teacher.

  57. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔφη· μεγάλους χρὴ λαμβάνειν μισθοὺς παρὰ μὲν τῶν εὐφυῶν, ὅτι πολλὰ ὠφελοῦνται, παρὰ δὲ τῶν ἀφυῶν, ὅτι πολλὰ πράγματα μανθάνοντες παρέχουσι τοῖς διδάσκουσιν

    [Aristotle] said: “It is necessary to take large payments from the competent because they are helped much, and from the incompetent because, in their learning, they provide many troubles to their teachers.”

  58. ῾Ο αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθείς, τί δυσκολώτατόν ἐστιν ἐν βίῳ, εἶπε· „τὸ σιωπᾶν”.

    [Aristotle] having been asked, what is most difficult in life, said: “Keeping silent.”

  59. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔφη τὰς μὲν ῥίζας τῆς παιδείας εἶναι πικράς, τοὺς δὲ καρποὺς γλυκεῖς.

    [Aristotle] said that the roots of education are bitter but that the fruits are sweet.

  60. Ἀρχίδαμος, ὁ τῶν Λακεδαιμονίων βασιλεύς, θεασάμενος τὸν ἴδιον παῖδα προπετῶς μαχόμενον τοῖς Ἀθηναίοις εἶπεν· „ἢ τῇ δυνάμει πρόσθες ἢ τοῦ θράσους ἄφελε“.

    Archidamos, the king of the Spartans, seeing his own son fighting the Athenians rashly, said: “Either add to your strength or subtract from your boldness.”

  61. Ἀναξιμένης ἐπὶ ξένης τελευτῶν ἠρωτᾶτο ὑπὸ τῶν φίλων, εἰ βούλοιτο εἰς πατρίδα ἀνακομισθεὶς κηδευθῆναι· ὁ δὲ εἶπεν· „οὐ γὰρ ἐκ παντὸς κλίματος ὁδὸς ἀνέῳγεν εἰς Ἅιδην“;

    When Anaximenes was dying in a foreign land he was asked by his friends, if he wished to be returned to his homeland for burial; but he said: “Does the road out of every place not open onto Hades?”

  62. Αἰσχίνης ὁ ῥήτωρ ἐκπεσὼν τῆς πατρίδος παραγενόμενος εἰς Ῥόδον ἐσοφίστευεν· ἐλθόντος οὖν ποτε τοῦ Δημοσθένους εἰς Ῥόδον καὶ ἀσπασαμένου αὐτὸν καὶ δραχμαῖς χιλίαις τιμήσαντος, δεξάμενος τὰ χρήματα ἐδάκρυσε· τοῦ δὲ παρακαλοῦντος αὐτὸν θαῤῥεῖν, ἴσως καὶ κάθοδον αὐτῷ διὰ τῇς σπουδῆς πέμπειν· „οὐ μέλλω“, ἔφη, „δακρύειν τοιαύτης πατρίδος ἐστερημένος, ἐν ᾗ καὶ οἱ ἐχθρεύοντές εἰσι τοιοῦτοι, ὥστε καὶ βοηθεῖν βούλεσθαι“;

    Aeschines the orator, having been banished from his fatherland, went to Rhodes and was giving lectures. Then, when Demosthenes once came to Rhodes and embraced him and honored him with 1,000 drachmas, accepting the money he began to weep. But when this man was encouraging him to be brave, and perhaps to take part in a return from exile for him due to his eagerness, he said: “I do not hesitate to weep when I am deprived of such a fatherland, in which even my enemies are such that they wish to help.”

  63. Ὁ αὐτὸς λέγων ποτὲ δίκην καὶ ἀποκοιμηθέντων τῶν δικαστῶν, „προσέχετε“, εἶπεν, „ἄνδρες δικασταί· οὕτως ὑμῖν γένοιτο ἰδεῖν ἐνύπνιον περὶ τῆς δίκης ἧς λέγω.“

    When [Aeschines] was speaking at a trial and the jurors had fallen asleep, he said: “Pay attention, jurors! Thus it might be possible for you to see in your dreams about the trial I’m discussing.”

  64. Ἀνάξαρχος, ὁ φυσικὸς φιλόσοφος, Ἀλεξάνδρου τοῦ βασιλέως εἰπόντος αὐτῷ· „κρεμῶ σε“, „ἄλλοις“, ἔφη, „ἀπείλει· ἐμοὶ δὲ οὐδὲν διαφέρει ὑπὲρ γῆς ἢ κατὰ γῆς σήπεσθαι.“

    Anaxarchos, the natural philosopher, when Alexander the king said to him, “I will hang you”, said: “Threaten others. But it makes no difference to me to rot over or under the earth.”

  65. Ἀρκεσίλαος ὁ φιλόσοφος ἐπιπλήσσοντός τινος αὐτῷ, ὅτι οὐ δεῖ τὸν φιλόσοφον ἐρωμένην ἔχειν, μᾶλλον μὲν οὖν ἔφη δεῖν ἔχειν καὶ μὴ ἔχεσθαι ὑπ’ αὐτῆς.

    Arcesilaus the philosopher, when someone was rebuking him that a philosopher should not have a beloved, said that, rather, he should have her, and he should not be had by her.

  66. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔφη τοὺς συκοφάντας πολιτικοὺς λύκους εἶναι.

    [Arcesilaus] said that sycophants are political wolves.

  67. Ἀλκιδάμας ὁ ῥήτωρ Ὀδύσσειαν εἶπεν εἶναι κάτοπτρον τοῦ ἀνθρωπίνου βίου.

    Alcidamas the rhetorician said that the Odyssey is a mirror of human life.

  68. Ἀγησίλαος ὁ Λακεδαιμόνιος ἐρωτηθεὶς ὑπό τινος, τί ἄν τις ποιῶν γένοιτο πλούσιος, ἔφη· „ἐὰν τὰς ἐπιθυμίας παραιτήσηται“.

    Agesilaus the Spartan, having been asked by someone by what methods someone could become rich, said: “If he refuses his emotions.”

  69. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς ὑπό τινος, διὰ τί ἀτείχιστός ἐστιν ἡ Σπάρτη, „μὴ ψεύδου“, ἔφη, „τετείχισται γάρ, οὐ λίθοις, ἀλλὰ ταῖς τῶν <ἐνοικούντων ἀρεταῖς>“.

    [Agesilaus], having been asked by someone why Sparta is unwalled, said: “Do not lie, for it is walled, not with stones, but with the excellence of its inhabitants.”

  70. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθείς, τίνα δεῖ τὸν στρατηγὸν ἔχειν εἶπεν· „πρὸς μὲν τοὺς ἐναντίους τόλμαν, πρὸς δὲ τοὺς ὑποτεταγμένους εὔνοιαν, πρὸς δὲ τοὺς καιροὺς λογισμόν.“

    [Agesilaus], having been asked what a general should possess, said: “Daring against his opponents, good-will towards those placed under him, and a plan for the right moment.”

  71. Ἀντιφῶν ἐρωτηθεὶς τί ἐστι μαντικὴ εἶπεν· „ἀνθρώπου φρονίμου εἰκασμός“.

    Antiphon having been asked by someone what prophecy is, said: “The guess of a human mind.”

  72. Ἀνακρέων λαβὼν τάλαντον χρυσίου παρὰ Πολυκράτους τοῦ τυράννου πάλιν ἀνταπέδωκεν εἰπών· „μισῶ δωρεάν, ἥτις ἀναγκάζει με ἀγρυπνεῖν.“

    Anacreon, having received a gold talent from Polycrates the tyrant, gave it back to him saying: “I hate gifts, or at least those which require me to have sleepless nights.”

  73. Ἀλέξανδρος, ὁ τῶν Μακεδόνων βασιλεύς, <πρός τινα> διαβάλλοντα αὐτῷ Ἀντίπατρον εἶπεν· <παῦσαι ἄνθρωπε· πολλὰ γάρ μοι ἀντὶ πατρὸς Ἀντίπατρος ἐγένετο.>

    Alexander, king of the Macedonians, said <to someone> slandering Antipater to him: <“Stop, sir. For Antipater was like a father to me in many ways.”>

  74. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς ὑπό τινος τίνι τρόπῳ τὰς τηλικαύτας πράξεις ἐν ὀλίγῳ χρόνῳ κατειργάσατο εἶπεν· „μηδὲν ἀναβαλλόμενος“.

    [Alexander], being asked by someone how he accomplished such great deeds in a little time, said: “By not delaying.”

  75. Ὁ αὐτὸς πικρότερόν τι αὐτῷ ἐπιτασσούσης Ὀλυμπίαδος τῆς μητρὸς εἶπεν· „βαρύ γε ἐνοίκιον τῆς δεκαμήνου ἀπαιτεῖς“.

    [Alexander], when his mother Olympia was giving him orders rather harshly, said: “You demand a heavy rent for a 10-month period.”

  76. <Ὁ> αὐτὸς ἀξιούμενος ὑπὸ τῶν φίλων τεκνοποιῆσαι εἶπε· „μὴ ἀγωνιᾶτε· καταλείπω γὰρ τέκνα τὰς ἐκ τῶν ἀγώνων πράξεις.“

    [Alexander], being expected by his friends to bear children, said: “Do not be anxious. For I leave behind the accomplishments from my struggles as children.”

  77. Ὁ αὐτὸς παρακαλούμενος ὑπὸ τῶν φίλων νυκτὸς ἐπιθέσθαι τοῖς πολεμίοις εἶπεν· „οὐ βασιλικὸν τὸ κλέψαι τὴν νίκην.“

    [Alexander], being summoned by his friends to attack the enemy at night, said: “It is not kingly to hide one’s victory.”

  78. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐλθὼν εἰς Ἴλιον καὶ θεασάμενος τὸν Ἀχιλλέως τάφον στὰς εἶπεν· „ὦ Ἀχιλλεῦ· ὡς [οὐ] μέγας ὢν μεγάλου κήρυκος ἔτυχες Ὁμήρου!“ παρόντος δὲ Ἀναξιμένους καὶ εἰπόντος· „καὶ ἡμεῖς σέ, ὦ βασιλεῦ, ἔνδοξον ποιήσομεν“, „ἀλλὰ νὴ τοὺς θεοὺς“, ἔφη, „παρ’ Ὁμήρῳ ἐβουλόμην ἂν εἶναι Θερσίτης ἢ παρὰ σοὶ Ἀχιλλεύς.“

    [Alexander], having come to Ilium and seen the tomb of Achilles, stopped and said: “O Achilles! How you, being great, luckily met a great herald in Homer!” And when Anaximenes was nearby and said, “We also, o king, will make you famous”, he said: “But by the gods, I would wish to be Thersites with Homer, or Achilles with you.”

  79. Ὁ αὐτὸς εἶπεν ἄριστον εἶναι πρὸς κοίτην στρῶμα τὸν πόνον.

    [Alexander] said that toil is the best mattress for sleeping.

  80. Ὁ αὐτὸς Ἀντιπάτρου αὐτῷ πολλάκις κατὰ τῆς μητρὸς Ὀλυμπιάδος γράφοντος ἔφη· „ἀγνοεῖ Ἀντίπατρος, ὅτι μητρὸς ἓν δάκρυον πολλῶν διαβολῶν ἐπιστολὰς δύναται ἀπαλεῖψαι.“

    [Alexander], when Antipater was frequently writing to him against his mother Olympias, said: “Antipater does not know that one tear from my mother can cleanse his letters of many attacks.”

  81. Ὁ αὐτὸς σφαιρίσας μετά τινος νεανίσκου ἐδωρήσατο αὐτῷ τάλαντον· τῶν δὲ φίλων λεγόντων ὅτι „πλέον τοῦ δέοντος ἔδωκας“, „οὐ τοῦτό με δεῖ σκοπεῖν“, ἔφη, „πόσον ἐκεῖνος ἄξιος ἦν λαβεῖν, ἀλλὰ πόσον ἐμὲ παρασχεῖν.“

    [Alexander], playing ball with some young man, gifted him a talent. But when his friends said, “You gave more than was necessary.” he said: “I should not consider how much that man deserved to take but rather how much I deserved to offer.”

  82. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς ποῖος βασιλεὺς δοκεῖ ἄριστος εἶναι ἔφη· „ὁ τοὺς φίλους δωρεαῖς συνέχων, τοὺς δὲ ἐχθροὺς διὰ τῶν εὐεργεσιῶν φιλοποιούμενος.“

    [Alexander], being asked what sort of king seemed best, said: “The one who heaps his friends up with gifts and who makes friends out of his enemies through his good deeds.”

  83. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἰδὼν ὁμώνυμον δειλῶς μαχόμενον εἶπεν· „ἔα νεανίσκε, ἢ τὸ ὄνομα ἄλλαξον ἢ τοὺς τρόπους.“

    [Alexander], seeing someone with the same name fighting in a cowardly way, said: “Halt, young man, either change your name or your ways!”

  84. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐπεί τις τῶν βαρβάρων ὀχυρὸν τόπον ἔχων ἑαυτὸν παραδέδωκε, καὶ τὸν τόπον καὶ τὰ ἴδια ἀπεκατέστησεν αὐτῷ καὶ πολλῆς ἄλλης χώρας ἔπαρχον ἐποίησεν· ἐρωτηθεὶς δὲ ὑπὸ τῶν φίλων διὰ τί οὕτως ἐχρήσατο αὐτῷ ἔφη· „ὅτι ἀνδρὶ ἀγαθῷ μᾶλλον ἑαυτὸν ἐπίστευσεν ἢ τόποις ὀχυροῖς.“

    [Alexander], when one of the foreigners with a secure location handed himself over, set aside both the location and his property to him and let him go as the governor of another land. And when he was asked by some of his friends why he treated him thus, he said: “Because he entrusted himself more to a good man than to secure locations.”

  85. Ὁ αὐτὸς εἰπόντος Ἀναξιμένους· „ἐὰν πᾶσι πολλὰ διδῷς, οὐ δυνήσῃ τοῦτο ποιεῖν διὰ παντός“, ἔφη· „οὐδέ γε, ἐὰν παύσωμαι, μόνος πάντ’ ἔχειν δυνήσομαι πολὺν χρόνον.“

    [Alexander], when Anaximenes was saying, “If you give many things to everyone, you won’t be able to do this forever”, said: “Nor will I, at any rate, if I stop, be able to have everything for much time.”

  86. Ὁ αὐτὸς μέλλων εἰς τὴν Ἀσίαν διαβαίνειν πυνθανομένου Φωκίωνος αὐτοῦ, ποίοις χρήμασι πεπιστευκὼς ἐπὶ μέγαν καὶ πλούσιον βασιλέα Δαρεῖον μέλλει στρατεύειν, δείξας τοὺς φίλους εἶπεν· „τούτοις.“

    When [Alexander] was intending to cross over into Asia and Phocion asked him what resources he trusted that he intended to wage war against the great and wealthy king Darius, showing him his friends he said: “These ones.”

  87. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς τίνα μᾶλλον ἀγαπᾷ, Φίλιππον ἢ Ἀριστοτέλην, εἶπεν· „ὁμοίως ἀμφοτέρους· ὁ μὲν γάρ μοι τὸ ζῆν ἐχαρίσατο, ὁ δὲ τὸ καλῶς ζῆν ἐπαίδευσεν.“

    [Alexander], being asked whom he loved more, Philip or Aristotle, said: “Both equally. For the one delighted me with life, and the other taught me to live well.”

  88. Ὁ αὐτὸς Ἰολάου οἰνοχοοῦντος αὐτῷ [καὶ] φιάλην χρυσῆν ἀπολέσαντος καὶ δυσφοροῦντος εἶπεν· „ὅπου ἂν ᾖ, ἡμετέρα ἐστίν.“

    [Alexander], when Iolaus lost a golden bowl while he was his wine-pourer and took it badly, said: “Wherever it is, it is ours.”

  89. Ὁ αὐτὸς ὡς ἐν παρατάξει τινὶ Πισίδας ζωγρήσαντος τρισχιλίους ἠξίουν οἱ Μακεδόνες ἀποκτεῖναι πάντας διὰ τὸ πολλὰ κακὰ πεπονθέναι ὑπ’ αὐτῶν πολλάκις, „οὐ ποιήσω τοῦτο“, ἔφη· „οὐ γὰρ βούλομαι δήμιος ἀντὶ βασιλέως κεκλῆσθαι“.

    [Alexander], when, after capturing alive 3000 Pisidians in a battle, the Macedonians resolved to kill them all, since they had suffered so many evils from them frequently, said: “I will not do this, for I do not wish to be called executioner instead of king.”

  90. Ὁ αὐτὸς παρακαλούμενος ὑπὸ τῶν φίλων συνάγειν χρήματα εἶπεν· „οὐδὲν ὤνησεν οὐδὲ Κροῖσον.“

    [Alexander], being summoned by his friends to sum up his wealth, said: “In no way did that benefit Croesus at all.”

  91. Ὁ αὐτὸς θεασάμενος Διογένην τὸν κυνικὸν φιλόσοφον καὶ θαυμάσας εἶπέ τινι τῶν γνωρίμων· „ὡς ἡδέως ἂν ἐγενόμην Διογένης, εἰ μὴ ἐγεγόνειν Ἀλέξανδρος!“

    [Alexander], seeing Diogenes the Cynic philosopher and marveling, said to one of his acquaintances: “How pleasantly would I have been born Diogenes had I not been born Alexander!”

  92. Ὁ αὐτὸς παραινοῦντος αὐτῷ Φιλίππου τοῦ πατρὸς Ὀλύμπια ἀγωνίσασθαι εἶπε· „τὸ μὲν νικᾶν τὸν ἀγῶνα τοῦτον οὐ βασιλικόν, τὸ δὲ ἡττᾶσθαι αἰσχρόν.“

    [Alexander], when Philip was father was advising him to compete in the Olympic games, said: “To win at this contest is not kingly, and to be defeated is shameful.”

  93. Ὁ αὐτὸς λοιδορούμενος ὑπὸ κακοῦ τραγῳδοῦ „νεανίσκε“, εἶπεν, „οὐδὲν θαυμαστὸν ποιεῖς· σὺ γὰρ καὶ τὸν Αἴαντα καὶ τὸν Ἀχιλλέα λοιδορεῖς.“

    [Alexander], being mocked by a wicked actor of tragedy, said: “Young man, you are doing nothing marvelous. For you also mock both Ajax and Achilles.”

  94. Ὁ αὐτὸς παραινούντων αὐτῷ τῶν φίλων στρατεύειν ἐπὶ τὰς Ἀμαζόνας εἶπε· „τὸ μὲν νικῆσαι γυναῖκας οὐκ ἔνδοξον, τὸ δὲ νικηθῆναι ὑπ’ αὐτῶν ἄδοξον.“

    [Alexander], when his friends were advising him to make war against the Amazons, said: “To conquer women is not noteworthy, and to be defeated by them is disreputable.”

  95. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἰδών τινα ἐν γήρᾳ βάπτοντα τὰς τρίχας εἶπεν· „μὴ τὰς τρίχας βάπτε, ἀλλὰ τὰ γόνατα.“

    [Alexander], seeing someone in old age dipping their hair in water, said: “Don’t dip your hair, but your knees.”

  96. Ἀλέξανδρος ὁ βασιλεὺς πληρώσας ποτὲ ὀστέων πίνακα ἔπεμψεν Διογένει τῷ Κυνικῷ· ὁ δὲ λαβὼν εἶπε· „κυνικὸν μὲν τὸ βρῶμα, οὐ βασιλικὸν δὲ τὸ δῶρον.“

    Alexander the king, having filled up a platter with bones, sent it to Diogenes the Cynic. And he, taking it, said: “The food is for the dogs, but the gift is not kingly.”

  97. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἰδὼν Διογένην κοιμώμενον ἐν πίθῳ εἶπε· „πίθῳ μεστὲ φρενῶν“, ὁ δὲ φιλόσοφος ἀποστὰς εἶπεν· „ὦ βασιλεῦ μέγιστε, θέλω τύχης σταλαγμὸν ἢ φρενῶν πίθον, ἧς μὴ παρούσης δυστυχοῦσιν αἱ φρένες.“

    [Alexander], seeing Diogenes lying in a jug, said, “Jug full of wits”, and the philosopher, withdrawing from him, said: “O greatest king, I wish for a drop of fortune rather than a jug of wits, since with the fortune being gone, my wits fare ill.”

  98. Τῷ αὐτῷ ἐξιόντι ἐπὶ πόλεμον Ἀριστοτέλης ἔφη· „περίμεινον τὸ τέλειον τῆς ἡλικίας καὶ τότε πολέμει.“ ὁ δὲ ἔφη· „φοβοῦμαι, μὴ περιμένων τὸ τέλειον τῆς ἡλικίας τὴν τῆς νεότητος τόλμαν ἀπολέσω·“

    When [Alexander] was going off to war, Aristotle said, “Wait for the end of the prime of life and then wage war.” But he said: “I am afraid that if I wait for the end of the prime of life I will lose the daring of youth.”

  99. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἰδὼν Δαρεῖον πεσόντα καὶ τὸ σῶμα γυμνωθέντα ἄρας τὴν ἑαυτοῦ χλαμύδα ἐπέθηκεν αὐτῷ εἰπών· „ἄνδρες φίλοι, οὐ τὸν νεκρὸν καλύπτω, ἀλλὰ τὴν τύχην περιστέλλω.“

    [Alexander], seeing Darius fallen and lifting his naked body, placed his own mantle upon him, saying: “Dear men, I do not cover up a corpse, but rather I wrap up his fate.”

  100. Ὁ αὐτὸς εἰς Ἰλλυρίους παραγενόμενος ἐν τῷ τοῦ Διὸς ἱερῷ κατιδὼν <γυναῖκα> κάλλει διαφέρουσαν <ἐκπλαγεὶς> αὐτῆς τὴν εὐμορφίαν πολὺν χρόνον ἐθεᾶτο· τοῦ δὲ Ἡφαιστίωνος εἰπόντος, <ὅτι> εἰκότως <ἂν> παραλάβοι τὴν προῃρημένην ἔφη· „καὶ πῶς οὐ δεινόν, εἰ ἄλλων ἀκρασίας κολάζειν βουλόμενοι δουλεύοντες ἀκρασίαις ὑπὸ τῶν ἐκτὸς ἀνθρώπων φωραθῶμεν;“

    [Alexander], having come to the Illyrians and seeing in the temple of Zeus <a woman> outstanding in beauty, <amazed> at her beauty he watched her for a long time. And when Hephaistion said <that> he could reasonably take the preferred woman as his own, he said: “And how is this not dreadful, if, when we want to chastise other men’s lack of control, we are detected by foreign men being slaves to our own lack of control?”

  101. Ὁ αὐτὸς „ἐν τίνι μάλιστα ἀπολέλαυκας τῆς δυναστείας;“ ἐρωτηθεὶς ἔφη· „ἐν τῷ μηδενὸς εἰς εὐεργεσίαν ἡττᾶσθαι.“

    [Alexander], being asked, “In what way do you most enjoy your dominion?” said: “In being conquered by no one in doing good deeds.”

  102. Ὁ αὐτὸς παράγγελμα ἔλαβεν ὅτι „ἐὰν δύνῃ ὁδεῦσαι, μὴ πλεύσῃς· καθ’ ἑκάστην ἡμέραν διατίθου· γυναικὶ ἀπόῤῥητα μὴ θαῤῥήσῃς· καὶ ἐὰν ὀργισθῇς κατά τινος, μὴ ποιήσῃς εἰς αὐτὸν <ἐξέλευσιν>, πρὶν <ἂν> ἀπαγγείλῃς <τὰ κδ στοιχεῖα τοῦ ἀλφαβήτου>“.

    [Alexander] took an instruction that said: “If you can travel by land, do not sail. Settle yourself every day. Do not trust a woman with secret things. And if you become angry at someone, do not make a <decision> against him before you relate <the 24 letters of the alphabet>.

  103. Ὁ αὐτὸς πρεσβευτὴν μέλλων πέμπειν εἰς Πέρσας ἔφη εὐλαβεῖσθαι, μὴ ἀλογηθῇ· τοῦ δὲ εἰπόντος· „καλὸν ἔχοιμι ὑπεραποθνήσκειν σοῦ, βασιλεῦ“ εἶπε· „κἀμοὶ τὸ φείδεσθαι τῶν τοιούτων φίλων.“

    [Alexander], being about to send an ambassador to the Persians, told him to take care not to be heedless. And when he said, “I would consider it a good thing to die on your behalf, king.” he said: “And I would consider it good to spare such friends.”

  104. Ὁ αὐτὸς αἰτήσαντος αὐτὸν Διογένους δραχμὴν ἔφη· „οὐ βασιλικὸν τὸ δῶρον·“ τοῦ δὲ εἰπόντος· „καὶ δὸς τάλαντον“ εἶπεν· „ἀλλ’ οὐ κυνικὸν τὸ αἴτημα.“

    [Alexander], when Diogenes asked him for a drachma, said: “The gift is not kingly.” But when he said, “Then give a talent”, he said: “But the request is not Cynic.”

  105. Ὁ αὐτὸς συμβουλευόντων αὐτῷ πολλῶν καταδουλώσασθαι τὴν Ἑλλάδα „βούλομαι“, ἔφη, „ἐπὶ πολὺν χρόνον χρηστὸς κληθῆναι ἢ δεσπότης ἐπ’ ὀλίγον“.

    [Alexander], when many people were counseling him to enslave Greece, said: “I wish to be called good for a long time rather than a master for a short time.”

  106. Ἀνταγόρας ὁ ποιητὴς ἀκρόασιν παρέχων ἐν Θήβαις καὶ μηδεμιᾶς τυγχάνων τιμῆς εἶπεν· „ὦ ἄνδρες Θηβαῖοι· ἥμαρτεν Ὀδυσσεὺς ἐμφράξας τῶν ἑταίρων τὰς ἀκοάς, ὅτε τὰς Σειρῆνας παρέπλει· ἔδει γὰρ αὐτὸν ὑμᾶς ναύτας μισθώσασθαι.“

    Antagoras the poet giving a recitation in Thebes and flopping with the audience, said: “Theban citizens! Odysseus erred in plugging his companions’ ears, when they were sailing by the Sirens: he should’ve just hired you as sailors instead.”

  107. Ἀντίγονος ὁ βασιλεὺς ᾔτει τὸ θεῖον εὐχόμενος φυλάττειν αὐτὸν ἀπὸ τῶν δοκούντων εἶναι φίλων· πυθομένου δέ τινος διὰ ποίαν αἰτίαν τοιαύτην εὐχὴν ποιεῖται, „ὅτι“, ἔφη, „τοὺς ἐχθροὺς ἐγὼ φυλάξομαι.“

    Antigonus the king was praying to the god to ask them to protect him from those seeming to be friends; when someone asked him why he needed to make this sort of request, he said: “Because I can protect myself against enemies.”

  108. Ἄμασις, ὁ τῶν Αἰγυπτίων βασιλεύς, φίλῳ ἀποβαλόντι υἱὸν γράφων παραμυθητικῶς εἶπεν· „εἰ, ὅτε μηδέπω ἦν, οὐκ ἐλυποῦ, μηδὲ νῦν, ὅτε οὐκ ἔστι, λυπηθῇς“.

    Amasis, king of Egypt, in a letter of consolation to a friend who had lost his son, said: “If, when he did not yet exist, you did not grieve, neither now, when he is no longer, should you grieve.”

  109. Ἀνταγόρας ὁ Ῥόδιος ἐποποιὸς ἐν Θήβαις ἀναγινώσκων τὸ τῆς Θηβαΐδος σύγγραμμα, ὡς οὐδεὶς ἐπεσημαίνετο, εἱλήσας τὸ βιβλίον εἶπεν· „δικαίως καλεῖσθε Βοιωτοί· βοῶν γὰρ ὦτα ἔχετε.“

    Antagoras the epic poet of Rhodes, reading his work the Thebaid in Thebes, when no one applauded, rolling up the scroll, said: “Justly are you called Boiotians. For you have the ears of bovines.”

  110. Ὁ αὐτὸς εἰς τὸ Τριχώνιον τῆς Αἰτωλίας ἐπιών, ἐπεὶ ἀναγινώσκοντος αὐτοῦ οὐδεὶς ἐπεσήμαινε, „δεόντως“, εἶπεν, „ἄνδρες, καὶ σφόδρα οἰκείως ὑμῖν ἐπίκειται τὸ τῆς πόλεως ὄνομα· παρὰ τρίχα <γὰρ> ὄνοι γεγόνατε.“

    [Antagoras], journeying into Trichonion of Aitolia, when no one applauded while he was reading, said: “Fittingly, men, and very reasonably is the name of this city applied to you. For you are within a hair (tricha) of becoming asses (onoi).”

  111. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔφη· „αἱρετώτερόν ἐστιν ἐν ἐρημίᾳ λέγειν ἢ <ἐν> ἀκροαταῖς μὴ ἐπισημαινομένοις· ἐκεῖ μὲν γὰρ ἠχὼ τὴν ἀντιφώνησιν ἐρανίζει· ἐν δὲ τούτοις καὶ τὴν ὑπὸ τῆς φύσεως δεδομένην φωνὴν ἀπόλλυσθαι συμβαίνει.“

    [Antagoras] said: “It is preferable to read in a desert than <among> listeners when they do not applaud. For, there, the echo collects the answer. But among these men, it happens that even the voice given by nature is lost.”

  112. Ὁ αὐτὸς καταδικάζειν τινὸς θανατικὴν ψῆφον μέλλων ἐδάκρυσεν· εἰπόντος δέ τινος· „τί παθὼν αὑτὸς καταδικάζεις καὶ κλαίεις“; εἶπεν· „ὅτι ἀναγκαῖόν ἐστι τῇ μὲν φύσει τὸ συμπαθὲς ἀποδοῦναι, τῷ δὲ νόμῳ τὴν ψῆφον.“

    [Antagoras], being about to charge someone with a vote of death, began to weep. And when someone said, “What have you suffered that you yourself give the charge and weep?” he said: “Because it is necessary to give sympathy because of nature, but to give the vote because of the law.”

  113. Ὁ αὐτὸς αἰσχρὸς ὢν τὴν ὄψιν γενομένων αὐτῷ παιδίων ὁμοίων εἶπεν· „ἔχω γυναῖκα λίαν σώφρονα.“

    [Antagoras], being ugly, when children were born to him who looked like him, said: “I have a wife who is very chaste.”

  114. Ἀναξαγόρας ἐρωτηθεὶς εἰς τί γεγένηται ἔφη· „εἰς τὸ τὰ τῆς φύσεως ἔργα θεωρῆσαι“· πρὸς δὲ τὸν εἰπόντα· „ἐστερήθης Ἀθηναίων“ „οὐ μὲν οὖν“, ἔφη, „ἀλλ’ ἐκεῖνοι ἐμοῦ.“

    Anaxagoras, having been asked for what reason he had been born, said: “To examine the works of nature.” And to someone saying, “You were deprived of the Athenians.” he said: “No, but rather they were deprived of me.”

  115. Ὁ αὐτὸς πρὸς τὸν δυσφοροῦντα, ὅτι ἐπὶ ξένης ἐτελεύτα, „πανταχόθεν“, ἔφη, „ὁμοία ἐστὶν ἡ εἰς Ἅιδου κάθοδος.“

    [Anaxagoras], to someone bearing it ill that he was dying in a foreign land, said: “Everywhere the road to Hades is the same.”

  116. Ὁ αὐτὸς εἰπόντος τινὸς ὅτι „κατεψηφίσαντό σου Ἀθηναῖοι θάνατον“ ἔφη· „πάλαι καὶ ἐκείνων καὶ ἐμοῦ ἡ φύσις τοῦτον κατεψηφίσατο“.

    [Anaxagoras], when someone said, “The Athenians condemned you to death” said: “A long time ago nature condemned both those men and me to this.”

  117. Ἀναξαγόρας ἀπαγγείλαντός τινος, ὅτι τεθνήκασιν αὐτοῦ οἱ παῖδες, ἔφη θνητοὺς γεννῆσαι.

    Anaxagoras on receiving the message, that his children had died, said that he had fathered mortals.

  118. Ἀρίμνηστος, ὁ Πυθαγόρου υἱός, ἐρωτηθεὶς τί μέγιστον ἀνθρώπῳ ἀγαθὸν ἔφη· „τὸ καλῶς ἀποθανεῖν.“

    Arimnestus, the son of Pythagoras, having been asked what the greatest good for a mortal is, said: “To die well.”

  119. Ἀλκιβιάδης, ὡς αὐτόν τις ἐλοιδόρει φαῦλος ὤν, εἶπεν· „οὐδ’ οἰμώζειν σοι λέγω ὡς οὐδὲ τούτου ἀξίῳ ὄντι.“

    Alcibiades, when he was being rebuked by someone who was themselves worthless, said: “I won’t tell you to wail, since you’re not even worthy of that.”

  120. Ἀρίστων ὁ φιλόσοφος τοὺς πλουσίους καὶ φειδωλοὺς ὁμοίους ἔφησεν εἶναι τοῖς ἡμιόνοις, οἵτινες χρυσὸν καὶ ἄργυρον φέροντες χόρτον ἐσθίουσιν.

    Ariston the philosopher said that the wealthy and stingy are like mules, who, while carrying gold and silver, eat hay.

  121. Ὁ αὐτὸς πολυκέφαλον θηρίον εἶπεν πάντα δῆμον.

    [Ariston] said that every assembly is a many-headed beast.

  122. Ὁ αὐτὸς τοὺς τὰ γραπτὰ λέγοντας ὁμοίους ἔφησεν εἶναι τοῖς λεοντοχάσμασι [τοῖς ἐπὶ τῶν κεράμων]· ἐκεῖνα μὲν γάρ, ἕως [μὲν] ἂν βρέχῃ, ῥεῖ· [ὅταν δὲ παύσηται, κέχηνεν· οὗτοί τε, ἕως ἂν ἔχωσι γραπτὰ λέγειν, εὐρόως φέρονται· ὅταν δὲ ἐπιλείπῃ, χάσκουσιν.]

    [Ariston] said that people reading written documents are like lion’s head spouts [on tiled roofs]. For those flow as long as it is wet. [But whenever it stops, they gape. And these men, as long as they have written things to read, are carried along fluently. But whenever it runs out, they gape.]

  123. Ὁ αὐτὸς παρεκελεύετο τοὺς τῶν ὑγιαινόντων πόνους ἀναδέχεσθαι, ἵνα μὴ τοὺς τῶν νοσούντων ὑπομένωμεν.

    [Ariston] prescribed accepting the labors of the healthy, so that we would not wait for those of the sick.

  124. Αἴσωπος ὁ λογοποιὸς ἀγόμενος ὑπὸ τοῦ δεσπότου εἰς μυλῶνα ἠρώτα· „τί με ἄγεις;“ ὁ δὲ εἶπεν· „ἵνα χρήσιμος γένῃ“· „τί οὖν“, φησίν, „οὐχὶ καὶ τοὺς υἱούς σου ὧδε ἄγεις;“

    Aesop the writer of fables, being led by his master to the mill-house, asked: “Why are you leading me?” And he said, “So that you may become useful.” [Aesop] responded: “So why do you not also lead your sons this way?”

  125. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτώμενος ὑπό τινος διὰ τί τὰ αὐτομάτως ἐκ γῆς φυόμενα ταχεῖαν τὴν αὔξησιν ἔχει, τὰ δὲ σπειρόμενα καὶ φυτευόμενα βραδέως αὔξεται εἶπεν· „ὅτι <ἡ γῆ> τῶν μὲν μήτηρ ἐστί, τῶν δὲ μητρυιά.“

    [Aesop], being asked by someone why the things that sprout of their own accord from the earth have a quick growth, but the things that are sown and planted grow slowly, said: “Because <the earth> is the mother of some things and the step-mother of others.”

  126. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς ὑπό τινος τί τῶν ζῴων ἐστὶ σοφώτατον εἶπεν· „τῶν μὲν χρησίμων μέλισσα, τῶν δὲ ἀχρήστων ἀράχνη.“

    [Aesop], having been asked by someone what animal is the wisest, said: “Of the useful ones, the bee, and of the useless ones, the spider.”

  127. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς πότε τοῖς ἀνθρώποις ἔσται κακῶς εἶπεν· „ὅταν πάντες πάντα ποιῶσιν“.

    [Aesop], having been asked when it will be bad for mortals, said: “When everyone does everything.”

  128. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτώμενος ὑπό τινος πῶς ἂν μεγίστη ταραχὴ γένοιτο ἐν ἀνθρώποις ἔφη· „εἰ οἱ τετελευτηκότες ἀναστάντες ἀπαιτοῖεν τὰ ἴδια.“

    [Aesop], being asked by someone how a great disturbance could happen among mortals, said: “If the dead, rising up, should ask for their belongings.”

  129. Ἀπελλῆς ὁ ζωγράφος ἐρωτηθεὶς διὰ τί τὴν Τύχην καθημένην ἔγραψεν εἶπεν· „ὅτι οὐχ ἕστηκεν.“

    Apelles the painter having been asked why he’d painted Tyche sitting, said: “Since she never stood still.”

  130. Ἀνάχαρσις ἐρωτηθεὶς πότεροι πλείους εἰσίν, οἱ ζῶντες ἢ οἱ νεκροί, ἔφη· „τοὺς οὖν πλέοντας ποῦ τίθης;“

    Anacharsis having been asked which were more plentiful, the living or the dead, said: “So where are you putting those in the sea?”

  131. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς τί ἐστιν ἐν ἀνθρώποις ἀγαθόν τε καὶ φαῦλον ἔφη· „γλῶσσα“.

    [Anacharsis] having been asked what is both good and bad in humanity, said: “Speech.”

  132. Ὁ αὐτὸς κρεῖττον ἔφη εἶναι ἕνα φίλον ἔχειν πολλοῦ ἄξιον ἢ πολλοὺς μηδενὸς ἀξίους.

    [Anacharsis] said it was better to have one friend of great worth than to have many of no worth.

  133. Ὁ αὐτὸς ὑπὸ μειρακίου παρὰ πότον ὑβρισθεὶς ἔφη· „μειράκιον· ἐὰν νέος ὢν τὸν οἶνον μὴ φέρῃς, γέρων γενόμενος τὸ ὕδωρ οἴσεις.“

    [Anacharsis] having been insulted by a drunken youth said: “Whippersnapper! If you can’t hold your wine when you’re young, when you’re old you’ll carry water.”

  134. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔφασκε μὴ ἐκ τῶν λόγων τὰ πράγματα, ἀλλ’ ἐκ τῶν πραγμάτων τοὺς λόγους κρατεῖν· οὐ γὰρ ἕνεκεν τῶν λόγων τὰ πράγματα συντελεῖσθαι, ἀλλ’ ἐκ τῶν πραγμάτων τοὺς λόγους.

    [Anacharsis] said not to control things by words, but to control words by things; for the things are not put together by the words, but the words to fit the things.

  135. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔλεγεν· „ὅταν ἐπαινῶσί με πολλοί, τότε νομίζω μηδενὸς ἄξιος εἶναι· ὅταν δὲ ὀλίγοι, σπουδαῖος ἄνθρωπος.“

    [Anacharsis] said: “Whenever many are praising me, I consider myself nobody worthy; but whenever few are, an important person.”

  136. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐπῄνει τὸν γλώσσης καὶ κοιλίας καὶ αἰδοίων κρατοῦντα καὶ μάλιστα γλώσσης· ὅπερ δὴ καὶ ἐν τῷ ὑπνοῦν ἐδείκνυεν· ἑστιαθεὶς γάρ ποτε παρὰ Σόλωνι καὶ καθεύδων ὤφθη τὴν δεξιὰν χεῖρα ἔχων ἐπὶ τοῦ στόματος, τὴν δὲ ἀριστερὰν ἐπὶ τῶν ὑπὸ γαστέρα, ταύτῃ δηλῶν, ὡς πολλῷ μεῖζόν ἐστι γλώσσης κρατεῖν ἢ τῶν ὑπὸ γαστέρα.

    [Anacharsis] used to praise those who had control of their tongue and belly and privates, and most of all the tongue; indeed he even proved this in his sleep; for he came to stay with Solon and he was seen sleeping holding his right hand over his mouth, and his left over his genitals, showing by this, how much more important it is to control the tongue than the genitals.

  137. Ἀριστοτέλης ἐρωτηθεὶς τί ἐστι φίλος ἔφη· „μία ψυχὴ ἐν δυσὶ σώμασιν οἰκοῦσα.“

    Aristotle, having been asked what a “friend” is, said: “One soul dwelling in two bodies.”

  138. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς τί τάχιστα γηράσκει εἶπε· „χάρις“.

    [Aristotle], having been asked what grows old fastest, said: “A favor.”

  139. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐπεκούρησέ ποτέ τινι αἰτήσαντι αὐτόν, καί τις πρὸς αὐτὸν εἶπεν, ὡς πονηρὸς εἴη ὁ ἄνθρωπος, „ἀλλ’ οὐ τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ ἔδωκα“, φησίν, „ἀλλὰ τῷ ἀνθρωπίνῳ“.

    [Aristotle] once helped someone who asked him for it, and when someone said to him that the man was dishonorable, he said: “But I did not give it to a human, but to his humanity.

  140. Ὁ αὐτὸς θεασάμενος νεανίσκον κατωφρυωμένον, μηδὲν δὲ ἐπιστάμενον, „νεανίσκε“, ἔφη, „οἷος μὲν δοκεῖς σεαυτῷ εἶναι, ἐγὼ γενοίμην· οἷος δὲ τῇ ἀληθείᾳ ὑπάρχεις, τοιοῦτοί μου οἱ ἐχθροὶ γένοιντο.“

    [Aristotle], seeing a young man being arrogant but knowing nothing, said: “Young man, I wish I were the sort of man you think yourself to be. But what sort of person you are in truth, may my enemies be such people.”

  141. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς διὰ τί τοῖς καλοῖς ἥδιστα διαλέγεται ἔφη· „τυφλοῦ τὸ ἐρώτημα“.

    [Aristotle], having been asked why he gladly discusses what is good, said: “A blind person’s question.”

  142. Ὁ αὐτὸς τὰς εὐειδεῖς ἑταιρίδας ἔλεγε θανάσιμον μελίκρατον εἶναι.

    [Aristotle] called pretty female companions a fatal cocktail.

  143. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔφησεν ὅμοιον εἶναι τὸν τῶν ἀνθρώπων βίον σικύῳ· ἑκατέρωθεν γὰρ αὐτοῦ τὰ ἄκρα πικρὰ τυγχάνουσιν.

    [Aristotle] said that the life of mortals is like a cucumber. For at either end of it, the tips are found to be bitter.

  144. Ἀριστοτέλης θεασάμενος μειράκιον ὡραϊζόμενον „οὐκ αἰσχύνῃ“, ἔφη, „ὅτι τῆς φύσεως ἄνδρα σε ποιησάσης ἑαυτὸν τεθήλυκας“;

    [Aristotle], seeing a young man adorning himself, said: “Are you not ashamed that, when nature made you a man, you have feminized yourself?”

  145. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς τί ἰσχυρότερόν ἐστιν ἀνδριάντος εἶπεν· „ἄνθρωπος ἀναίσθητος“.

    [Aristotle], having been asked what is harder than a statue, said: “An unfeeling man.”

  146. Ἀριστοτέλης εἶπε τοὺς ἀπαιδεύτους μόνῃ τῇ μορφῇ τῶν θηρίων διαφέρειν.

    [Aristotle] said that the uneducated differ from beasts in shape alone.

  147. Βίας ὁ σοφὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς ὑπό τινος τί ἂν εἴη [πρᾶγμα] ἄφοβον εἶπεν· „<ὀρθὴ> συνείδησις“.

    Bias the sage, having been asked by someone what is without fear, said: “A proper conscience.”

  148. Ὁ αὐτὸς συμπλέων ποτὲ πονηροῖς καὶ διὰ τὸ χειμάζεσθαι τοὺς θεοὺς ἐπικαλουμένων αὐτῶν „μηδαμῶς“, εἶπεν, „ὦ ἄνδρες, ἀλλὰ πειραθῶμεν αὐτοὺς λαθεῖν, μὴ αἴσθωνται ὑμᾶς ἐνθάδε πλέοντας“.

    [Bias], when he was sailing alongside wicked men, and they were calling upon the gods due to it storming, said: “Don’t do that, o men, but let us try to escape their notice, lest they perceive you all sailing here.”

  149. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς ὑπὸ ἀνθρώπου ἀσεβοῦς τί ἐστιν εὐσέβεια „σίγα“, ἔφη· τοῦ δὲ τὴν αἰτίαν τῆς σιγῆς πυθομένου „σιώπα“, ἔφη, „ὅτι περὶ τῶν οὐδέν σοι προσηκόντων πυνθάνῃ“.

    [Bias], having been asked by an impious person what piety is, said: “Be silent.” And when he asked the reason for the silence, he said: “Be silent because you inquire about things that do not concern you at all.”

  150. Ὁ αὐτὸς χαλεπώτερον εἶπεν εἶναι φίλους διαφερομένους διαιτῆσαι ἤπερ ἐχθρούς· τῶν μὲν γὰρ φίλων τὸν ἡττώμενον ἐχθρὸν γίνεσθαι, τῶν δὲ ἐχθρῶν τὸν νικήσαντα φίλον.

    [Bias] said that it is more difficult to arbitrate quarreling friends than enemies. For the losing friend becomes an enemy, but the victorious enemy becomes a friend.

  151. Ὁ αὐτὸς εἰπόντος αὐτῷ τινος· „καὶ λαλεῖς σὺ ἀπὸ τοιούτων γονέων γεγονώς“; „ἀπ’ ἐμοῦ με“, εἶπεν, „ἀρίθμει“.

    [Bias], when someone said to him, “You do indeed babble, having been born from such parents”, said: “Reckon me from myself.”

  152. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἀηδοῦς τινος ἐν συμποσίῳ διαφερομένου πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ λέγοντος· „ἀναστῶ σοι“ εἶπεν· „ἀπέλθω σοί“.

    [Bias], when some unpleasant man was quarreling with him in the symposium and saying, “I shall stand up and fight you”, said: “I shall go away from you.”

  153. Βίας ἔλεγεν ἀτυχῆ εἶναι τὸν εὐτυχίαν μὴ φέροντα καὶ νόσον ψυχῆς τὸ τῶν ἀδυνάτων ἐρᾶν.

    [Bias] said that the person not enduring good fortune is unfortunate and that to desire impossible things is a sickness of the mind.

  154. Βίας ἐρωτηθεὶς τί δυσχερὲς „τὴν ἐπὶ τὸ χεῖρον“, ἔφη, „μεταβολὴν εὐγενῶς ὑπενεγκεῖν“.

    [Bias], having been asked what is difficult, said: “To bear nobly a change for the worse.”

  155. Βίας ἐρωτηθεὶς τί γλυκὺ ἀνθρώποις „ἐλπὶς“ ἔφη.

    [Bias], having been asked what is sweet for mortals, said: “Hope.”

  156. Βίων ἐρωτηθείς· „πότε χρὴ ἀριστᾶν;“ ἔφη· „τοὺς μὲν πλουσίους, ὅταν θέλωσι, τοὺς δὲ πένητας, ὅταν ἔχωσιν“.

    Bion, having been asked, “When should one dine?” said: “The wealthy, whenever they wish, and the poor, whenever they can.”

  157. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς ὑπό τινος διὰ τί αὐτὸν οὐκ ὠφελεῖ τὰ ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ λεγόμενα „οὐδὲ γὰρ αἱ πυξίδες“, εἶπεν, „αἱ τὰ χρηστότατα φάρμακα ἔχουσαι ἀφ’ ἑαυτῶν ὠφελοῦνται.“

    [Bion], having been asked why the things said by him do not benefit him, said: “For the boxes that contain the most useful medicines draw no benefit from themselves.”

  158. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἰδών τινα φθονερὸν σφόδρα συγκεχυμένον „ἀδύνατον“, εἶπεν, „εἰ μὴ τούτῳ μέγα κακὸν γέγονεν ἢ ἄλλῳ <μέγα> ἀγαθόν“.

    [Bion], seeing an envious man very disturbed, said: “Impossible, unless a great evil has happened to him, or a <great> good to someone else.

  159. Ὁ αὐτὸς ζητήσεως γενομένης παρὰ πάντων ἰδὼν νεανίσκον σιγῶντα εἶπεν· „εἰ μὲν πεπαιδευμένος σιωπᾷς, ἀπαίδευτος εἶ· εἰ δὲ ἀπαίδευτος ὤν, πεπαίδευσαι“.

    [Bion], when a discussion was happening for everyone, seeing a young man being silent, said: “If you are silent after being educated, you are uneducated. But if you do it when uneducated, then you have been educated.”

  160. Βίων ἔλεγε δύο διδασκαλίας θανάτου εἶναι, τόν τε πρὸ τοῦ γενέσθαι χρόνον καὶ τὸν ὕπνον.

    Bion said that there are two rehearsals for death: the time before being born and sleep.

  161. Βίων ὁ Περιπατητικὸς „τὰ χρήματα“, ἔφη, „τοῖς πλουσίοις ἡ τύχη οὐ δεδώρηκεν, ἀλλὰ δεδάνεικεν“.

    Bion the Peripatetic said: “Fate has not gifted the wealthy with money, but rather it has lent it.”

  162. Ὁ αὐτὸς τὴν μὲν φρόνησιν ἔφη παντοπώλιον εἶναι τῶν ἀγαθῶν, τὴν δὲ σωφροσύνην στρατουργίαν.

    [Bion] said that judgment is a market of good things, but that moderation is levying an army.

  163. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔφη τὸ γῆρας λείψανον εἶναι τοῦ βίου.

    [Bion] said that old age is the remnant of life.

  164. Γλύκων ὁ φιλόσοφος τὴν παιδείαν ἔλεγεν ἱερὸν ἄσυλον εἶναι.

    Glycon the philosopher said that education is an inviolate temple.

  165. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς τί λυπεῖ τοὺς ἀγαθοὺς εἶπε· „πονηρὸς εὐτυχῶν“.

    [Glycon], having been asked what pains good men, said: “A wicked man faring well.”

  166. Γοργίας ὁ ῥήτωρ ἔλεγε τοὺς φιλοσοφίας μὲν ἀμελοῦντας, περὶ δὲ τὰ ἐγκύκλια μαθήματα γινομένους ὁμοίους εἶναι τοῖς μνηστῆρσιν, οἳ Πηνελόπην θέλοντες ταῖς θεραπαίναις αὐτῆς ἐμίγνυντο.

    Gorgias the orator said that those who are negligent in philosophy but are involved in more general studies are like the suitors who, wishing for Penelope, slept with her attendants.

  167. Γοργίας τοὺς ῥήτορας ἔφη ὁμοίους εἷναι τοῖς βατράχοις· τοὺς μὲν γὰρ ἐν ὕδατι κελαδεῖν, τοὺς δὲ πρὸς κλεψύδραν.

    [Gorgias] said that orators are like frogs. The ones croak in the water, the others according to the water-clock.

  168. Διογένης θεασάμενος μικρὰν πόλιν μεγάλας πύλας ἔχουσαν ἔφη· „κλείσατε τὰς πύλας, μὴ ἡ πόλις ἐξέλθῃ“.

    Diogenes, seeing a small city with great gates, said: “Close the gates, lest the city gets out.”

  169. Ὁ αὐτὸς θεασάμενος μειράκιον ἄσωτον δεδαπανηκὸς τὰ πατρῷα [καὶ] ἐλαίας καὶ ἄρτον ἐσθίον καὶ πῖνον ὕδωρ ἔφη· „εἰ οὕτως κατὰ γνώμην ἠρίστας, οὐκ ἂν οὕτως κατ’ ἀνάγκην ἐδείπνεις“.

    [Diogenes], seeing a young profligate man having spent his inheritance, eating olives and bread and drinking water, said: “If you had dined thus deliberately, you would not now be dining so on compulsion.”

  170. Ὁ αὐτὸς θεασάμενος μάχαιραν ἐῤῥιμμένην ἔφη· „τίς σὲ ἀπώλεσεν ἢ τίνα σύ;“

    [Diogenes], seeing a cast down sword, said: “Who lost you, or whom did you destroy?”

  171. Ὁ αὐτὸς θεασάμενος νεανίσκον καλλωπιζόμενον ἔφη· „εἰ μὲν πρὸς ἄνδρας, ἀτυχεῖς· εἰ δὲ πρὸς γυναῖκας, ἀδικεῖς“.

    [Diogenes], seeing a young man beautifying himself, said: “If this is for men, you are unfortunate. If this is for women, you are doing wrong.”

  172. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς ὑπό τινος διὰ τί χρυσίον ὠχρόν ἐστιν ἔφη· „ὅτι πολλοὺς ἐπιβούλους ἔχει“.

    [Diogenes], having been asked by someone why a piece of gold is yellow, said: “Because it has many people plotting against it.”

  173. Ὁ αὐτὸς θεασάμενος <υἱὸν> αὐλητρίδος οἰήματος πλήρη ἔφη· „νεανίσκε, μεῖζον ἔχεις τὸ φύσημα τῆς μητρός.“

    [Diogenes], seeing <the son> of a flute-player full of conceit, said: “Young man, you have a better knack at puffing than your mother.”

  174. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἀκούσας ὑπό τινος ὅτι „οὐκ ὢν φιλόσοφος προσποιῇ εἶναι“ εἶπε· „κατὰ τοῦτο γοῦν κρείττων σου εἰμί, τό γε βούλεσθαι“.

    [Diogenes], having been told by someone that, “Not being a philosopher, you pretend to be one”, said: “In this regard, then, I am better than you, wishing to be one at least.”

  175. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἀριστῶν ἐν ἀγορᾷ ἀκούων παρὰ τῶν παρεστώτων κύων εἶπε· „καὶ μὴν ὑμεῖς κύνες ἐστέ· οἱ γὰρ κύνες βλέπουσι <πρὸς> τοὺς ἐσθίοντας.“

    [Diogenes], while dining in the agora, being called a dog by those standing beside him, said: “Yes, and you all are, too. For dogs look <at> those who are eating.”

  176. Ὁ αὐτὸς θεασάμενος μειράκιον εὔμορφον καὶ διὰ τοῦτο φιλούμενον ἔφη· „ὦ μειράκιον, σπουδάσον τοὺς τοῦ σώματος ἐραστὰς ἐπὶ τὴν ψυχὴν μεταγαγεῖν.“

    [Diogenes], seeing a beautiful young man and that he was beloved for this reason, said: “O young man, work the lovers of your body up to transfer towards your soul.

  177. Ὁ αὐτὸς κατανοήσας μειράκιον ἐπὶ τῇ πολυτελείᾳ τῆς χλαμύδος σεμνυνόμενον „οὐ παύσῃ“, ἔφη, „μειράκιον, ἐπὶ προβάτου σεμνυνόμενον ἀρετῇ;“

    [Diogenes], observing a young man boasting at the extravagance of his cloak, said: “Won’t you stop, young man, boasting at the excellence of the sheep?”

  178. Ὁ αὐτὸς θεασάμενος ἑταιρίδος υἱὸν λίθους εἰς ὄχλον βάλλοντα „οὐκ εὐλαβῇ“, ἔφη, „σύ, μή σου τὸν πατέρα πλήξῃς“;

    [Diogenes], seeing the son of a female companion throwing stones at a crowd, said: “Won’t you be careful lest you hit your father?”

  179. Ὁ αὐτὸς προσελθόντος αὐτῷ τινος καὶ λέγοντος ὅτι „ὁ δεῖνά σε κακῶς λέγει“ εἶπε· „μὴ θαύμαζε· καλῶς <γὰρ> λέγειν οὐκ ἔμαθεν.“

    [Diogenes], when someone approached him and said, “A certain so and so spoke badly of you”, said: “Do not be amazed. For he did not know how to speak well.”

  180. <Ὁ> αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς τίς ἐν ἀνθρώποις πλούσιος εἶπεν· „ὁ αὐτάρκης“.

    [Diogenes], having been asked who among men is rich, said: “The self-sufficient man.”

  181. Διογένης ἔφασκεν ἡδονὴν ἀληθινὴν εἶναι τὸ τὴν ψυχὴν ἐν ἡσυχίᾳ καὶ ἱλαρότητι ἔχειν, ἄνευ δὲ τούτου οὐδὲ τὰ Μίδου οὐδὲ τὰ Κροίσου χρήματα ὠφέλιμα εἶναι· ἐὰν δέ τις ἢ ὑπὲρ μεγάλου ἢ ὑπὲρ μικροῦ λυπῆται, οὐκ εὐδαίμων, ἀλλὰ κακοδαίμων ἐστίν.

    [Diogenes] used to say that true pleasure is having a mind in peace and cheer, and that, without this, neither the wealth of Midas nor of Croesus is beneficial. But rather, if someone is pained on account of something great or small, he is not happy but miserable.

  182. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς ὑπὸ Ἀριστίππου τί αὐτῷ περιεγένετο ἐκ φιλοσοφίας εἶπε· „τὸ πλουτεῖν μηδὲ ὀβολὸν ἔχοντα.“

    [Diogenes], having been asked by Aristippus what he got as the result of his philosophy, said: “To be wealthy without having an obol.”

  183. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἀκούσας τινὸς λέγοντος ὡς χαλεπὸν τὸ ζῆν „οὐ μὲν οὖν“, ἔφη, „τὸ ζῆν κακόν, ἀλλὰ τὸ ζῆν κακῶς“.

    [Diogenes], hearing someone say that living is harsh, said: “In no way is living a bad thing, but rather living badly.”

  184. Ὁ αὐτὸς εἰπόντος τινὸς ὅτι „καταγελῶσί σου οἱ ἄνθρωποι“ ἔφη· „ἐγὼ δὲ οὐ καταγελῶμαι.“

    [Diogenes], when someone said, “People are ridiculing you”, said: “But I am not ridiculed.”

  185. Ο αὐτὸς θεασάμενος μειράκιον ἀρυόμενον χερσὶ κοίλαις ἀπὸ τοῦ παραῤῥέοντος ὕδατος καὶ πῖνον ἀπέῤῥιψεν αὐτίκα καὶ τὴν ἐξ ἧς εἰώθει πίνειν κύλικα βελτίους καὶ χρησιμωτέρας τὰς χεῖρας φήσας ἑαυτὸν εἰληφέναι παρὰ τῆς φύσεως.

    [Diogenes], seeing a young man drawing from the flowing water with cupped hands and drinking it, cast away immediately even the cup from which he used to drink, saying that he had better and more useful hands from nature.

  186. Διογένης πρὸς τὸν λοιδορούμενον αὐτῷ „ἀλλ’ οὔτε ἐμοί“, ἔφη, „πιστεύσει τις εὐφημοῦντί σε οὔτε σοὶ ἐμὲ βλασφημοῦντι“.

    Diogenes said to a person abusing him: “But no one believes me speaking well of you, nor of you speaking ill of me.”

  187. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτώμενος πῶς ἄν τις ἀμύναιτο τὸν ἐχθρὸν εἶπεν· „εἰ σύ γε καλὸς καὶ ἀγαθὸς αὐτῷ γένοιο“.

    [Diogenes], being asked how someone could ward off an enemy, said: “If you, at least, are good and noble to him.”

  188. Διογένει τῷ σοφῷ ἐπισκώψαντός τινος ὅτι φιλόσοφος ὢν πλακοῦντας ἐσθίει „πάντων“, ἔφη, „οἱ φιλόσοφοι ἅπτονται, ἀλλ’ οὐχ ὥσπερ οἱ λοιποὶ ἄνθρωποι“.

    When someone was making fun of Diogenes the wise man because, although he’s a philosopher, he eats flat cakes, he said: “Philosophers touch all things, but, not like the remainder of men do.”

  189. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς τί κακὸν ἐν βίῳ ἔφη· „γυνὴ καλὴ τῷ εἴδει“.

    [Diogenes], having been asked what is evil in life, said: “A woman beautiful in appearance.”

  190. Ὁ αὐτὸς γεγονώς ποτε κριτὴς δύο ἀνθρώπων πονηρῶν, ἐγκαλοῦντος κλοπῆς θατέρου τῷ ἄλλῳ, μετὰ τὸ ἀκοῦσαι ἀμφοτέρων „σὺ μέν“, ἔφη, „φαίνει μοι μὴ ἀπολέσας, οὗτος δὲ κεκλοφέναι“.

    [Diogenes], having become the judge once for two wretched men, with one accusing the other of theft, after hearing both of them, said: “You, on the one hand, clearly have not lost anything in my eyes, but this man seems to have stolen.”

  191. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐλθών ποτε εἰς Μέγαρα καὶ θεασάμενος Μεγαρέων τὰ πρόβατα ταῖς διφθέραις εἱλημένα, τοὺς δὲ υἱοὺς γυμνοὺς αὐτὰ ποιμαίνοντας ἔφη· „κρεῖσσόν ἐστι Μεγαρέων κριὸν εἶναι ἢ υἱόν“.

    [Diogenes], having gone once to Megara and seen the flocks of the Megarians covered with hides but the sons tending them while naked, said: “It is better to be a ram of the Megarians than a son.”

  192. Διογένης Ἀριστίππου θεασαμένου ποτὲ αὐτὸν ἐπὶ κρήνης λάχανα ἄγρια πλύνοντα καὶ εἰπόντος· „ὦ Διόγενες, εἰ αὐλὰς τυράννων ἐθεράπευες, οὐκ ἂν ταῦτα ἤσθιες“, „σὺ μὲν οὖν, ὦ Ἀρίστιππε“, ἔφη, „εἰ ταῦτα ἤσθιες, οὐκ ἂν αὐλὰς τυράννων ἐθεράπευες“.

    Diogenes, when Aristippus once saw him washing wild greens in a spring and said, “O Diogenes, if you would pay court to the halls of tyrans, you wouldn’t be eating these things”, said: “Well, o Aristippus, if you would eat these things, you would not pay court to the halls of tyrants.”

  193. Ὁ αὐτὸς καταμαθὼν νεανίσκον τινὰ πᾶσι τοῖς σοφισταῖς προσομιλοῦντα [καὶ] προθυμούμενον καὶ αὐτῷ προσομιλῆσαι ἔφη· „μήτι μοι ἀλλοπρόσαλλε παρεζόμενος μινύριζε“.

    [Diogenes] observing that some young man associating with all the sophists was eager to associate with him also, said: “Do not, fickle one, whine while sitting close to me.”

  194. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἀγανακτοῦντος Πολυξένου τοῦ διαλεκτικοῦ ἐπὶ τῷ κύνα αὐτόν τινας προσαγορεύειν ἔφη· „καὶ σύ με κάλει κύνα· Διογένης γάρ μοί ἐστι παρώνυμον· εἰμὶ δὲ κύων, τῶν μέντοι γενναίων καὶ φυλαττόντων τοὺς φίλους“.

    [Diogenes], when Polyxenus the dialectician was angry because some people were calling him a dog, said: “You, call me a dog, too. For Diogenes is my nickname. But I am a dog, however, one of the noble ones and those that protect their friends.”

  195. Ὁ αὐτὸς τριδούλους ἐκάλει τοὺς γαστρὸς καὶ αἰδοίου καὶ ὕπνου ἥττονας.

    [Diogenes] used to call those who are weaker than their belly, genitals, and sleep “thrice-enslaved.”

  196. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς δι’ ἣν αἰτίαν ἐν τῇ στοᾷ ἐσθίει εἶπεν ὅτι „καὶ τοὺς κυβερνήτας ὁρῶ καὶ τοὺς ἄλλους τεχνίτας πρὸς τὸ ἔργον τὴν τροφὴν λαμβάνοντας“.

    [Diogenes], having been asked why he eats in the colonnade, said: “I see even pilots and other workers taking their food at their work.”

  197. Ὁ αὐτὸς καταμαθών τινα τῶν γνωρίμων μοχθηροῖς ἀνθρώποις ὁμιλοῦντα „ἄτοπόν γε“, εἶπεν, „εἰ πλεῖν μὲν βουλόμενοι σύμπλους βελτίστους ἐπιλεξόμεθα, βιοῦν δὲ ὀρθῶς προαιρούμενοι κοινωνοὺς τοῦ βίου τοὺς τυχόντας αἱρησόμεθα“.

    [Diogenes], observing someone of a notable family associating with wretched people, said: “It is strange if, when wishing to sail we select the best shipmates, but when we prefer to live properly, we choose as companions of our life those we meet by chance.”

  198. Ὁ αὐτὸς συνιστάντος τινὸς αὐτῷ υἱὸν καὶ λέγοντος ὅτι καλὸς καὶ ἀγαθός ἐστι καὶ δυνάμενος χάριτας ἀποδοῦναι „τί οὖν“, ἔφη, „ἔτι μου χρείαν ἔχει;“

    [Diogenes], when someone introduced their son to him and said that he is good and noble and able to return favors, said: “So why does he still need me?”

  199. Ὁ αὐτὸς θεασάμενος πόῤῥωθεν προσιόντα κυρτόν, ἐπειδὴ ἐγγὺς ἐγένετο, εἶπεν· „ἄνθρωπε· ᾤμην τί σε φέρειν“.

    [Diogenes], seeing from afar a hunchbacked person approaching, when he was near said: “Sir, I thought that you were carrying something.”

  200. Ὁ αὐτὸς νοσήσας ποτὲ ἐν πανδοχείῳ καὶ κινδυνεύων πυθομένου αὐτοῦ τινός, εἰ ἀποθάνοι, τίς αὐτὸν ἐκκομίσει, ἔφη· „ὁ τῆς οἰκίας δεσπότης“.

    [Diogenes], being sick once at an inn and being in danger, when someone asked him, if he should die, who would bring him out, said: “The master of the house.”

  201. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔφη πάντα ἔχειν τὰ ἐν ταῖς τραγῳδίαις· εἶναί τε γὰρ πτωχός, πλανήτης, βίον ἔχων ἐφήμερον· „ἀλλ’ ὅμως τοιούτων ὑπαρχόντων τῶν κατ’ ἐμὲ ἕτοιμός εἰμι περὶ εὐδαιμονίας τῷ Περσῶν βασιλεῖ ἀγωνίσασθαι.“

    [Diogenes] said that he had all the things in tragedies. For he also was a beggar, a wanderer, with a short-lived life. “But nevertheless, although such things happen to me, I am ready to contend with the king of the Persians in happiness.”

  202. Ὁ αὐτὸς παραινοῦντός τινος αὐτῷ τῶν φίλων ἤδη ὄντι ἐν γήρᾳ κἂν νῦν προσανεῖναι διὰ τὴν ἡλικίαν ὅμοιον ἔφη εἶναι, ὡς εἰ ἀγωνιζομένῳ αὐτῷ δρόμον καὶ ἤδη ἐγγίζοντι τῷ βραβείῳ προσανεῖναι τὸ τάχος παρεκελεύετο, ὅτε ἔδει τοὐναντίον ἐπιτεῖναι παραινεῖν.

    [Diogenes], when one of his friends was advising him, since he was now in old age, to slacken now at any rate due to his time of life, said that it was the same thing, as if he was encouraging him while competing in a race and drawing close to the prize to slacken his speed, when he should be advising the opposite, to incite him.

  203. Δημοσθένης ὁ ῥήτωρ τὸν οἶνον παρῃτεῖτο οὐ ψυχῆς ὄντα πόμα, ἀλλὰ σώματος, ἵνα τε ξυνιέναι ὀξύτερος ᾖ καὶ ἀμείνων μνημονεύς.

    Demosthenes the orator refused wine, being a drink not for the mind but for the body, in order that he may be keener at understanding and a better recollector.

  204. Ὁ αὐτὸς σκωπτόμενος ὑπό τινος ὅτι διὰ σμικρολογίας τοῦτο ποιεῖ εἶπεν· „ἀλλ’ ἐγὼ πλεῖον ἔλαιον δαπανῶ νυκτὸς οὗ πίνεις οἴνου.“

    [Demosthenes], being made fun of by someone that he does this out of stinginess, said: “But I buy more olive oil in a night than you drink wine.”

  205. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς τί ἐστι συκοφάντης εἶπεν· „καθημερινὸς λωποδύτης“.

    [Demosthenes], having been asked what a sycophant is, said: “An everyday thief.”

  206. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔφη τὸν κόλακα τοῦτο διαφέρειν τοῦ κόρακος, ᾗ ὁ μὲν ζῶντας, ὁ δὲ νεκροὺς ἐσθίει.

    [Demosthenes] said that a flatterer differs from a raven in this, because one feeds on the living, and the other the dead.

  207. Ὁ αὐτὸς μειρακίου παρὰ πότον πολλὰ ληροῦντος καὶ μὴ βουλομένου σιωπῆσαι „μειράκιον“ εἶπε· „πῶς, παρ’ ᾧ ἔμαθες λαλεῖν, παρὰ τούτῳ σιωπᾶν οὐκ ἔμαθες“;

    [Demosthenes], when a young man was acting very foolish in his drink and did not wish to be silent, said: “Young man, How did you not know how to be silent from the man from whom you learned to act foolishly.”

  208. Ὁ αὐτὸς σκυτοτόμου τινὸς ἐν ἐκκλησίᾳ ταράττοντος „εὕρηκα ἄλλον“ εἶπεν „Ὑποδημάδην“.

    [Demosthenes], when some leatherworker was causing a ruckus in the assembly, said: “I have found another Hypodemades.”

  209. Ὁ αὐτὸς εἶπεν· „ὥσπερ δεῖ τοὺς πλέοντας πνεῦμα δεξιὸν ἐπιτηρεῖν, οὕτω καὶ τοὺς πολιτευομένους καιρόν, ἵν’ ἔλθωσιν, ὅπου βούλονται“.

    [Demosthenes] said: “As it is very necessary for those sailing to watch out for the right wind, so also should those in politics look for the right moment, in order that they may come when they wish.”

  210. Ὁ αὐτὸς ὀνειδίζοντος αὐτόν τινος καὶ λέγοντος· „μεθύων παραλαλεῖς“ εἶπεν· „σὺ δὲ οἴει με νήφοντα παραλαλεῖν“.

    [Demosthenes], when someone was reproaching him and saying, “You are babbling while drunk”, said: “But you think that I babble while sober.”

  211. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔφησε τοὺς νόμους δημοκρατίας νεῦρα.

    [Demosthenes] said that the laws are the sinews of a democracy.

  212. <Ὁ> αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς ὑπό τινος τί μάλιστα <παρ’> ἀνθρώποις γηράσκει εἶπε· „χάρις“.

    [Demosthenes], having been asked by someone what most grows old <among> men, said: “A favor.”

  213. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐπὶ ἐκφοράν ποτε παραγενόμενος φιλαργύρου „οὗτος“ ἔφη „ζήσας ἀβίωτον βίον ἑτέροις ἀπολέλοιπεν βίον“.

    [Demosthenes], once being present at the funeral of an avaricious man, said: “This man, after living a lifeless life, has left behind a life for others.”

  214. Ὁ αὐτὸς νεωτέρου τινὸς εὐειδοῦς μὲν τὴν ὄψιν, ἀσελγοῦς δὲ τὸν τρόπον, λοιδορουμένου αὐτῷ καὶ λέγοντος ὡς, εἰ ἐπίσης αὐτῷ ἐμισεῖτο ὑπὸ τῶν πολιτῶν, ἀπήγξατο ἂν ἔφη· „ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν ἀπηγξάμην ἄν, <εἰ> ἐπίσης σοι ὑπὸ τῶν πολιτῶν ἐφιλούμην“.

    [Demosthenes], when some young man, beautiful in appearance but wanton in his way of life, was reproaching him and saying that, if he was hated by the citizens as much as he was, he would have been strangled, said: “So would I have been strangled, <if> I were loved as much as you are by the citizens.”

  215. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἑξηκονταετοῦς τινος εἰπόντος μηδεπώποτε οὕτως ἀσθενῆσαι ἔφη· „οὐδεπώποτε γὰρ ἑξηκονταετὴς ἐγένου“.

    [Demosthenes], when a 60 year old man said that he had never been so weak, said: “For you were never 60 years old.”

  216. Ὁ αὐτὸς τὸν πλούσιον καὶ ἀπαίδευτον ἔφη Τύχης ἔμετον εἶναι.

    [Demosthenes] said that the wealthy and uneducated vomit out Fortune.

  217. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐπαινοῦντός τινος Κλέανδρον καὶ λέγοντος ὅτι ἐστὶν ἀγαθὸς ῥήτωρ, ὑποκρίσει δὲ λείπεται, εἶπεν· „ὅμοιός ἐστι ταὐτὸ ποιεῖν τούτῳ, εἴ τις ἐπαινοίη φρέαρ, λέγει δὲ ὅτι πότιμον ὕδωρ οὐκ ἔχει“.

    [Demosthenes], when someone was praising Cleandrus and saying that he is a good orator, but is lacking in delivery, said: “That is like doing the same thing as this, if someone should praise a well but says that it does not have drinkable water.”

  218. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς ποῖον τῶν λόγων ἠγωνίσατο μᾶλλον εἶπεν· „ὃν μετ’ εὐνοίας ἠκροάσαντο <μᾶλλον> Ἀθηναῖοι“.

    [Demosthenes], having been asked what sort of speeches he contended with better, said: “The kind which the Athenians <more> listened to with good will.”

  219. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς ποῖον μέγιστον ὅπλον εἶπε· „λόγος“.

    [Demosthenes] having been asked what weapon is best, said: “Speech.”

  220. Ὁ αὐτὸς μειρακίου τινὸς αὐτὸν προκαλουμένου εἰς μελέτην „μειράκιον“ ἔφη· „σοὶ μὲν τοῦτο εὐκτόν ἐστιν, ἐμοὶ δὲ οἰμωκτόν“.

    [Demosthenes], when some young man was inviting him to a declamation, said: “Young man, it is hoped for you to do this, but for me it is pitiable.”

  221. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς τί δυσκολώτατον ἐν βίῳ εἶπε· „τὸ πᾶσιν ἀρέσαι“.

    [Demosthenes], having been asked what is most troublesome in life, said: “Pleasing everyone.”

  222. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἀκούσας ὅτι ὑπὸ Φιλίππου λοιδορεῖται εἶπεν· „ἀπόντα με καὶ τυπτέτω“.

    [Demosthenes], having heard that he was being reviled by Philip, said: “Let him even strike me in my absence.”

  223. Ὁ αὐτὸς εὐχερῶς αὐτῷ ἀργύριον χρήσαντός τινος εἶθ’ ὁρῶν πολλοῖς αὐτὸν τὸ αὐτὸ ποιοῦντα εἶπεν· „οὐκέτι σοι ἔχω χάριν· νόσῳ γάρ, οὐ κρίσει τοῦτο ποιεῖς“.

    [Demosthenes], when someone was lending him money readily, then seeing him doing the same thing for many people, said: “I am no longer grateful to you; for you are doing this out of a sickness, not out of judgment.”

  224. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἰδὼν παρὰ ποταμὸν μειράκιον εὐειδὲς κεκοσμημένον προπεπτωκὸς νύξας αὐτὸ καὶ ἐγείρας εἶπεν· „οὐ φοβῇ, μή τίς τοι εὕδοντι μετισχίῳ ἐν δόρυ πήξῃ;“

    [Demosthenes], seeing a beautiful, decorated young man prostrate beside a river, prodding and stirring him, said: “Are you not afraid that someone will fix his spear into your haunches while sleeping?”

  225. Ὁ αὐτὸς ὡς οἱ γνώριμοι ἔλεγον· „οὐκ ἀκούουσίν σου Ἀθηναῖοι“ εἶπεν· „ἀλλ’ αὐτίκα ἀκούσονται καὶ σιωπᾶν βουλόμενον οὐκ ἐάσουσιν“.

    [Demosthenes], when the distinguished people used to say, “The Athenians are not listening to you”, said: “But presently they will listen and will not let me be silent, although wishing it.”

  226. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἰδὼν κακὸν παλαιστὴν ἰατρεύοντα „νῦν“ εἶπεν „εὕρηκας μέθοδον, δι’ ἧς πολλοὺς καταβαλεῖς“.

    [Demosthenes], seeing a bad wrestler being a doctor, said: “Now you have found a way to throw down many people.”

  227. Ὁ αὐτὸς θορυβούντων ποτὲ τῶν δικαστῶν ἤρετο αὐτούς· „ποταπὴ αὕτη ἡ κρίσις ἐστίν, ἐν ᾗ σιωπᾷ μὲν ὁ κρινόμενος, λέγουσι δὲ οἱ δικάζοντες“;

    [Demosthenes], when the jury was once making an uproar, asked them: “What sort of trial is this, in which the one being judged is quiet but those judging it are speaking?”

  228. Ὁ αὐτὸς δημηγορήσας ποτὲ παρ’ Ἀθηναίοις λαμπρῶς ἔπειτα καθίσας καὶ ἰδὼν ἐξανιστάμενον Δημάδην εἶπεν· „ἀνίσταται ἡ τῶν ἡμετέρων λόγων σφῦρα“.

    [Demosthenes], once orating brilliantly among the Athenians, then having sat down and seen Demades standing up, said: “The mallet of our speeches is standing.”

  229. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔφη πόλεως εἶναι ψυχὴν τοὺς νόμους· „ὥσπερ δὲ σῷμα στερηθὲν ψυχῆς πίπτει, οὕτω καὶ πόλις μὴ ὄντων νόμων καταλύεται“

    [Demosthenes] said that the laws are the soul of a city. “And just as a body deprived of the soul falls, so also is a city dissolved when there are not laws.”

  230. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς ὑπό τινος τίς ῥήτορα <αὐτὸν> ἐποίησεν εἶπεν· „τὸ Ἀθηναίων βῆμα“.

    [Demosthenes], having been asked by someone who made <him> an orator, said: “The platform of the Athenians.”

  231. Ὁ αὐτὸς προτρεπόμενός ποτε Ἀθηναίους κἀκείνων ὁρμησάντων βαλεῖν αὐτὸν λίθοις „βάλλετε“ ἔφη· „ὦ Ἀθηναῖοι· κρεῖττον γάρ ἐστι παρ’ ὑμῶν ἀπολέσθαι ἢ μεθ’ ὑμῶν“.

    [Demosthenes], urging on the Athenians once, when even those were rushing to strike him with stones, said: “Strike, o Athenians, for it is better to be killed by you than with you.”

  232. Ὁ αὐτὸς θεασάμενός τινα πλείονα τῆς οὐσίας ποιούμενον φροντίδα ὑπὲρ τοὺς υἱοὺς ἔφη· „σύ μοι δοκεῖς, ὦ οὗτος, μὴ τὴν οὐσίαν ἐθέλειν τοῖς υἱοῖς καταλιπεῖν, ἀλλὰ τὰ τέκνα τῇ οὐσίᾳ“.

    [Demosthenes], seeing someone giving more heed to his estate <than> for his sons, said: “You here seem to me to wish not to leave behind an estate to your sons but sons to your estate.”

  233. Δημάδης ὁ ῥήτωρ μετακαλούντων αὐτόν τινων ἀπὸ τοῦ πολιτεύεσθαι καὶ κελευόντων γεωργεῖν εἶπεν· „αἱρετώτερόν μοί ἐστι στιγμὴν τοῦ βήματος γεωργεῖν ἢ ὅλην τὴν Ἀττικήν“.

    Demades the orator, when certain people were calling him away from engaging in politics and commanding him to farm, said: “It is preferable to me to farm the small plot of the speaking platform rather than the whole of Attica.”

  234. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς ὑπό τινος βουλομένου τὴν θυγατέρα αὐτοῦ γῆμαι εἰ καλή ἐστιν „ὡς μὲν ἐρωμένη“ εἶπεν „αἰσχρά, ὡς δὲ γυνὴ καλή“.

    [Demades], having been asked by someone who wished to marry his daughter whether she is good, said: “As a beloved, she is bad, but as a wife, she is good.”

  235. Ὁ αὐτὸς ψήφισμα γράψας παράνομον καὶ εὐθυνόμενος ὑπὸ Λυκούργου ἐρωτήσαντος αὐτὸν ἐκείνου εἰ, ὅτε ἔγραφεν τὸ ψήφισμα, οὐκ ἐνέβλεπεν εἰς τοὺς νόμους, „οὐκ ἐνέβλεπον“ ἔφησεν· „ἐπεσκότει γὰρ αὐτοὺς τὰ Μακεδόνων ὅπλα.“

    [Demades], having written an unlawful decree and being censured by Lycurgus, when that man asked him if, when he was writing the decree, he considered the laws, he said: “I did not consider them, for the arms of the Macedonians cast a shadow over them.”

  236. Ὁ αὐτὸς οὐ θελόντων Ἀθηναίων τιμᾶν Ἀλέξανδρον ὡς θεὸν „δέδια“, φησίν, „<ὦ> ἄνδρες, ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν, μὴ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ φθονοῦντες Ἀλεξάνδρῳ τὴν γῆν ἀφαιρεθῆτε ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ“.

    [Demades], when the Athenians did not wish to honor Alexander as a god, said: “I fear for you, men, lest, begrudging Alexander the heavens, you are removed from the earth by him.”

  237. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐπεὶ ἐλοιδορεῖτο ὑπό τινος νεανίσκου τὰ αἴσχιστα „νεανίσκε“ ἔφη· „ἡ γλῶττά σου οὐκ ἐν τῷ στόματι κάθηται, ἀλλ’ ἐπὶ οἰκήματος.“

    [Demades], when he was being mocked by some young man very shamefully, said: “Young man, your tongue does not rest in your mouth, but at the brothel.”

  238. Ὁ αὐτὸς Δημοσθένην ὅμοιον ἔφη εἶναι ταῖς χελιδόσι· „καὶ γὰρ ἐκεῖναι οὔτε καθεύδειν ἐῶσιν οὐδ’ ἐγείρειν δύνανται·“ [καὶ Δημοσθένης οὔτε ἡσυχίαν ἄγειν ἐᾷ οὔτε ἄξιον τῆς πόλεως οὐδὲν ἐπιβάλλεται].

    [Demades] said that Demosthenes was like swallows: “For those too are neither accustomed to sleep nor can they wake up.” [And Demosthenes neither is accustomed to keep the peace nor does he fall upon anything worthy of the city.]

  239. <Ὁ> αὐτὸς θορυβούμενος ὑπὸ τοῦ δήμου „ὦ δῆμε“ φησί· „μᾶλλον δὲ δήμιε“.

    [Demades], being harangued by the people, said: “O men, rather hangmen!”

  240. Ὁ αὐτὸς εἶπε τὴν ἐπιτίμησιν τοῖς ἀνθρώποις ἔμψυχον μάστιγα.

    [Demades] said that criticism was a living scourge for people.

  241. Ὁ αὐτὸς λέγων ποτὲ κρίσιν ἐν πανδοκείῳ ὑβρισμένος μάρτυρας προεφέρετο τοὺς πανδοκέας, τῶν δὲ κρινόντων οὐκ ἀξιοπίστους εἶναι φασκόντων „τοιοῦτος γὰρ“ φησὶ „καὶ ὁ τόπος ἦν, ἐν ᾧ ἡ ὕβρις ἐπετελέσθη· εἰ δὲ ἐν τῷ δουρείῳ ἵππῳ ὕβρισε, τοὺς ἀριστεῖς ὑμῖν ἂν παρειχόμην μάρτυρας Μενέλαον καὶ Διομήδην καὶ Ὀδυσσέα“.

    [Demades], speaking a case once in an inn for someone assaulted, he summoned the innkeepers as witneses, but when the judges said they were not trustworthy, he said: “For the place in which the assalt happened was such as this. But if he had commited assault in the wooden horse, I would be offering to you as witnesses the chiefs Menelaus and Diomedes and Odysseus.”

  242. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς ὑπό τινος τί εἴη πεποιηκὼς τὰ ἐκ Μακεδονίας χρήματα ἀναβαλόμενος καὶ ἐπιδείξας τήν τε κοιλίαν καὶ τὰ αἰδοῖα ἔφη· „τί ἂν τούτοις <ἱκανὸν γένοιτο>;“

    [Demades], having been asked by someone what he had done with the money from Macedonia, throwing up his cloak and revealing both his belly and genitals, said: “What would <be sufficient> for these?”

  243. Ὁ αὐτὸς δυσημερῶν ἐπί τινος δημηγορίας „οἶδα“, φησίν, „ὅτι οὐδένα ὑμεῖς ἐσιτίσατε, ὃν οὐκ ἀπεκόψατε“.

    [Demades], having an unlucky day at a public speech, said: “I know that you all raised no one whom you did not cut down.”

  244. Ὁ αὐτὸς ὀνειδιζόμενος καθ’ ὅτι ἕνα μόνον υἱὸν ἔθρεψεν εἶπεν· „ἕνα κρεῖττόν ἐστι τριηράρχην ἢ δέκα κωπηλάτας καταλιπεῖν.“

    [Demades], being reproached because he only raised one son, said: “It is better to leave behind one trierarch rather than ten rowers.”

  245. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔφη· „ὥσπερ τὸ τῆς Ἑλένης κάλλος ἐπ’ ἀπωλείᾳ τῶν ἡρώων ἐγένετο, οὕτω καὶ Δημοσθένους ἐν τῷ λέγειν δύναμις ἐπ’ ἀπωλείᾳ τῆς Ἑλλάδος ηὐξήθη“.

    [Demades] said: “Just as the beauty of Helen resulted in the destruction of heroes, thus also Demosthenes’ strength in speaking grew into the destruction of Greece.”

  246. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔφη, ὥσπερ ἀγωνιστοῦ γίνεσθαι δυσημερίαν, οὕτω καὶ ἀκροατοῦ.

    [Demades] said that, just as a bad day happens for the debater, so too it does for the listener.

  247. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐν ἐκκλησίᾳ θροούμενος εἶπεν· „οὐκ ἐμὲ ἐκωλύσατε λέγειν, ἀλλ’ ἑαυτοὺς ἀκούειν“.

    [Demades], being shouted at in the assembly, said: “You did not prevent me from speaking but yourselves from hearing.”

  248. Δημοκράτης ὁ Παῤῥησιαστὴς ἐρωτήσαντός [ποτε αὐτὸν] Φιλίππου τί ἂν ποιῶν χαρίζοιτο Ἀθηναίοις εἶπεν· „ἀπαγξάμενος.“

    Democrates the Free-Speaker, when Philip asked what sort of thing pleased the Athenians, said: “Being hanged.”

  249. Ὁ αὐτὸς πρὸς τοὺς πυκνῶς ἐγκωμιάζοντας Φίλιππον „οὐ παύσεσθε“ εἶπε „θνητοῦ σώματος ἀθάνατοι κόλακες ὄντες;“

    [Democrates] said to those repeatedly praising Philip: “Won’t you stop being immortal flatterers of a mortal body?”

  250. Ὁ αὐτὸς τοὺς πλουσίους καὶ ἀπαιδεύτους παραπλησίους ἔφησεν εἶναι τοῖς κριοῖς τοῖς ἐπιπόκοις, πλὴν ὅτι ἐκείνους μὲν οἱ κουρεῖς, τούτους δὲ οἱ συκοφάνται κείρουσιν.

    [Democrates] said that the wealthy and the uneducated resemble wooly rams, except that shearers shear those, while sycophants fleece these.

  251. Ὁ αὐτός ποτε ἀποσταλεὶς παρὰ Ἀθηναίων πρὸς Φίλιππον κατὰ πρεσβείαν μετὰ παῤῥησίας αὐτῷ ὡμίλει· τοῦ δὲ Φιλίππου εἰπόντος· „οὐ φοβῇ, μὴ τὴν κεφαλήν σου προστάξω ἀφελεῖν;“ „οὐ φοβοῦμαι“ εἶπεν· „ἐὰν γὰρ σύ μου ταύτην ἀφέλῃς, ἡ πατρίς μοι αὐτὴν ἀθάνατον ἀναθήσει“.

    [Democrates], having been sent once by the Athenians to Philip on an embassy, associated with him frankly. And when Philip said, “Aren’t you afraid that I will issue a command to take off your head?”, he said: “I am not afraid, for if you take off this one of mine, my fatherland will set it up as immortal.”

  252. Ὁ αὐτὸς θεωρῶν τοὺς περὶ Ἀριστογείτονα καὶ Πυθέαν πονηροὺς ἀνθρώπους ὑπὸ τοῦ δήμου προαγομένους „οὐκ αἰσχύνεσθε,“ φησίν, „ὦ Ἀθηναῖοι, καθάπερ οἱ ὄρνιθες τὰ κόπρια εἰς τὸ μέσον ἕλκοντες“;

    [Democrates], seeing the immoral men close to Aristogeiton and Pytheas being preferred by the people, said: “Aren’t you ashamed, O Athenians, bringing your droppings into the middle like birds?”

  253. Δημήτριος ὁ Φαληρεὺς ἔφη, ὡς οἱ <θυμοὶ καθάπερ οἱ> κύνες τυφλὰ τίκτουσι τὰ κριτήρια.

    Demetrius of Phaleron said that <emotions, like> dogs, give birth to judgments that are blind.

  254. Ὁ αὐτὸς εὐχομένους μὲν ἔφη δεῖν αἰτεῖσθαι τὰ μέγιστα τῶν ἀγαθῶν, βουλευομένους δὲ ζητεῖν δυνατά.

    [Demetrius] said that those praying should ask for the greatest of goods, but those making plans should seek those that are possible.

  255. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔφη δεῖν τοὺς καλῶς ἀγομένους τῶν νεανίσκων αἰδεῖσθαι ἐν μὲν ταῖς οἰκίαις τοὺς γονεῖς, ἐν δὲ ταῖς ὁδοῖς τοὺς ἀπαντῶντας, ἐν δὲ ταῖς ἐρημίαις ἑαυτούς.

    [Demetrius] said that well-raised youths should honor their parents at home, passersby on the road, and themselves in solitude.

  256. Ὁ αὐτὸς εἶπε τὸν μὴ δυνάμενον γενναίως ἐνεγκεῖν ἀτυχίαν μὴ δύνασθαι ἐπιδεξίως ἐνεγκεῖν εὐτυχίαν.

    [Demetrius] said that he who cannot endure misfortune nobly cannot endure good fortune tactfully.

  257. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔφη μὴ δεῖν ζητεῖν τοὺς ἀνθρώπους εἰ ἐκ μεγάλης πόλεώς εἰσιν, ἀλλ’ εἰ μεγάλης πόλεως ἄξιοι.

    [Demetrius] said that one should not consider whether men are from a great city, but if they are worthy of a great city.

  258. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔλεγε τὸ μὲν τὰ κακὰ ἐνεγκεῖν ἀνδραπόδων εἶναι, τὸ δὲ τὰ ἀγαθὰ ἀνδρῶν.

    [Demetrius] said that to endure evils is the task of captives, and to endure good things is that of men.

  259. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς τί τῶν ζώων κάλλιστόν ἐστιν εἶπεν· „ἄνθρωπος παιδείᾳ κεκοσμημένος“.

    [Demetrius], having been asked what animal is the most beautiful, said: “A human decorated with education.”

  260. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς τίς ἄριστος σύμβουλος ἔφη· „ὁ καιρός.“

    [Demetrius], having been asked what is the best advisor, said: “The right moment.”

  261. Διονύσιος ὁ Σικελίας τύραννος ἐκπεσὼν τῆς ἀρχῆς καὶ ἐρωτώμενος ὑπό τινος· „τί ὠφέλησαι ὑπὸ Πλάτωνος;“ εἶπε· „πάλαι μὲν τὸ μετρίως ἄρχειν, νῦν δὲ τὸ μετρίως ζῆν“.

    Dionysius the tyrant of Sicily having been driven out of power and asked by someone, “What benefit did you gain from Plato?” said: “Earlier how to rule moderately, but now how to live moderately.”

  262. Ὁ αὐτὸς νεωτέρου τινὸς ἐπὶ τῇ τοῦ σώματος ὥρᾳ σεμνυνομένου ἀνοήτων ἔφη τοιαύτην ὑπεροχὴν θαυμάζειν, ἥτις ὑπὸ τριχὸς καταλύεται.

    [Dionysius], to some young man who was worshipping his own body, said he was amazed at this foolish excess, which would be ruined by a single hair.

  263. Δημοχάρης ὁ ῥήτωρ τελευτήσαντος τοῦ Δημοσθένους εἶπεν ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ· „ἄνδρες πολῖται, ἡ φωνὴ τῆς πατρίδος ἡμῶν τέθνηκεν.“

    Demochares the rhetorician, when Demosthenes had finished, said in the assembly: “Citizens, this speech has killed our country.”

  264. Διοκλῆς ὁ ἰατρὸς λέγοντος αὐτῷ τινος βιβλίον ἠγορακέναι ἰατρικὸν καὶ μὴ προσδεῖσθαι διδασκαλίας εἶπε· „τὰ βιβλία τῶν μὲν μεμαθηκότων ὑπομνήματά ἐστι, τῶν δὲ ἀμαθῶν μνήματα“.

    Diocles the physician having been told by someone that they had bought a medical book so they no longer needed to receive education, said: “Books are reminders for the educated, but for the uneducated they are gravemarkers.”

  265. Δημόκριτος τὴν φιλαργυρίαν ἔλεγε μητρόπολιν πάσης κακίας.

    Democritus said that the love of money is the source of all evils.

  266. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἰδὼν φθονερὸν λυπούμενον ἔφη· „ἢ τούτῳ μέγα κακὸν συμβέβηκεν ἢ ἄλλῳ μέγα ἀγαθόν.“

    [Democritus] seeing a jealous man who was distressed, said: “Either something really bad has happened to him or something really good to someone else.”

  267. <Ὁ> αὐτὸς εἶπε· „μόνον οἶδα ὅτι οὐκ οἶδα“.

    [Democritus] said: “The only thing I know is that I know nothing.”

  268. Εὐριπίδης ὁ τῶν τραγῳδιῶν ποιητὴς εἶπεν ὅτι τοὺς ἀγαθοὺς ἄνδρας δεῖ ζῶντας μὲν τιμᾶσθαι, τελευτήσαντας δὲ ἐγκωμιάζεσθαι.

    Euripides, the poet of tragedies, said that good men must be honored while they are alive but praised when they are dead.

  269. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἀγωνιᾶν ἔφησεν εἰς τὰ θέατρα παραγινόμενος οὐχὶ εἰ νικηθήσεται, ἀλλ’ ἵνα μὴ δόξῃ παρὰ τὸ πρότερον ἑαυτοῦ χείρων εἰσεληλυθέναι.

    [Euripides] said that, when he went into the theater, he was distressed not over whether he would be defeated but rather in order that he might not seem to have entered worse than himself compared to earlier.

  270. Ὁ αὐτὸς ὀνειδιζόμενός ποτε ὅτι δίκην ἔχων ἐμισθώσατο ῥήτορα ἔφη· „καὶ γάρ, ὅταν δεῖπνον ἔχω, μάγειρον μισθοῦμαι“.

    When [Euripides] was being rebuked because he hired an orator when he had a court case, he said: “Certainly, for whenever I have dinner, I hire a cook.”

  271. Ὁ αὐτὸς ὀνειδιζόμενος ὑπό τινων ἐπὶ τῷ βαρβαρίζειν ἔφη· „ἐγὼ μὲν τῷ λόγῳ, ὑμεῖς δὲ τῷ τρόπῳ“.

    When [Euripides] was being rebuked by certain people for speaking gibberish, he said: “I do so in my speech, but you do so in your way of life.

  272. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς διὰ τί [αὐτὸς] τούς τε πονηροὺς καὶ ἀγαθοὺς μισεῖ ἔφη· „τοὺς μὲν πονηροὺς διὰ τὴν μοχθηρίαν, τοὺς δὲ ἀγαθοὺς ὅτι τοὺς κακοὺς οὐ μισοῦσιν“.

    When [Euripides] was asked why he hated both the wicked and the good, he said: “I hate the wicked for their depravity and the good because they do not hate the bad.”

  273. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔφη· „ὅστις φίλον λυπούμενον ἔφυγεν, οὐδὲ τοῦ χαίροντος ἀπολαύειν ἄξιος“.

    [Euripides] said: “Whoever avoids a friend in pain does not deserve to enjoy them when they are well.”

  274. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς διὰ τί σφόδρα ἀγανακτεῖ κακῶς ἀκούων ἔφη· „ὅτι οὐδὲ ἐπαινούμενος ἡσθήσομαι, εἰ μὴ κακῶς ἀκούων ἀχθεσθήσομαι“.

    When [Euripides] was asked why he gets so annoyed at being criticized, he said: “Because I will not enjoy being praised unless I am pained at being criticized.”

  275. Ὁ αὐτὸς, ἐπεὶ ὀψωνοῦντος αὐτοῦ ἐπελάβετό τις λέγων ὅτι Σοφοκλῆς τοῦτο διὰ δούλου ποιεῖ <ἔφη>· „τοιγαροῦν Σοφοκλῆς μὲν ἐσθίει ὄψον, ὁποῖον ἂν τῷ οἰκέτῃ ἀρέσῃ, ἐγὼ δέ, ὁποῖον ἂν ἐμοί“.

    [Euripides], when someone rebuked him for cooking by saying that Sophocles had a slave do this, said: “In that case, Sophocles eats the food that his slave likes, but I eat what I like.”

  276. Ὁ αὐτός ποτε φακῆν ἕψων καὶ μὴ ἔχων ξύλα ἀνελόμενος ξόανον Ἡρακλέους ἐγγὺς ἑστηκὸς ἐπέθηκε τῇ ἑστίᾳ εἰπών· „Ἡράκλεις, τρισκαιδέκατόν σοι τοῦτον ἆθλον Εὐριπίδης ἐπέθηκεν, [ἐπὶ] φακῆν ἑψῆσαι“

    Once, when [Euripides] was boiling lentils and didn’t have any wood, he took up a wooden statue of Heracles standing nearby and put it onto the hearth, saying: “Heracles, Euripides imposes a thirteenth labor upon you: boil the lentils.”

  277. Εὐκλείδης ὁ φιλόσοφος ἐρωτώμενος ὑπό τινος ὁποῖοί τινές εἰσιν οἱ θεοὶ καὶ τίσι χαίρουσι „τὰ μὲν ἄλλα οὐκ οἶδα“ εἶπε· „τοὺς μέντοι φιλοπράγμονας ὅτι μισοῦσιν, ἀσφαλῶς οἶδα“.

    Euclid the philosopher having been asked by someone what sort of people the gods are like and what they enjoy, said: “I don’t know about all that, but surely they hate busybodies, I’m certain of that.”

  278. Ὁ αὐτὸς τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ εἰπόντος κατ’ ὀργὴν οὐ πρότερον ἀποθανεῖσθαι, εἰ μὴ ἀμυνεῖται αὐτόν, „ἀλλ’ ἐγὼ“ ἔφη „οὐ πρότερον ἀποθανοῦμαι, εἰ μή σε φιλαίτατον ποιήσομαι“.

    [Euclid’s] brother angrily said that he would not die, unless he got vengeance upon him first, [and Euclid] said: “But I won’t die, unless I make you my best friend first.”

  279. Ἐπαμινώνδας ὁ Θηβαίων στρατηγὸς διαλεγομένου τινὸς αὐτῷ παρὰ τῶν πολεμίων περὶ προδοσίας εὐτελὲς ἄριστον ἀριστῶντι βλέψας εἰς τὸν ἄνθρωπον καὶ δείξας τὴν τράπεζαν εἶπε· „τοιαῦτα ἄριστα προδότας οὐ τρέφει“.

    Epaminondas the Theban general was talking with someone about betrayals of enemies while he was eating a cheap meal, so he looked at the man and pointed at the table and said: “This sort of meal doesn’t nurture traitors.”

  280. Ὁ αὐτὸς τὸν κατὰ τὸν πόλεμον θάνατον εἶπεν ἱερόθυτον εἶναι.

    [Epaminondas] said that a death in battle is a holy sacrifice.

  281. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἰδὼν στρατόπεδον μέγα καὶ καλόν, στρατηγὸν οὐκ ἔχον, „ἡλίκον“ εἶπε „θηρίον κεφαλὴν οὐκ ἔχει“.

    [Epaminondas] seeing a big and beautiful army, which didn’t have a general, said: “How big a beast to have no head!”

  282. Ὁ αὐτὸς ταχθεὶς ὑπὸ τῶν <πολιτῶν ἐπὶ τῶν> ὀχετῶν „οὐκ ἐμὲ“ φησὶν „ἄδοξον ποιήσετε, ἀλλὰ τὸν τόπον ἔνδοξον δι’ ἐμέ“.

    [Epaminondas] having been appointed to canal duty <by the polis>, said: “You will not make me disreputable, but instead because of me this place will become reputable.”

  283. Ἐμπεδοκλῆς ὁ φυσικὸς πρὸς τὸν λέγοντα ὅτι „οὐδένα σοφὸν εὑρεῖν δύναμαι“ „κατὰ λόγον“ εἶπε· „τὸν γὰρ ζητοῦντα τὸν σοφὸν αὐτὸν πρότερον εἶναι δεῖ“.

    Someone saying to Empedocles the natural philosopher that “nobody is able to find a wise man”, he said: “Logically, for the seeking of a wise man himself is necessary first.”

  284. Εὐμονίδας ὁ Θηβαῖος στρεβλοὺς ἔχων τοὺς πόδας [καὶ] ἀπολέσας τὰ ὑποδήματα ηὔξατο τῷ κλέψαντι ἁρμόσαι.

    Eumonidas the Theban having twisted feet and having lost his sandals said he hoped they fit whoever took them.

  285. Ἐφιάλτης ὁ τῶν Ἀθηναίων δημαγωγὸς χειροτονηθεὶς προστάτης ὑπὸ τοῦ δήμου παρῃτήσατο τὴν φιλίαν τῶν ἑταίρων φάμενος μὴ δύνασθαι τὸ κοινὸν συμφέρον διαφυλάσσειν καὶ φιλίας δίκαια συντηρεῖν.

    Ephialtes the Athenian demagogue having been elected leader by the people cut himself off from his friends saying that it was impossible to simultaneously maintain the common interest and preserve decent friendships.

  286. Εὐξίθεος ὁ Ἀθηναῖος τοὺς χρηστοὺς μὲν ἐν τοῖς λόγοις, ἀχρήστους δὲ τῷ βίῳ ὁμοίους ἔφησεν εἶναι τοῖς ἀγαθοῖς ἐνυπνίοις.

    Euxitheus the Athenian said that those who are effective in speech but ineffective in life are like good dreams.

  287. Ἐρασίστρατος ὁ ἰατρὸς καταλαβών τινα πυρέττοντα καὶ ἐσθίοντα ἅμα ἠρώτησε τί τοῦτο ποιεῖ· ὁ δὲ „πρὸς ἡδονὴν“ ἔφη „ἀπόλλυμαι“.

    Erasistratus the physician asked someone seized by fever and constantly eating why he was doing this; and he said: “I’m destroying myself for hedonism.”

  288. Ὁ αὐτὸς οὐκ ἐκ τῶν καταποθέντων, ἀλλ’ ἐκ τῶν ἀναδοθέντων τὴν ἰσχὺν ἔφη τοῖς ἀνθρώποις περιγίνεσθαι.

    [Erasistratus] said that people gain superior strength not from swallowing, but from digesting.

  289. Ὁ αὐτὸς τὴν ἰατρικὴν τῆς φιλοσοφίας ἔφησεν ἀδελφὴν εἶναι· τὴν μὲν γὰρ τὰ ψυχικά, τὴν δὲ τὰ σωματικὰ θεραπεύειν ἀῤῥωστήματα.

    [Erasistratus] said that medicine is the sister of philosophy; for one heals illnesses of the soul, but the other of the body.

  290. Ὁ αὐτὸς τελευτῶν „οἴμοι“, εἶπεν, „ὅτι παρακύπτων εἰς τὴν τέχνην ἀποθνήσκω“.

    [Erasistratus] while dying said: “Woe is me, that I will die stooping for a glimpse into the medical arts.”

  291. Ἐρατοσθένης ὁ Κυρηναῖος τῆς ἡλικίας ἔφη τὸ μὲν ἀκμάζον ἔαρ εἶναι, θέρος δὲ καὶ μετόπωρον τὸ μετὰ τὴν ἀκμήν, χειμῶνα δὲ τὸ γῆρας.

    Eratosthenes the Cyrenian said that flourishing in the prime of youth is spring, after the prime is summer and fall, and old age is winter.

  292. Εὐκράτης ὁ Κόρυδος δοκοῦντός τινος νεανίσκου παρακεχρῆσθαι τῇ ἡλικίᾳ καὶ πεπλουτηκέναι ἀπὸ τῆς ὥρας „ὁρῶ σε“, φησίν, „ὦ νεανίσκε, ἐκ τῶν ὄπισθεν εἰς τοὔμπροσθεν προβεβηκότα“.

    Eucrates the Lark, when some young man seemed to have misused his age and become wealthy from his looks, said: “I see that you, young man, that you have advanced forward from your behind.”

  293. Εὐμενὴς ὁ βασιλεὺς τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς ἔλεγε διὰ παντός· „ἐὰν μὲν ὡς βασιλεῖ προσφέρησθέ μοι, ὡς ἀδελφοῖς ὑμῖν χρήσομαι· ἐὰν δὲ ὡς ἀδελφῷ, ἐγὼ ὑμῖν ὡς βασιλεύς“.

    Eumenes the king always said to his brothers: “If you treat me like a king, I will handle you as brothers. But if you treat me like a brother, I will do so as a king.”

  294. Ἐπίκουρος ὁ φιλόσοφος τὴν οἴησιν ἱερὰν νόσον [εἶναι] ἔλεγεν.

    Epicurus the philosopher said that opinion is a sacred disease.

  295. Ζήνων ὁ Στωϊκὸς φιλόσοφος λεγόντων τινῶν ὅτι παράδοξα λέγει ἔφη· „ἀλλ’ οὐ παράλογα“.

    Zeno the Stoic philosopher, when some were saying that he was speaking contrary to expectation, said: “But not contrary to logic.”

  296. Ζήνων ἐρωτηθεὶς τί ἐστι φίλος ἔφη· „ἄλλος οἷος ἐγώ“.

    Zeno having been asked by someone “What is a friend?”, said: “Another like myself.”

  297. Ζήνων ἔφη τὴν μὲν ὅρασιν ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀέρος λαμβάνειν τὸ φῶς, τὴν δὲ ψυχὴν ἀπὸ τῶν μαθημάτων.

    Zeno said that sight takes light from the air, but the soul from learning.

  298. Ὁ αὐτὸς περιπεσὼν ναυαγίῳ καὶ τὰ ὄντα ἀπολέσας οὐδὲν ἀγεννὲς ἐφθέγξατο, ἀλλ’ „εὖγε“, εἶπεν, „ὦ Τύχη, ὅτι συνέστειλας ἡμᾶς εἰς τὸ τριβώνιον τοῦτο“.

    [Zeno] having been shipwrecked and his things destroyed uttered no curses, but said: “Well done, Tyche, that you wrapped us up in this little philosopher’s-cloak.”

  299. Ὁ αὐτὸς τοὺς [μὲν] τοῦ σώματος ἐπιμελουμένους, τῆς δὲ ψυχῆς ἀμελοῦντας ὁμοίους ἔφη εἶναι τοῖς ζητοῦσι μὲν ἐσθῆτα καθαρὰν φορεῖ, ῥυπῶσι δὲ καὶ αὐχμῶσιν.

    [Zeno] said that those who care for their body, but are equally careless for their soul, are like those who are looking for clean clothes, but are unwashed and filthy.

  300. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἰδὼν ἀκόλουθόν τινος τῶν γνωρίμων μεμαστιγωμένον „ὁρῶ σου“ ἔφη „τοῦ θυμοῦ τὰ ἴχνη“.

    [Zeno] seeing that someone enslaved by one of his pupils had been whipped, said: “I see the footprints of your anger.”

  301. Ὁ αὐτὸς Ἀρίστωνος αὐτὸν ἐρομένου τί ποιῶν ἐγένετο σοφὸς εἶπε· „τοῖς μὲν κρείττοσιν ὑποτασσόμενος, τοῖς δὲ πᾶσιν ἴσοις συζητῶν, τοῖς <δ’> ἥττοσιν εἰσηγούμενος“.

    [Zeno] having been asked by Ariston, what he should do to become wise, said: “following those better than you, inquiring with those equal to you, leading those inferior to you.”

  302. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔφη τὴν παιδείαν πρὸς εὐδαιμονίαν αὐτάρκη.

    [Zeno] said that education suffices for happiness.

  303. Ὁ αὐτὸς θεωρήσας ἐπὶ τῆς πλατείας ὑπὸ κοράκων διασπώμενόν τινα εἶπεν· „οὗτος ὑπὸ τῆς φύσεως ἔσχεν τοὺς κηδεύοντας“.

    [Zeno] having seen someone being torn apart by crows in the street, said: “Thus he had nature’s undertakers.”

  304. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς πῶς ἂν ἐλάχιστα ἁμαρτάνοι ὁ νέος εἶπεν· „εἰ πρὸ ὀφθαλμῶν ἔχοι οὓς μάλιστα τιμᾷ καὶ αἰσχύνεται“.

    [Zeno] having been asked how a youth might err least, said: “If he keeps his eyes both on those he greatly respects and those he disdains.”

  305. Ζάλευκος ὁ τῶν Λοκρῶν νομοθέτης ἐρωτηθεὶς [ὑπό τινος] πῶς <ἂν> ἀναμάρτητος γένοιτό τις εἶπεν· „εἴ [τις] ἐχθροὺς ἔχοι πολλούς· φοβούμενος γὰρ αὐτῶν τὰς παραστάσεις καὶ τὸν ἔλεγχον σπανίως ἂν πειρῷτο τὸ καλῶς ἔχον ὑπερβαίνειν“.

    Zaleucus the lawgiver of the Locrians having been asked [by someone] how one might become blameless, said: “If [one] might have many enemies; for fearing their rebukes and reproaches they’ll seldom try to transgress good sense.”

  306. Οἴησίς ἐστιν ἐγκοπὴ προκοπῆς.

    [Heraclitus said that] an opinion is an obstacle to progress.

  307. Ἡγησίας ὁ ῥήτωρ ὀνειδιζόμενος ὑπό τινος, ὅτι [ὑπὸ τῆς χώρας] ἀγροίκων ἀπόγονός ἐστιν, „οἶδα“ φησίν „ἀλλὰ τοῖς μετ’ <ἐμ->αὐτὸν εὐγενείας ἄρξω“.

    Hegesias the orator, being mocked by someone saying that he is the offspring of farmers, said: “I know, but I will be the beginning of nobility for those after <me>.”

  308. Ὁ αὐτὸς κακοῦ τινος τραγῳδοποιοῦ ἀκρόασιν ποιούμενος [καὶ] λέγοντός τινος νεανίσκου ὅτι ἐξελεύσεται „οὐκ ἐμοῦγε“ ἔφη „πρότερος“· καὶ ἀναστὰς ἐξῆλθεν.

    [Hegesias], while listening to some bad tragedian, when some young man said that he was going to go, said: “Not before me”, and he stood up and left.

  309. Ἡρόδοτος ὁ ἱστοριογράφος ἐρωτηθεὶς ὑπό τινος πῶς ἂν δύναιντο <οἱ> ἄνθρωποι εὐθυμεῖν εἶπεν· „ἐὰν μὴ πολλὰ πρήσσωσιν.“

    Herodotus the historian, having been asked by someone how people might be happy, said: “If they’d not do so much.”

  310. Ἡράκλειτος ὁ φυσικὸς ἔφησε σοφώτατος γεγονέναι πάντων νέος ὤν, ὅτι ᾔδει ἑαυτὸν μηδὲν εἰδότα.

    Heraclitus the natural philosopher said that he was the wisest of all when he was young, because he knew that he know nothing.

  311. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔφη· „κακοὶ μάρτυρες ὦτα καὶ ὀφθαλμοὶ ἀφρόνων ἀνθρώπων“.

    [Heraclitus] said: “Bad witnesses are the ears and eyes of senseless people.”

  312. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔφη· „τιμαὶ θεοὺς καὶ ἀνθρώπους καταδουλοῦνται“.

    [Heraclitus] said: “Honors enslave gods and men.”

  313. <Ὁ> αὐτὸς εἶπεν· „ἄνθρωποι κακοὶ ἀληθινῶν ἀντίδικοι“.

    [Heraclitus] said: “Bad men are the opponents of genuine ones.”

  314. Ἡράκλειτος τὴν παιδείαν ἕτερον ἥλιον εἶναι τοῖς πεπαιδευμένοις ἔλεγεν.

    Heraclitus used to say that education is another son for those who have been educated.

  315. Ὁ αὐτὸς συντομωτάτην ὁδὸν ἔλεγεν εἰς εὐδοξίαν τὸ γενέσθαι ἀγαθόν.

    [Heraclitus] used to say that the briefest road to glory is to be born noble.

  316. Θαλῆς ὁ σοφὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς εἰ λανθάνει τις ποιῶν τι τὸν θεὸν εἶπεν· „οὐδὲ διανοούμενος“.

    Thales the sage, having been asked if anyone does anything with the gods unaware, said: “They do not even plan it.”

  317. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτῶντος αὐτόν τινος εἰ ὀμόσῃ, ὅτι οὐκ ἐμοίχευσεν, ἐκέλευσε μὴ ὀμόσαι φήσας τὸν ὅρκον μεῖζον αὐτὸν βλάψειν ἢ τὸ ἔργον.

    [Thales], when someone asked him if he would swear that he did not commit adultery, commanded him not to swear, saying that the oath would harm him more than the deed.

  318. Ὁ αὐτὸς παρακελευομένης αὐτῷ τῆς μητρὸς γῆμαι οὔπω ἔφησεν ὥραν εἶναι, ὕστερον δὲ ἀναγκαζόμενος παρεληλυθέναι ἔφη τὴν ὥραν.

    [Thales], when his mother was commanding him to marry, said that it was not yet time, but later, being compelled to do so, he said the time had passed.

  319. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἀποσκοπῶν ποτε νύκτωρ εἰς τὰ μετέωρα καὶ διὰ τοῦτο κατενεχθεὶς εἴς τι φρέαρ, πρὸς τὴν ἐκείνου φωνὴν τὸ προσεδρεῦον αὐτῷ θεραπαινίδιον ἐλθὸν καὶ διὰ κλιμακίου μόλις ἀνελκύσαν τὸν δεσπότην εἶπεν· „ὦ Θαλῆς, τὰ ἐν οὐρανῷ σκοπῶν τὰ ἐπὶ γῆς οὐχ ἑώρακας“.

    [Thales], once looking steadily at night at things in the heavens and, for this reason, having fallen into some well, the attendant woman who served him, coming to the sound of his voice and dragging her master up with difficulty with a ladder, said to him: “O Thales, watching the things in the sky you have not seen the ones on the ground.”

  320. Θαλῆς ἐρωτηθεὶς

    1. τί πρεσβύτατον τῶν ὄντων εἶπε· „θεός· ἀγέννητος γάρ“·

      Thales having been asked what was the oldest being, said: “God; for they were un-born.”

    2. κάλλιστον· „κόσμος· ποίημα <γὰρ> τοῦ θεοῦ“·

      Thales having been asked what was most beautiful, said: “Cosmos; for it is god’s poem.”

    3. μέγιστον· „[ὁ] τόπος· ἅπαντα γὰρ χωρεῖ“·

      Thales having been asked what was greatest, said: “Space; for it makes room for everything.”

    4. ταχύτατον· „[ὁ] νοῦς· διὰ παντὸς γὰρ τρέχει“·

      Thales having been asked what was fastest, said: “The mind; for it rushes through everything.”

    5. ἰσχυρότατον· „ἀνάγκη· κρατεῖ γὰρ ἁπάντων“·

      Thales having been asked what was strongest, said: “Force; for it rules everything.”

    6. σοφώτατον· „χρόνος· ἀνευρίσκει γὰρ πάντα“.

      Thales having been asked what was wisest, said: “Time; for it discovers everything.”

  321. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς

    1. τί δύσκολον ἔφη· „τὸ ἑαυτὸν γνῶναι“·

      [Thales] having been asked what is difficult, said: “Knowing thyself.”

    2. τί εὔκολον· „τὸ ἄλλῳ ὑποθέσθαι“·

      [Thales] having been asked what is easy, [said]: “Advising others.”

    3. τί δὲ ἥδιστον· „τὸ ἐπιτυγχάνειν“·

      [Thales] having been asked what is sweetest, [said]: “Happening upon something.”

    4. τί δὲ θεῖον· „τὸ μήτε ἀρχὴν μήτε τελευτὴν ἔχον“·

      [Thales] having been asked what is godly, [said]: “That which has neither beginning nor end.”

    5. τί δὲ δύσκολον εἴη τεθεαμένος, „γέροντα [ἔφη] τύραννον“·

      [Thales] having been asked what is difficult to see, [said]: “An old tyrant.”

    6. πῶς ἄν τις ἀτυχίαν ἄριστα φέροι· „εἰ τοὺς ἐχθροὺς χείρονα πράττοντας βλέποι“·

      [Thales] having been asked how someone might bear misfortune best, [said]: “If they might see their enemies doing worse.”

    7. πῶς ἂν ἄριστα καὶ δικαιότατα βιώσαιμεν, „ἐὰν ἃ τοῖς ἄλλοις [ἔφη] ἐπιτιμῶμεν αὐτοὶ μὴ δρῶμεν“·

      [Thales] having been asked how we might live best and most rightly, [said]: “If we might not do that which we criticize others for.”

    8. τίς εὐδαίμων· „ὁ τὸ μὲν σῶμα ὑγιής, τὴν δὲ ψυχὴν εὔπορος, τὴν δὲ φύσιν εὐπαίδευτος“.

      [Thales] having been asked who is fortunate, [said]: “One with a healthy body, a ready soul, and a well-educated nature.”

  322. Θεόφραστος ὁ ἐκ τοῦ περιπάτου φιλόσοφος ἐρωτηθεὶς ὑπό τινος τί συνέχει τὸν τῶν ἀνθρώπων βίον εἶπεν· „εὐεργεσία καὶ τιμὴ καὶ τιμωρία“.

    Theophrastus, the philosopher from the Peripatus, having been asked by someone what comprises the life of men, said: “Doing well, honor, and retribution.”

  323. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἰδὼν νεανίσκον τινὰ εὐχόμενον τοῖς θεοῖς νοῦν καὶ φρένας ἀγαθὰς αὐτῷ περιποιεῖν „ὦ νεανίσκε“, εἶπεν, „οὐ τοῖς εὐχομένοις νοῦς καὶ φρένες περιγίνονται, ἀλλὰ τοῖς μανθάνουσιν“.

    [Theophrastus], seeing some young man praying to the gods to secure sense and a good mind for himself, said: “O young man, sense and a mind do not come to those who pray but to those who learn.”

  324. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔφησε τοῖς ὄχλοις μήτε καλῶς μήτε κακῶς ποιεῖν· „κακῶς μὲν γὰρ παθόντες εἰς τὸν ἅπαντα χρόνον μνημονεύουσιν, εὐεργετηθέντες δὲ παραχρῆμα ἐπιλανθάνονται“.

    [Theophrastus] said to treat the crowd neither well nor badly: “For, they always remember suffering badly and, when they are shown kindness, they immediately forget it.”

  325. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐπαινεῖν καὶ κατηγορεῖν οὐ τοῦ τυχόντος ἔφη εἶναι, ἀλλὰ τοῦ διειληφότος περὶ ἀνθρώπου καλῶς καὶ κακῶς.

    [Theophrastus] said that it is not the task of any random person to praise and blame, but of one dividing between the good and the bad concerning people.

  326. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐδοκίμαζεν μὴ φιλήσαντα κρίνειν, ἀλλὰ κρίναντα φιλεῖν, καὶ μισεῖν λόγῳ, καὶ μὴ πάθει.

    [Theophrastus] considered it fit not to judge someone while being a friend, but to be a friend while judging them, and to hate with reason, not because of circumstance.

  327. Ὁ αὐτὸς δεῖν τὰ τῶν γελοίων ἔφη τοιαῦτα εἶναι, ἐφ’ οἷς ὁ μὲν ἀκούων ἡσθήσεται, ὁ δὲ λέγων οὐ καταισχυνθήσεται.

    [Theophrastus] said that such things should be the source of jokes because of which the listener will be delighted and the reader will not be ashamed.

  328. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔφη δεῖν μᾶλλον μνημονεύειν, ὑφ’ ὧν καλῶς τις πέπονθεν ἢ ὑφ’ ὧν κακῶς· καὶ γὰρ τὸ εὐχαριστεῖν τοῦ τιμωρεῖσθαι βελτίονος ἤθους εἶναι.

    [Theophrastus] said that one should remember those by whom one has been treated well more than those by whom one has been treated badly. For it is the act of a better character to be thankful than to take revenge.

  329. Ὁ αὐτὸς πρὸς τὸν δακνόμενον ἐπὶ ταῖς ἑαυτοῦ ἁμαρτίαις καὶ μεταμελόμενον ἔφη· „εἰ οὕτω μέλλων πράττειν τὰ φαῦλα ἐδάκνου, ὡς πράξας, οὐκ ἂν ἥμαρτες“.

    [Theophrastus] said to someone vexed at his own failures and regretting them: “If you would be vexed when you are about to do bad things, as you are when you have done them, you would not make mistakes.”

  330. Ὁ αὐτὸς πρὸς Νικόμαχόν ποτε τὸν Ἀριστοτέλους υἱὸν ἀργῶς φιλοσοφοῦντα καλὸν ἔφη μὴ μόνον εἶναι τῆς οὐσίας τῆς πατρῴας κληρονόμον, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῶν ἐπιτηδευμάτων ἐκείνου.

    [Theophrastus] once said to Nicomachus the son of Aristotle when he was being lazy at philosophy that it is a good thing not only to be the inheritor of the property of one’s father but also of that man’s pursuits.

  331. Ὁ αὐτὸς λάλῳ περιπεσὼν εἶπεν· „αὔριόν σε ποῦ ἔσται μὴ ἰδεῖν“;

    [Theophrastus], encountering a babbler, said: “Where will it be possible not to see you tomorrow?”

  332. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς ὑπό τινος τί ἐστιν ἔρως εἶπε· „πάθος ψυχῆς σχολαζούσης“.

    [Theophrastus], having been asked by someone what love is, said: “An emotion of the unoccupied soul.”

  333. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐν συμποσίῳ νεανίσκον τινὰ βλέπων ἡσυχίαν ἄγοντα εἶπεν· „εἰ μὲν ἀπαίδευτος ὢν σιωπᾷς, πεπαιδευμένος ὑπάρχεις· εἰ δὲ πεπαιδευμένος, ἀπαιδεύτως σιωπᾷς“.

    [Theophrastus], seeing some young man keeping quiet at a symposium, said: “If you are silent while being uneducated, you are educated. But if you do so having been educated, you are silent without education.”

  334. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔφη τοὺς μοχθηροὺς τῶν ἀνθρώπων οὐχ οὕτως ἥδεσθαι ἐπὶ τοῖς ἰδίοις ἀγαθοῖς, ὡς ἐπὶ τοῖς ἀλλοτρίοις κακοῖς.

    [Theophrastus] said that miserable people do not so much delight at their own goods as at the misfortunes of others.

  335. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς τίνα προκοπὴν ἔχει πολιτεία ἔφη· „φθόνον“.

    [Theophrastus], having been asked what means of progress a body of citizens has, said: “Envy.”

  336. Ὁ αὐτὸς τοὺς εὐειδεῖς καὶ ἀπαιδεύτους ὁμοίους ἔφησεν εἶναι ἀλαβάστροις ἔχουσιν ὄξος.

    [Theophrastus] said that the beautiful and uneducated are like alabaster vials of vinegar.

  337. Θεαρίδας ὁ Λάκων ξίφος ἀκονῶν καὶ ἐρωτώμενος εἰ ὀξύ ἐστιν ἔφη· „ὀξύτερον διαβολῆς“.

    Thearidas the Spartan was sharpening his sword and when someone asked him if it was sharp, he said: “Sharper than a false accusation.”

  338. Θεόκριτος ὁ Χῖος ἀφυοῦς ποιητοῦ ἀκρόασιν ποιούμενος ἐρωτώμενος ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ ποῖά ἐστι τὰ καλῶς εἰρημένα <ἔφη>· „ἃ παρέλιπες“.

    When Theocritus the Chian was listening to a dull poet and was asked by him what things had been said well, <he said>: “What you left out.”

  339. Ὁ αὐτὸς παρὰ πότον τινῶν νεανίσκων ἐριζόντων πρὸς ἀλλήλους ποῖον ὕδωρ χρηστότατόν ἐστι τῶν κατὰ τὴν οἰκουμένην, καὶ τοῦ δείπνου μὴ παρατιθεμένου, ἀλλὰ τῶν μὲν φασκόντων τὸ ἐν Κορίνθῳ ἀπὸ τῆς Πειρήνης, τῶν δὲ τὸ ἐν Πιερίᾳ ἀπὸ τοῦ Ἑλικῶνος, τῶν δὲ τὸ ἐν Χαλκίδι ἀπὸ τῆς Ἀρεθούσης, εἶτα ἐρωτώντων αὐτὸν ποίῳ συγκατατίθεται εἶπεν· „ἐμοὶ δοκεῖ κατὰ τὸν παρόντα καιρὸν ἄριστον εἶναι ὕδωρ τὸ κατὰ χειρῶν“.

    [Theocritus] was at a drinking party where certain young men were quarreling with each other over what was the most pleasant water of all those in the world (but dinner was not being served), with some of them saying it was the water in Corinth from Pirene, others saying the water in Pieria from Helicon, and others saying the water in Chalcis from Arethousa. Then, when they asked him which he agreed with, he said: “I think at the present moment that the best water is the one for washing hands.”

  340. Ὁ αὐτὸς τῶν Χίων οὐκ ἐώντων αὐτὸν στῆσαι τὴν εἰκόνα αὐτοῦ πρὸς τῇ στοᾷ, ἀλλὰ φασκόντων τοὺς ὀλυμπιονίκας ἐκεῖ δεῖν ἵστασθαι, ἔφη· „ἐὰν Ὀλύμπιά τις ὑμῶν νικήσῃ, μετάθετέ μου τὴν εἰκόνα εἰς τὴν ταριχόπωλιν“.

    When the Chians did not allow [Theocritus] to set up a statue of himself near the stoa, claiming that Olympic victors should stand there, he said: “If one of you wins at the Olympic games, transfer my statue to the salt-fish market.”

  341. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐν συμποσίῳ ἀσώτου τινὸς κληθείς, ὅστις τὸν ἴδιον ἀγρὸν πωλήσας καταβεβρώκει, προσενεγκαμένου ἔδεσμα ζέον καὶ φάσκοντος κατακεκαῦσθαι τὸν οὐρανὸν „ἀλλὰ μὴν εἴ γε“ ἔφη „τὴν μὲν γῆν καταβέβρωκας, τὸν δὲ οὐρανὸν κατακέκαυκας, λοιπὸν ἔτι σοι τὴν θάλασσαν ἐκπιεῖν“.

    When [Theocritus] was invited to the symposium of a profligate man who, having sold his own land, had devoured it up, and when that man brought forward boiling food and claimed that he had burnt down the sky, he said: “Well then, if you have devoured up the land and burnt down the sky, the only remaining thing for you is the drink up the sea.”

  342. Ὁ αὐτὸς Φιλοξένου πρὸς αὐτὸν μαχομένου καὶ συζητοῦντος ἔφη· „πότερον βούλει μοι διαλέγεσθαι ἢ διαδάκνεσθαι“;

    [Theocritus], when Philoxenus was fighting and disputing with him, said: “Do you want to have a conversation with me, or a biting match?”

  343. Ὁ αὐτὸς βουλευομένων Ἀβδηριτῶν πῶς ἂν καταγωνίσαιντο τοὺς Θρᾷκας εἶπεν· „εἰ Χαρμίδην μὲν τὸν ἰατρὸν χειροτονήσετε στρατηγόν, τὸν δὲ νῦν στρατηγοῦντα κελεύσετε ἰατρεύειν· ὁ μὲν γὰρ πολυάνδριον τὴν πόλιν πεποίηκεν, ὁ δ’ οὐδένα τῶν πολεμίων ἀνῄρηκεν“.

    [Theocritus], when the Abderites were deliberating how they would conquer the Thracians, said: “If you elect Charmides the doctor as general, you will command the one who is now serving as general to be a doctor. For one has made the city full of men, while the other has undertaken nothing of war.

  344. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς ποῖα ἂν εἴη θηρία χαλεπώτερα εἶπεν· „ἐν μὲν τοῖς ὄρεσιν ἄρκοι καὶ λέοντες, ἐν δὲ ταῖς πόλεσι τελῶναι καὶ συκοφάνται“.

    [Theocritus], when he was asked what beasts were harsher, said: “In the mountains, bears and lions. In the cities, tax collectors and swindlers.”

  345. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐλθὼν εἰς Καῦνον καὶ ἰδὼν πάντας τοὺς ἐν τῇ πόλει χλωροὺς εἶπεν· „οἵη περ φύλλων γενεή, τοίη δὲ καὶ ἀνδρῶν“.

    [Theocritus], having come to Caunus and seen all the pallid people in the city, said: “As the generations of leaves, so those of men.”

  346. Ὁ αὐτὸς ῥήτορος κακοῦ σεμνυνομένου ὅτι παρ’ οὐδενὸς οὐδὲν πώποτε εἴληφεν „οὐδεὶς γάρ σοι“ ἔφη „οὐδὲν ἂν δῴη, ἐπεὶ σύ γ’ ἂν ἡδέως ὀμφαλὸν ἰσχάδος λάβοις“.

    [Theocritus], when a bad orator was boasting that he had never taken anything from anyone, said: “For no one would give you anything, since you would gladly take the stem of a dried fig.”

  347. Ὁ αὐτὸς τὰ μὲν ἐπιτεύγματα τῶν ποιητῶν ὡς θεῶν ἐκδέχεσθαι δεῖν ἔφη, τὰ δὲ ἀποτεύγματα ὡς ἀνθρώπων συγγνώμης ἀξιοῦν.

    [Theocritus] said that the successes of poets should be treated like those of gods, but that their failures should be thought worthy of forgiveness as of men.

  348. Ὁ αὐτὸς Ἀναξιμένους ποιούμενος ἀκρόασιν ἐπὶ πολὺ συνεγγίζοντος ἤδη τῇ τελευτῇ τοῦ βιβλίου μεγάλῃ [τῇ] φωνῇ ἔφη· „θαρσεῖτε ἄνδρες· γῆν ὁρῶ“.

    When [Theocritus] was attending a lecture of Anaximenes and that man was drawing near to the end of his book, with a loud voice he said: “Take heart, men; I see land!”

  349. Ὁ αὐτὸς θεασάμενος μαθηματικὸν προσκόψαντα εἶπε· „πῶς τὰ ἐν οὐρανῷ ὁρῶν τὰ ἐν τῇ γῇ οὐχ ὁρᾷς“.

    [Theocritus], when he saw an astrologer stumbling, said: “How, when you see the things in the heaven, do you not see the things on earth?”

  350. Ὁ αὐτὸς λάχανα πλύνων [καὶ] τινὸς αὐτοῦ πυνθανομένου μή τινα δανειστὴν γινώσκει εἶπεν· „πῶς φῄς; ὅ τι τοιούτῳ βίῳ ἀρκοῦμαι“;

    When [Theocritus] was washing vegetables, when someone asked him if he knew a certain money-lender, he said: “What are you talking about? Because I am content with such a life?”

  351. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς ὑπό τινος διὰ τί ἡ Δημήτρα λαμπάδα κατέχει εἶπεν· „ὅτι πᾶσα τροφὴ πυρὶ κατεργάζεται“.

    [Theocritus], when he was asked by someone why Demeter holds a torch, said: “Because all nourishment is achieved through fire.”

  352. Θεόδωρος ὁ Κυρηναῖος παῤῥησιαζόμενός ποτε πρὸς Λυσίμαχον τὸν βασιλέα κἀκείνου αὐτῷ ἀπειλοῦντος ἀναίρεσιν εἶπεν· „οὐκ αἰσχύνῃ, ὦ Λυσίμαχε, τοῖς [μὲν] δικαίοις, μὴ δυνάμενος νικῆσαι, τηλικοῦτος [δὲ] βασιλεὺς κανθαρίδος ἔργον ἐπαγγελλόμενος;“

    Theodorus the Cyrenean, when he was speaking freely to Lysimachus the king, who then thretened him with death, said: “Aren’t you ashamed, Lysimachus, that unable to be victorious over the just, so great a king instead orders the work of a poison beetle?”

  353. Θεοδέκτης ὁ φιλόσοφος Ἀντιπάτρου τοῦ σοφιστοῦ βάθρα μὲν ἔχοντος ἐν τῇ διατριβῇ πλείονα, μαθητὴν δὲ ἕνα Ἀντίβαθρον αὐτὸν ἐκάλει.

    Theodectes the philosopher, when Antipater the sophist had a larger stage for his lecture but one student, called him “Antistager.”

  354. Ὁ αὐτὸς προδότου τινὸς κακῶς αὐτὸν λέγοντος εἶπεν· „χαίρω ἐχθρός σου γενόμενος· σὺ γὰρ οὐ τοὺς ἐχθρούς, ἀλλὰ τοὺς φίλους κακῶς ποιεῖς“.

    [Theodectes], when some traitor was speaking ill of him, said: “I rejoice at becoming your enemy. For you do not harm your enemies but your friends.”

  355. Ἰσοκράτης ἔλεγε· „μεγάλους δεῖ λαμβάνειν μισθοὺς <παρὰ τῶν> μαθητῶν τοὺς διδασκάλους, παρὰ μὲν τῶν εὐφυῶν, ὅτι πολλὰ μανθάνουσι, παρὰ δὲ τῶν ἀφυῶν, ὅτι πολὺν κόπον παρέχουσιν“.

    Isocrates used to say: “It is necessary for teachers to take large payments <from their> students: from the skilled because they learn much, and from the unskilled because they provide much fatigue.”

  356. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς „διὰ τίνα αἰτίαν τοὺς ἄλλους διδάσκων λέγειν αὐτὸς σιωπᾷς“; ἔφη· „καὶ γὰρ ἡ ἀκόνη αὐτὴ μὴ τέμνουσα τὰς μαχαίρας τμητικωτέρας ποιεῖ“.

    [Isocrates], having been asked, “Why is it that you stay silent while teaching others to speak?” said: “For the whetstone also, although it does not cut, makes swords more cutting.”

  357. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς τί ἐστιν ἔργον ῥήτορος εἶπεν· „τὰ μικρὰ μὲν μεγάλα ποιῆσαι, τὰ δὲ μείζονα μικρὰ τῷ λόγῳ“.

    [Isocrates], having been asked what the task of an orator is, said: “To make the small great and the greater small through speech.”

  358. Ὁ αὐτὸς εἰπόντος τινὸς ὅτι ὁ δῆμος ὑπὸ τῶν ῥητόρων διαρπάζεται ἔφη· „τί θαυμαστόν, εἰ Κόρακος ἐφευρόντος τὴν ῥητορικὴν οἱ ἀπ’ ἐκείνου κόρακές εἰσιν“.

    [Isocrates], upon being told that the people were being carried away by the rhetoricians, said: “How amazing, with Corax having discovered rhetoric, if those having learned from him were corvids!”

  359. Ὁ αὐτὸς εἶπε· „ῥήτορα ἐμισθώσω, <εἰ> δίκην ἔχεις· καὶ γὰρ ὅταν φίλους ἑστιῶμεν, μαγείρους μισθούμεθα“.

    [Isocrates] said: “Hire an orator, <if> you have a court case; for whenever we eat with friends, we hire cooks.”

  360. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς τί δύναται <ἡ> ῥητορικὴ εἶπεν· „ἄνδρ’ ἐπαμύνασθαι, ὅτε τις <πρότερος> χαλεπήνῃ“.

    [Isocrates], having been asked what the rhetorical art can do, said: “Defend a man whenever some <earlier> person treats them harshly.”

  361. Ἰσοκράτης ἀκρόασιν ποιούμενος εἶπε τριῶν ἐστοχάσθαι· τοὺς συνετοὺς ὠφελῆσαι, τοὺς ἀπείρους διδάξαι, τοὺς φθονεροὺς λυπῆσαι.

    Isocrates, attending a recitation, said to aim at three things: to benefit the intellegent, to teach the inexperienced, to harm the envious.

  362. Ὁ αὐτὸς Κλέωνος τοῦ Κυζικηνοῦ φύσει ὄντος λάλου καὶ σχολάζειν βουλομένου διττοὺς ᾔτησε [τοὺς] μισθούς, ἕνα μέν, ἵνα λαλεῖν μάθῃ, ἕτερον δέ, ἵνα σιγᾷ.

    [Isocrates], since Cleon of Cyzicus was a natural babbler and wished to attend lectures, demanded a doubled payment: one to learn how to babble, and the other, to learn how to be silent.

  363. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔφη δεῖν τὸν ἀγαθὸν ἄνδρα μεμνῆσθαι μὲν τῶν προγεγενημένων, πράττειν δὲ τὰ ἐνεστῶτα, <περὶ δὲ τῶν μελλόντων ἀσφαλίζεσθαι>.

    [Isocrates] said that a good man should remember what happened in the past, act on the things present, and secure themselves for the future.

  364. Ὁ αὐτὸς εἰπόντος τινὸς αὐτῷ ὅτι „ὁ υἱός μου παρὰ σοὶ σχολάσας ἁμαρτάνει“ εἶπε· „ποταπὸς οὖν <ἂν> ἐγένετο μὴ σχολάσας“;

    [Isocrates], when someone said to him, “My son is doing wrong studying at your side”, said: “What would have happened, then, if he had not been studying?”

  365. Ὁ αὐτὸς θεασάμενός τινα τῶν μαθητῶν τοῦ μὲν ἀγροῦ ἐπιμελούμενον, τῆς δὲ πράξεως ἀμελοῦντα „ὅρα, ὦ οὗτος“, ἔφη, „μὴ τὸν ἀγρὸν ἐξημερῶσαι βουλόμενος τὴν ψυχὴν ἐξαγριώσῃς“.

    [Isocrates], seeing one of his students taking care of his field but neglecting his practice, said: “You there, take care that, while wishing to tame your field, you don’t make your mind savage.”

  366. Ἴβυκος ὁ μελοποιὸς Αἰσώπου ἐν τοῖς μύθοις ψευδομένου καὶ εὐδοκιμοῦντος „λέγε“ ἔφη „αὐτούς· οὕτω μέν σοι ὡς ὅτι ποτὲ καὶ τὰ ἀληθῆ λέγων ἀπιστηθήσῃ“.

    Ibycus the lyric poet, when Aesop was lying in his stories and was popular, said: “Tell them; thus it’s because of you that sometimes even someone speaking the truth will not be believed.”

  367. Καλλισθένης ὁ ἱστοριογράφος πρὸ τοῦ Ἀλεξάνδρῳ συσταλῆναι γεγραφὼς τὰ Ἑλληνικά, μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα τὰς Ἀλεξάνδρου πράξεις ἐρωτώμενος ὑπό τινος διὰ τί βέλτιον τὰ Ἑλληνικὰ συνεγράψατο „ὅτι ἐκεῖνα μὲν“ εἶπε „πεινῶν ἔγραφον, ταῦτα δὲ κεχορτασμένος“.

    Callisthenes the historian who wrote of Greek affairs before the humbling by Alexander and, after this, the deeds of Alexander, being asked by someone why he composed the Greek affairs better, said: “Because I was writing those events while hungry, but these while fattened.”

  368. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτῶντός τινος διὰ τί οὐ μετήγαγεν Ἀλέξανδρον ἀπὸ τοῦ τύφου „ὅτι“, εἶπεν, „ἐμοῦ ἑνὸς οἰκοδομοῦντος πολλοὶ ἦσαν οἱ καταβάλλοντες“.

    [Callisthenes], when someone asked why he did not lead Alexander away from his delusion, said: “Because while I as one person was building up the house, there were many people tearing it down.”

  369. Κλεάνθης ὁ Στωϊκὸς φιλόσοφος εἶπε μώλωπας ἔχειν ἐν τῇ ψυχῇ τὰς ὑπὸ Ζήνωνος νουθεσίας.

    Cleanthes the Stoic philosopher said to hold Zenon’s warnings as bruises in the soul.

  370. Κλεόβουλος ἔφη τὸν μὲν φίλον δεῖν εὐεργετεῖν ἀεί, ἵνα μᾶλλον ᾖ φίλος, καὶ τὸν ἐχθρὸν ὁμοίως, ἵνα γένηται φίλος, καὶ φυλάσσεσθαι τῶν μὲν φίλων τὸν ψόγον, τῶν δὲ ἐχθρῶν τὴν ἐπιβουλήν.

    Cleoboulus said that a friend should always do good, in order to become more of a friend, and an enemy should do likewise in order to become a friend, and a friend should guard against the censure of his friends and the plotting of his enemies.

  371. Κλεόστρατος ὁ φιλοπότης, ὡς μεθύοντά τις αὐτὸν ἐνουθέτει λέγων· „οὐκ αἰσχύνῃ μεθύων“; ἔφη· „σὺ δὲ οὐκ αἰσχύνῃ μεθύοντα νουθετῶν“.

    Cleostratus the lover of drink, when someone was admonishing him while drunk by saying, “Aren’t you ashamed to be drunk?”, said: “But aren’t you ashamed to be admonishing a drunk man?”

  372. Κλείσοφος ἐπιτιμῶντος αὐτῷ Φιλίππου, ὅτι ἀεὶ αἰτεῖ, „καὶ γὰρ σὺ“ φησὶν „ἀεὶ ἔχεις“.

    Cleisophus when Philip was chiding him, that he was always begging, said: “For you, too, are always having.”

  373. Κόνωνι τῷ Ἀθηναίῳ, σφόδρα ὄντι αἰσχρῷ τὴν ὄψιν, πρεσβευομένῳ πρὸς Λακεδαιμονίους οὐ μετεδίδου λόγου τὸ κοινὸν τῶν δοκούντων εὐτακτοτάτων Σπαρτιατῶν, ἀλλ’ ὑπὸ γέλωτος κατεχόμενοι ἐμποδὼν ἦσαν τἀνδρί, μέχρις οὗ ἐκεῖνος ἐχαριεντίσατο πρὸς αὐτοὺς φήσας· „οὐδέποτε ἐκ κολοβοῦ κεραμίου χρηστὸν οἶνον ἐπίετε“; ἡσυχασάντων δὲ ἐπὶ ὀλίγον εἶπε· „καὶ νῦν ἀνάσχεσθε, καὶ ἐξ ἀμόρφου σώματος ἀκούσεσθε λόγον χρηστόν.“

    Conon the Athenian, being very ugly in appearance, when he went on an embassy to the Spartans the common people of reputed well-ordered Spartiates did not give him a chance for speaking, but rather they were seized with laughter in the man’s face, until that man jested at them, saying, “Did you never drink good wine from a chipped cup?” And when they fell silent for a bit, he said: “And now hold up, and from a shapeless body hear a good speech.”

  374. Κότυς ὁ τῶν Θρᾳκῶν βασιλεὺς Θηβαίων σεμνυνομένων ὅτι Λακεδαιμονίων ἡγήσαντο „ἐγὼ“ φησὶν „ἑώρακα χειμάῤῥους ποταμοὺς μείζους τῶν ἀενάων γενομένους, ἀλλ’ ὀλίγον χρόνον“.

    Cotys the king of the Thracians, when the Thebans were priding themselves that they considered themselves Spartans, said: “I’ve seen flooding rivers become bigger than ever-flowing ones, but in less time.”

  375. <Ἀνα>κρέων ὁ ποιητὴς πρός τινα τῶν φίλων ἀπωδύρετο ἐπὶ τῷ πένης εἶναι εἰπόντος δὲ ἐκείνου· „ποιητὴς ὢν ἐλπίδας ἀγαθὰς ἔχε περὶ σεαυτοῦ“ εἶπεν· „αἱ ἐλπίδες ἐγρηγορότων εἰσὶν ἐνύπνια“.

    The poet Anacreon was lamenting to one of his friends about being poor, and they said: “A poet is the beautiful hopes you hold to yourself, the hopes of being awoken from dreams.”

  376. Κῦρος θεασάμενός ποτε γυναῖκα εὔμορφον καί τινος εἰπόντος ὅτι „ἔξεστί σοι, εἰ θέλεις, χρήσασθαι βασιλεῖ ὄντι“ <ἔφη>· „ἀλλὰ βασιλεῖ μὴ σωφρονεῖν οὐκ ἔξεστιν“.

    Cyrus, when he saw a pretty woman and someone said that “She exists for you, if you want, to have her for the king’s desire”, said: “But for a king not being temperate does not exist.”

  377. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς ποῖος τῶν θανάτων χαλεπώτατος ἔφη· „ὁ ἀπὸ τῶν νόμων ἐπαγόμενος“.

    [Cyrus] having been asked what death is most difficult, said: “The one which has been lead away from the laws.”

  378. Ὁ αὐτὸς μέλλων τελευτᾶν [καὶ] θεασάμενος τοὺς φίλους θρηνοῦντας ἔφη· „θαῤῥεῖτε, ὦ φίλοι· καὶ γὰρ ὁ ἥλιος δύνει“.

    [Cyrus] was about to die and with his friends watching and grieving, he said: “Take heart, friends! For even the sun sets.”

  379. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς τίνι καταλιμπάνει τὸ βασίλειον ἔφη· „τῷ δυναμένῳ“.

    [Cyrus] having been asked what made him leave behind his kingship, said: “Being forced.”

  380. Κικέρων εἶπε· „καλῶς ποιεῖν ἁπλῆ εὐεργεσία, λέγειν δὲ καὶ ποιεῖν διπλῆ“.

    Cicero said: “To act well is a single good, but to speak and act well is a double one.”

  381. Κράτης ὁ Κυνικὸς ἰδὼν μειράκιον καλλωπιζόμενον ὅμοιον αὐτὸ ἔφη εἶναι ὁδῷ λείᾳ καὶ πλατείᾳ, δι’ ἧς πολλοὶ εὐχερῶς ὁδεύουσιν.

    Crates the Cynic, when he saw a young man primping himself, said that he was like a smooth and broad road, through which many people travel with ease.

  382. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔφη κρεῖττον εἶναι τῷ ποδὶ ὀλισθῆσαι ἢ τῇ γλώττῃ.

    [Crates] said that it is better to slip with one’s foot than with one’s tongue.

  383. Ὁ αὐτὸς τὸν ποιητικὸν λόγον μέγιστον εἶπεν εἶναι λῃστὴν ἑρμηνείᾳ τε περισσῇ καὶ ἐνθυμήμασι πολλοῖς κεκοσμημένον.

    [Crates] said that the best kind of poetic speech is a plunderer, decorated with excessive interpretation and many arguments.

  384. Ὁ αὐτὸς Ζήνωνί ποτε τῷ Κιτιεῖ γνωρίμῳ ὄντι αὐτοῦ ἔδωκε χύτραν φέρειν φακῆς, καὶ τοῦ Ζήνωνος φιλοδοξότερον ἀποκρύπτοντος ἐν τῷ ὄχλῳ τὴν χύτραν πλήξας ὁ Κράτης τῇ βακτηρίᾳ κατέαξεν αὐτήν· φερομένης οὖν τῆς φακῆς κατὰ τῶν τοῦ Ζήνωνος σκελῶν κἀκείνου ἐρυθριῶντος ἐπὶ τούτῳ „θάῤῥει, ὦ φοινικίδιον“, ἔφη· „οὐδὲν γὰρ δεινόν ἐστιν, ἀλλὰ φακῆ“.

    [Crates] once gave to Zeno of Citium, his acquaintance, a pot of lentils to carry, and when Zeno was hiding the pot among the crowd out of concern for his reputation, Crates struck the pot with his staff and broke it. So, with the lentils falling down the legs of Zeno, and with him blushing at it, he said: “Take heart, little-red-cloak, for it is nothing dreadful, but lentils.”

  385. <Ὁ> αὐτὸς καλοῦντος αὐτὸν Ἀλεξάνδρου εἰς Μακεδονίαν καὶ ἐπαγγελλομένου τὰς Θήβας ἀναστήσειν [τὴν πατρίδα τοῦ Κράτητος] εἶπεν· „οὐ χρῄζω τοιαύτης πατρίδος, ἣν ἕτερος Ἀλέξανδρος καθαιρήσει.“

    [Crates], when Alexander was calling him to Macedonia and announcing that he would cause Thebes to evacuate, he said: “I do not want such a fatherland which another Alexander will destroy.”

  386. Ὁ αὐτὸς παρεκελεύετο τοῖς ἀνθρώποις ἢ νοῦν ἢ βρόχον.

    [Crates] prescribed to people either the mind or the noose.

  387. Ὁ αὐτὸς τελευτῶν τριάκοντα τάλαντα Θηβαίοις κατέλιπεν ἐπιφθεγξάμενος ὅτι, ἐὰν μὲν γένηται αὐτοῦ ἄξιος ὁ υἱός, οὐκ ἀπορήσει χρημάτων, ἐὰν δὲ ἀνάξιος, οὐδὲ ταῦτα ἔχειν ἐπιτήδειος ἔσται.

    When [Crates] was dying, he left behind 30 talents to the Thebans, saying that, if his son is worthy of him, he will not lack funds, but if he is unworthy, he will not be suited to have even this much.

  388. Λεωνίδης ὁ Λακεδαιμόνιος ὀλίγους ἔχων στρατιώτας εἰς τὴν πρὸς τοὺς Πέρσας μάχην ἐξεπορεύετο· εἰπόντος δέ τινος ὅτι μετ’ ὀλίγων παντελῶς ἐκπορεύεται εἶπεν· „ἀλλὰ μετὰ βουλομένων“.

    The Spartan Leonidas was marching out to battle against the Persians with few soldiers; and when someone remarked that he certainly was marching out with few soldiers, said: “But with those who want to.”

  389. Ὁ αὐτὸς χωλὸν ἔχων τὸ σκέλος ἐπὶ παράταξιν προῆγεν· εἰπόντων δέ τινων ὅτι „τοιοῦτος ὢν πῶς ἐπὶ παράταξιν ἀπῄεις“; εἶπεν „οὐ γὰρ φευγόντων, ἀλλὰ ἑστώτων χρεία“.

    [Leonidas] had injured his leg leading battle; and those around him were saying: “Are you leaving the battle because of this?”, he said: “We need not those who flee, but those who stand firm.”

  390. Ὁ αὐτὸς παρεκελεύετο τοῖς ὑπ’ αὐτῷ τασσομένοις ἀριστᾶν καθ’ ὥραν ὡς ἐν Ἅιδου δειπνήσουσιν.

    [Leonidas] ordered those under his command to eat like this is the hour in which they will dine in Hades.

  391. Ὁ αὐτὸς εἰπόντος τινὸς αὐτῷ ὅτι οἱ Πέρσαι πολλοῖς χρώμενοι βέλεσιν ἐπισκοτοῦσι τῷ ἡλίῳ ἔφη· „μαχούμεθα ἄρα ὑπὸ σκιάν“.

    [Leonidas] having been told by someone that the Persians were attacking with so many arrows that they darkened the sun, said: “So we will fight in the shade.”

  392. Λάκων ἀσθενῶς διακείμενος τὸ σῶμα ἐπὶ παράταξιν προῆγεν· λεγόντων δέ τινων αὐτῷ· „ποῦ τοιοῦτος πορεύῃ“; ἔφη· „ὑπὲρ τῆς πατρίδος ἀποθανεῖν“

    A Spartan, although weak in body, advanced into the line of battle. And when some people said to him, “Where are you going such as you are?” he said: “To die for my fatherland.”

  393. Λάκων παιδαγωγὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς ὑπό τινος τί διδάσκει τοὺς παῖδας εἶπε· „τὰ καλὰ αὐτοῖς ἡδέα φαίνεσθαι“.

    A Spartan instructor, having been asked by someone what he teaches his children, said: “That good things appear pleasant to them.”

  394. Λάκων ἀνὴρ ἐρωτώμενος διὰ τί οἱ Λακεδαιμόνιοι μικρὰ ἔχουσι τὰ ἐγχειρίδια εἶπεν· „ὅτι ἐγγύθεν τοῖς πολεμίοις μάχονται“.

    A Spartan man, being asked why the Spartans have small spears, said: “Because they fight their enemies from up close.”

  395. Λάκων ἀνὴρ πρὸς τὸν εἰπόντα αὐτῷ· „διὰ τί οἱ Λακεδαιμόνιοι τὴν βραχυλογίαν ἀσκοῦσιν;“ εἶπεν· „ὅτι ἔγγιστά ἐστι τοῦ σιωπᾶν“.

    A Spartan man to someone telling him, “Why do the Spartans practice brevity of speech?” said: “Because it is closest to being silent.”

  396. Λάκων ἀνὴρ ἐρωτηθεὶς ἐπὶ πόσον αὐτῶν ἡ χώρα διήκει „ἐφ’ ὅσον ἂν“ εἶπε „τὸ δόρυ ἰσχύῃ“.

    A Spartan man, having been asked how far their land extends, said: “As far as a spear has strength.”

  397. Λάκων ἀνὴρ παραγενόμενος εἴς τινα πόλιν [καὶ] δεικνύντος αὐτῷ τινος τῶν ἐγχωρίων ὅτι κάλλιστα τείχη ἔχει „τοιαῦτα“, εἶπεν, „ὥστε τὰς γυναῖκας ἐξ αὐτῶν /<ἂν> ἀμύνασθαι“.

    A Spartan man, arriving at some city, when one of the locals showed him that it has the most beautiful walls, said: “Of such a kind to ward off women from them.”

  398. Λάκων ἀνὴρ ἐν παρατάξει κείμενος ἔτι ἔμπνους ἐπιόντος τινὸς τῶν πολεμίων καὶ τοὺς ἔτι ζῶντας ἀποσφάζοντος διακύψας ἠξίωσε κατὰ τὸ στέρνον πληγῆναι ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ αἰσχυνόμενος ὀπισθοπλῆγα τὸν νεκρὸν αὐτοῦ γενέσθαι.

    A Spartan man, lying in the battle line still breathing while one of the enemy approached and was slaughtering those still alive, stooping he decided to be struck by him through his chest, being ashamed to become a back-wounded corpse from him.

  399. Λύσιππος ὁ ἀνδριαντοποιὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς ὑπό τινος „διὰ τί δήμῳ, ἀνδριάντα ποιῶν, ὦτα οὐ περιέθηκας“; εἶπε· „δῆμος ἀκοῇ οὔποτε τίθεται, αὐθαδείᾳ δὲ μᾶλλον.“

    Lysippus the sculptor, having been asked by someone, “Why didn’t you attach ears when making a statue for the people?” said: “The people are not disposed for listening but rather for stubbornness.”

  400. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἰδὼν ἀνδριάντα κακῶς πεπλασμένον δυσκατηγόρητον ἔφη εἶναι· διὰ γὰρ τὸ πλῆθος τῶν ἁμαρτημάτων ἀπορεῖν, πόθεν ἄρξεται.

    [Lysippus], seeing a poorly-made statue, said that it was difficult to criticize; for due to the number of mistakes, he was at a loss where to begin.

  401. Λυκοῦργος ὁ νομοθέτης τὸ μὲν ἀξιόχρεων τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἔφη ἐν τῇ οὐσίᾳ κεῖσθαι, τὸ δὲ ἀξιόπιστον ἐν τοῖς τρόποις.

    Lycurgus the lawgiver said that the noteworthiness of people is situated in their essence, but trustworthiness in their ways.

  402. Λάμων παλαίων τὸν ἀνταγωνιστὴν ἔδακε· τοῦ δὲ εἰπόντος· „δάκνεις ὡς γυνὴ“ εἶπεν· „οὐχί, ἀλλ’ ὡς λέων“.

    Lamon bit his opponent while wrestling. And when he said, “You bite like a woman”, he said: “No, but like a lion.”

  403. Λύκων ἰδὼν γυναῖκα θρασεῖαν τὰ τῶν ἀνδρῶν πράττειν ἐθέλουσαν „οὔτε γυναῖκα“ εἶπεν „ὁμοίαν ἀνδρὶ ἀποδέχομαι, οὔτε ἄνδρα ὅμοιον γυναικί“.

    Lycon, seeing a bold woman wishing to do the deeds of men, said: “I neither accept a woman who is like a man nor a man like a woman.”

  404. Μένανδρος ἐρωτηθεὶς τί διαφέρουσιν ἀλλήλων Σοφοκλῆς καὶ Εὐριπίδης εἶπεν ὅτι Σοφοκλῆς μὲν τέρπεσθαι ποιεῖ τοὺς ἀνθρώπους, Εὐριπίδης δὲ σκυθρωπάζειν τοὺς ἀκροατάς.

    Menander having been asked how Sophocles and Euripides differed from each other said that Sophocles made works to cheer people, but Euripides to depress audiences.

  405. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἀφυοῦς ζωγράφου λέγοντος αὐτῷ· „κονίασόν σου τὴν οἰκίαν, ἵνα αὐτὴν ζωγραφήσω“ ἔφη· „οὐ μὲν οὖν, ἀλλὰ πρότερον αὐτὴν ζωγράφησον, ἵνα μετὰ ταῦτα ἐγὼ αὐτὴν κονιάσω“.

    [Menander], when an incompetent painter was saying to him: “Plaster your house, so that I can paint it”, he said: “No, you paint it first, so that I can plaster over it.”

  406. Ὁ αὐτὸς τὸν φθόνον ἔφη πρίονα εἶναι ψυχῆς.

    [Menander] said that jealousy is a saw on the soul.

  407. <Μ>ενέδημος λέγοντος αὐτῷ νεανίσκου τινὸς· „μέγα ἐστὶ τὸ τυχεῖν, ὧν ἄν τις ἐπιθυμῇ“ εἶπε· „πολλῷ μεῖζόν ἐστι τὸ μὴ ἐπιθυμεῖν ὧν μὴ δεῖ“.

    <M>enedemus, when some young man said to him, “It is a great thing to encounter what one desires”, said: “It is much better to not desire what one should not.”

  408. Μητρόδωρος ὁ Ἐπικούρειος ἐρωτηθεὶς διὰ τί μᾶλλον πάντων τῶν Ἐπικουρείων προκέκοφεν εἶπεν· „ὅτι πρῶτος ἀρξάμενος Ἐπικούρου ἀκούειν ἔσχατον ἐπαυσάμην“.

    Metrodorus the Epicurean, having been asked why he advanced more than all the Epicureans, said: “Because, having started to listen to Epicurus first, I stopped last.”

  409. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔλεγεν· „ἅμα τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν ποιητέον καὶ τὴν δόσιν συναπτέον· ἐπαγγελίαν γὰρ ἀνατεινομένην οὐκέτι σφραγίζεται χάρις“.

    [Metrodorus] said: “One must make a promise and complete a gift at the same time. For favor no more approves a promise delayed.”

  410. <Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔφη>· „γεγόναμεν ἅπαξ· δὶς δὲ οὐκ ἔστι γενέσθαι· δεῖ δὲ τὸν αἰῶνα μηκέτι εἶναι· σὺ δὲ τῆς αὔριον οὐκ ὢν κύριος ἀναβάλλῃ τὸν καιρόν· ὁ δὲ πάντων βίος μελλησμῷ παραπόλλυται καὶ διὰ τοῦτο ἕκαστος ἡμῶν ἀσχολούμενος ἀποθνήσκει“.

    <[Metrodorus] said:> “We were born once. And it is not possible to be born twice. And it should no longer be for an age. And you, since you are not lord of tomorrow, delay the critical moment. And the life of all things is destroyed by indecision, and because of this each of us dies busy.”

  411. Νικοκλῆς κακοῦ τινος ἰατροῦ λέγοντος ὅτι μεγάλην ἔχει δύναμιν ἔφη· „πῶς γὰρ οὐ μέλλεις λέγειν, ὃς τοσούτους ἀνῃρηκὼς ἀνεύθυνος γέγονας;“

    Nicocles, when a bad doctor was saying that they had a lot of power, said: “Surely you don’t mean to say, that having buried so many you’ve become innocent?”

  412. Ὁ αὐτὸς τοὺς ἰατροὺς εὐτυχεῖς ἔλεγεν, ὅτι τὰς μὲν ἐπιτυχίας αὐτῶν ὁ ἥλιος ὁρᾷ, τὰς δὲ ἀποτυχίας ἡ γῆ καλύπτει.

    [Nicocles] said that doctors have good fortune, since the sun looks upon their fortunate efforts, but the dirt conceals their unfortunate ones.

  413. Ξενοφῶν ὁ φιλόσοφος ᾔτησέν τι παρά τινος τῶν πλουσίων· ὁ δὲ προσκαλεσάμενος πλησίον ὄντα χωλὸν δέδωκεν ἐκείνῳ· καὶ ὁ Ξενοφῶν ἔφη· „πάνυ καλῶς· χωλὸς μὲν γὰρ προσδοκᾷς γενέσθαι, φιλόσοφος δὲ οὐδέποτε“.

    Xenophon the philosopher asked for something from a certain wealthy person, but he declined saying that he had just donated to a disabled man nearby; and Xenophon said: “Very good. For you expect to become disabled, but never a philosopher.”

  414. Ὁ αὐτὸς τὴν πενίαν ἔλεγεν αὐτοδίδακτον φιλοσοφίαν εἶναι· „ἃ γὰρ ἐκείνη τοῖς λόγοις πείθει, αὕτη τοῖς ἔργοις ἀναγκάζει.“

    [Xenophon] used to say that poverty is a self-taught love of wisdom. “For what that one persuades with words, this one compels through deeds.”

  415. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἀπαγγείλαντός τινος αὐτῷ ὅτι „ὁ υἱός σου ἐν τῷ πολέμῳ τέθνηκεν ἀνὴρ ἀγαθὸς γενόμενος“ εἶπεν· „ἐμὸς γὰρ ἦν.“

    [Xenophon], when someone announced to him, “Your son has died in war as a good man”, said: “Yes, for he was mine.”

  416. Ὁ αὐτὸς εἶπε κρεῖσσον εἶναι βασιλεῖ τὸ τῶν χαρίτων ἀπολιπεῖν πλῆθος ἢ τροπαίων.

    [Xenophon] said that it is better for a king to leave behind a wealth of favors rather than of trophies.

  417. Ξενοκράτης ὁ φιλόσοφος ἐρωτηθεὶς τί αὐτῷ περιγέγονεν ἐκ φιλοσοφίας ἔφη· „τὸ τὰ ὑπὸ τῶν νόμων προστεταγμένα ἑκουσίως ποιεῖν.“

    Xenocrates the philosopher having been asked what he got out of philophy, said: “To willingly do what is commanded by the laws.”

  418. Ὁ αὐτὸς τραχυνθέντος ποτὲ Διονυσίου τοῦ τυράννου ἐν συμποσίῳ πρὸς Πλάτωνα καὶ εἰπόντος αὐτῷ· „ἀφελῶ σου τὸν τράχηλον“ προβαλὼν τὸν ἴδιον „οὐ πρῶτον“ εἶπεν „ἐκεῖνον ἀφελεῖς ἢ τοῦτον.“

    When Dionysius the tyrant became angry with Plato at a symposium and said to him: “I’ll rip your throat out!”, [Xenocrates] exposed his own and said: “You’ll rip this one before that one.”

  419. Ξενοκράτει χρημάτων κομισθέντων ἀπὸ Ἀλεξάνδρου ἑστιάσας τοὺς κομίσαντας κατὰ τὸν αὑτοῦ τρόπον „ἀπαγγείλατε“ ἔφη „Ἀλεξάνδρῳ ὅτι, ἕως ἂν οὕτως ζῶ, οὐ δέομαι τῶν πεντήκοντα ταλάντων.“ [τοσαῦτα γὰρ ἦν τὰ πεμφθέντα.]

    Xenocrates having been brought treasures from Alexander and having received the messengers according to his own style, said: “Go back and tell Alexander that, as long as I’m living like this, I have no need for fifty talents.” [For this was the amount sent.]

  420. Οἰνοπίδης ὁρῶν μειράκιον πολλὰ βιβλία κτώμενον ἔφη· „μὴ τῇ κιβωτῷ, ἀλλὰ τῷ στήθει.“

    Oenopides seeing a young man buying many books said: “Don’t put them away in a chest, but in your heart.”

  421. [Ποιμὴν ἀρνίον ἀπολέσας ηὔχετο τῷ Διΐ· „ἐὰν τὸν κλέπτην εὕρω, θύσω σοι κριόν“· καὶ εἰσελθὼν ἐν σπηλαίῳ εὗρε λέοντα τοῦ ἀρνοῦ καταδεδραγμένον· καὶ στὰς εἶπε· „πρώην μὲν κριόν σοι ὑπεσχόμην, ἐὰν τὸν κλέπτην εὕροιμι· νῦν δέ, ἐὰν τὰς χεῖρας τοῦ κλέπτου ἐκφύγω, ἀντὶ κριοῦ ταῦρόν σοι προσενέγκω.“]

    [A shepherd having lost a lamb prayed to Zeus: “If I find the thief, I’ll sacrifice a ram to you.” And going into a cave he found a lion had captured the lamb; and said: “Earlier I offered you a ram, if I might find the thief; but now, if by your hand I might flee the thief, I’ll sacrifice a bull instead of a ram.”]

  422. [Ταὼς εἰς δεῖπνον παρασκευάζεσθαι μέλλων ἁπλώσας τὰς πτέρυγας εἶπεν· „εἰ μὲν πολλὰ κρέα ὁρᾷς με ἔχοντα, [καὶ] θῦσον· εἰ δὲ τῇ τῶν πτερῶν ποικιλίᾳ κεκόσμημαι, φεῖσαι σαρκὸς ὀλίγης κεκοσμημένης.“]

    [A peacock about to be prepared as dinner, unfolding its wings said: “If you see all the meat I’m providing, kill me; but if you see how I’ve adorned my wings with colors, spare what little flesh I’ve adorned.”]

  423. Πλάτων ἔφη τὴν ἀρετὴν ἀδέσποτον εἶναι.

    Plato said that virtue is without master.

  424. Πλάτων πλείονα ἔφη ὑπὸ τῶν ἐχθρῶν ὠφελεῖσθαι [μᾶλλον] ἢ ὑπὸ τῶν φίλων· τοὺς μὲν γὰρ ἐχθροὺς ἁμαρτάνοντι ὀνειδίζοντας δηλοῦν, τοὺς δὲ φίλους πρὸ<ς χάριν λέγοντας> εἰς προτροπὴν τῶν κακῶν ἄγειν καὶ πρὸς τὸ ἐξαμαρτάνειν ἕτοιμον ποιεῖν.

    Plato often said that he was enriched [more] by his enemies than by his friends; for it is clear when one is in the wrong from the insults of enemies, but friends by <speaking favorably of us> lead us into inviting evils and readily doing wrong.

  425. Πλάτων συνεβούλευεν τοῖς παισὶν αἰδῶ [δεῖν] καταλιπεῖν ἢ χρυσόν.

    Plato advised [that it was necessary] to leave honor to one’s children rather than gold.

  426. Πλάτων ἔφη· „οὐ καλὸν πεπαιδευμένον ἐν ἀπαιδεύτοις διαλέγεσθαι, ὥσπερ οὐδὲ νήφοντα ἐν μεθύουσιν.“

    Plato said: “It’s not good for the educated to speak with the uneducated, just as the sober not with the drunk.”

  427. Πλάτων πυθομένου τινὸς τί ἐστι νόμος εἶπε· „ψυχὴ πόλεως [ἢ δόγμα ἀθάνατον καὶ κοινόν].“

    Plato having been asked by someone what a law is, said: “The soul of the polis [or an immortal and common dogma].”

  428. Πλάτων ἐρωτηθεὶς „διὰ τί γέρων ὢν φιλάργυρος εἶ“; ἔφη· „κρεῖττόν ἐστι μεταλλάξαντα τοῖς ἐχθροῖς καταλιπεῖν ἢ ζῶντα τῶν φίλων δεηθῆναι“. [κατέγνω γὰρ τῆς τῶν πολλῶν φιλίας <τὸ ἀβέβαιον>].

    Plato having been asked “Why are you still being greedy even when you’re old?” said: “It’s better to bequeath one’s fortune to enemies after death than to beg from friends while living.” [For he condemned the <unreliable> friendships of many.]

  429. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἰδών τινα πατρὸς καταφρονοῦντα „οὐ παύσῃ“ ἔφη „τούτου καταφρονῶν, δι’ ὃν σὺ μέγα φρονεῖς;“

    [Plato] seeing someone who disdained his father, said: “Will you not stop your disdaining, the one on whose account you can be so presumptuous?”

  430. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς τί ὠφέληται ἐκ φιλοσοφίας ἔφη· τὸ αὐτὸς ἐν εὐδίᾳ ἑστὼς βλέπειν ἄλλους χειμαζομένους.

    [Plato] having been asked how he’d been helped by philosophy, said: “To see myself set firm in calm seas while others are being tossed by a storm.”

  431. Πλάτωνί τινος λέγοντος ὅτι „τινὲς λοιδοροῦσί σε“ ἔφη· „ἀλλ’ ἐγὼ οὕτως διάξω, ὥστε ἀπιστεῖσθαι αὐτούς.“

    Plato to someone saying that “people are rebuking you”, said: “But I will continue on thus, so as to make them incredulous.”

  432. Πλάτων ἐρωτηθεὶς πῶς τις τὸν ἐχθρὸν λυπήσει ἔφη· „ἑαυτὸν παρασκευάζων ἄριστα πράττειν“.

    Plato having been asked how someone could annoy an enemy, said: “By preparing oneself to accomplish the noblest things.”

  433. Πλάτων παρεκελεύετο τοῖς νέοις τρία ταῦτα ἔχειν· ἐπὶ μὲν τῆς γνώμης σωφροσύνην, ἐπὶ δὲ τῆς γλώττης σιγήν, ἐπὶ δὲ τοῦ προσώπου αἰδῶ.

    Plato advised youths to have these three things: moderation of thought, silence of tongue, and decency of appearance.

  434. Πλάτων τοὺς πλουσίους καὶ ἀπλήστους ὑδρωπιῶσιν ἐοικέναι ἔλεγεν· „οἱ μὲν γὰρ πεπλησμένοι ὑδάτων διψῶσιν, οἱ δὲ χρημάτων.“

    Plato said that the rich and greedy are like those with a fluid edema: “For just as they’re thirsty despite having been filled up with fluid, the others are with money.”

  435. Πλάτων διψήσας πολλάκις ἐκ τοῦ φρέατος ἀνιμᾶτο τὸ ὕδωρ καὶ ἐξέχεεν εἰς γῆν κολάζων τὴν ἐπιθυμίαν.

    When Plato was thirsty he would repeatedly draw water out of the well and pour it out on the ground to punish the desire.

    1. Πλάτων ὀργιζόμενος τῷ οἰκέτῃ καὶ μέλλων αὐτὸν μαστιγοῦν ἐπιστάντος Ξενοκράτους ἔφη· „λαβὼν τοῦτον μαστίγωσον· ἐγὼ γὰρ ὀργίζομαι“.

      Plato was angered by an enslaved house-servant and about to thrash him with a whip but said to Xenocrates: “Take this and whip him; for I’m too angry.”

    2. Φασὶ δὲ αὐτὸν καὶ ἐπανατεινόμενον τὴν βακτηρίαν τῷ παιδὶ ἑστάναι χρόνον πολὺν μετέωρον ταύτην ἔχοντα καὶ τὴν αἰτίαν ἐρωτώμενον φῆσαι κολάζειν τὸν ἑαυτοῦ προορμήσαντα θυμόν.

      And they say that [Plato] also threatened an enslaved servant by brandishing his cane at them and standing there for a long time holding it as if to strike them like this, and when someone asked him why, he said: to correct the advance of his own temper.

  436. Πλάτων θεασάμενος Ἀντισθένην ἔν τινι διατριβῇ μακρολογοῦντα σιγᾶν ἐκέλευεν· τοῦ δὲ τὴν αἰτίαν ἐπιζητοῦντος ἔφη· „λόγου μέτρον ἄριστόν ἐστιν οὐχ ὁ λέγων, ἀλλ’ ὁ ἀκούων“.

    Plato seeing Antisthenes in some long diatribe ordered him to be silent; and when he asked why he said: “The proper limit of a speech is not the speaker’s, but the listener’s.”

  437. Πλάτων εἶπεν· „ὦ παῖ, μία ἐστὶν ἀρχὴ τοῦ καλῶς βουλεύεσθαι· τὸ γνῶναι περὶ ὅτου ὁ λόγος· εἰ δὲ μή, τοῦ παντὸς ἁμαρτάνειν ἀνάγκη“.

    Plato said: “O child, there’s only one beginning of a good deliberation: knowing that which you’re talking about, because if not, you’ll be completely wrong out of necessity.”

  438. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔλεγεν ὅτι ὁ παιδευόμενος τριῶν τούτων χρῄζει· φύσεως, μελέτης, χρόνου.

    [Plato] said that someone being educated needs these three things: inclination, practice, time.

  439. Διονυσίου ποτὲ ἐξώτατον τὸν Πλάτωνα κατακλίναντος διὰ τὴν πρὸς Δίωνα φιλίαν καὶ ἐπισκώψαντος· „ὁρᾷς, ὦ Πλάτων, ὅτι δύναμαι ἀτιμοῦν“ ἔφη· „ἀλλ’ οὐχ ὁ τόπος τὸν ἄνδρα, ἀλλ’ ὁ ἀνὴρ τὸν τόπον ἔντιμον ποιεῖ“. Πάλιν δὲ τοῦ Διονυσίου πρὸς αὐτὸν εἰπόντος, ὅτε ἀπῄει γεγονὼς ἐν προσκρούσματι· „ἦ που, Πλάτων, ἀπελθὼν Ἀθήναζε πολλὰ καθ’ ἡμῶν ἐρεῖς;“ „μὴ γένοιτο“ ἔφη „τοσαύτη λόγων ἀπορία, ὥστε περὶ σοῦ λόγον ἐν Ἀκαδημίᾳ ποιεῖσθαι“.

    When Dionysius had Plato seated at dinner according to his friendship with Dion and ribbed him: “See, o Plato, that it’s possible for me to dishonor you”, he answered: “But the place does not make the man honorable, but the man the place.” And another time when Dionysius was speaking to him, when he left having become a cause of offence: “Doubtless, Plato, having returned to Athens you’ll frequently speak against us?” He said: “Let it not be, that we’re so short of words, that we have to talk about you in the Academy.”

  440. Ὁ αὐτὸς λοιδορούμενος ὑπό τινος „λέγε“ ἔφη „κακῶς, ἐπεὶ καλῶς οὐκ ἔμαθες.“

    [Plato] being insulted by someone, said: “Speak ill, since you don’t know how to speak well.”

  441. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς τίς αὐτῷ δοκεῖ Διογένης ὑπάρχειν ἔφη· „Σωκράτης μαινόμενος“.

    [Plato] having been asked what kind of person he thought Diogenes was, said: “A maddened Socrates.”

  442. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς πῶς ἂν ἄριστα αἱ πόλεις οἰκοῖντο ἔφη· „εἰ φιλόσοφοι βασιλεύοιεν ἢ οἱ βασιλεῖς φιλοσοφοῖεν.“

    [Plato] having been asked how cities could best be managed, said: “If philosophers rule or the rulers philosophize.”

  443. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔφη τοῦ φυσικοῦ ἀνδρὸς τὸ σῶμα μόνον εἶναι, τὴν δὲ ψυχὴν πετάσθαι.

    [Plato] said that the body is only the form of a man, but the soul flies everywhere.

  444. Ὁ αὐτὸς Διογένους αὐτὸν καλοῦντος ἐν ἀγορᾷ φαγεῖν εἶπεν· „ὡς χαρίεν ἂν ἦν σου τὸ ἄπλαστον, εἰ μὴ ἦν πλαστόν!“

    When Diogenes called [Plato] over to eat with him in the agora, he said: “How charming your sincerity, if only it weren’t insincere!”

  445. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔφησε τὸν μὲν ὕπνον ὀλιγοχρόνιον θάνατον, τὸν δὲ θάνατον πολυχρόνιον ὕπνον.

    [Plato] said that sleep is a short death, but death is a long sleep.

  446. Ὁ αὐτὸς φαῦλα μέν τινος πράττοντος, δίκας δὲ ὑπὲρ ἑτέρων λέγοντος εἶπεν· „οὗτος τὸν νοῦν ἐπὶ γλώττης φορεῖ.“

    [Plato], when someone was behaving disreputably but speaking about the manners of others, said: “Thus he carries his mind on his tongue.”

  447. Ὁ αὐτὸς εἶπε τοὺς ἀγαθοὺς ἄνδρας βίου μὴ μακροῦ, ἀλλὰ λαμπροῦ προσδεῖσθαι.

    [Plato] said that honorable men shouldn’t desire a long life, but a bright one.

  448. Ὁ αὐτὸς πρός τινα τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ ἔφη· „ἐὰν καιρὸν ζητῇς πρὸς φιλοσοφίαν, καιρὸν οὐχ ἕξεις“.

    [Plato] said to one of his students: “If you’re looking for the right time for philosophy, you’ll never find the right time.”

  449. Περίανδρος ὁ σοφὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς τί ἂν εἴη ἐλευθερία εἶπεν· „ἀγαθὴ συνείδησις“.

    Periander the wise having been asked by someone what freedom is, said: “A good conscience.”

  450. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔλεγε δεῖν τοὺς μέλλοντας ἀσφαλῶς τυραννήσειν ταῖς εὐνοίαις δορυφορεῖσθαι τῶν ἀρχομένων, καὶ μὴ τοῖς ὅπλοις.

    [Periander] said that it was necessary for those intending to safely become tyrants to guard themselves with the goodwill of their followers, rather than their weapons.

  451. Περικλῆς ὑπὸ τῆς γυναικὸς παρακαλούμενος σώζειν ἑαυτὸν „ἄλλοις“ ἔφη „τοῦτο παραίνει· ἄρχοντι δὲ καὶ στρατηγῷ σώζειν τοὺς πολίτας“.

    Pericles having been counseled by his wife to save himself, said: “Tell this to others; but tell a leader and ruler to save the people.”

  452. Ὁ αὐτὸς τὸν ἀνθρώπινον βίον ὅμοιον ἔφησεν εἶναι θαλάσσῃ· „καὶ γὰρ ἐκείνη νηνεμίας μὲν οὔσης εὐδιεινοτάτη ἐστίν· ὅταν δὲ οἱ ἄνεμοι πνέωσι, ταράττεται· οὕτως καὶ τῶν ἀνθρώπων ὁ βίος εὐσταθοῦς μὲν τῆς τύχης οὔσης ἱλαρός ἐστιν, ἀντιπνευσάσης δὲ χειμάζεται“.

    [Pericles] said that a human life is like the sea: “For whenever the wind is calm it’s calmest; but when the winds blow, it’s troubled; thus also a mortal life calm in fortune is cheerful, but when the winds blow against it it’s thrown around by the storm.”

  453. Περσῖνος ὁ ποιητὴς ἐρωτηθεὶς τίς ἄριστός ἐστι ποιητὴς „παρ’ ἑαυτῷ μὲν ἕκαστος“, <εἶπε>, „παρὰ δὲ τοῖς ἄλλοις Ὅμηρος“.

    The poet Persinus having been asked who the best poet is, <said>: “Everyone is the best poet according to themselves, but according to others the best poet is Homer.”

  454. Πιττακὸς ὁ σοφὸς συνετῶν μὲν ἀνδρῶν εἶπεν εἶναι πρὸ τοῦ τὰ κακὰ γενέσθαι προνοεῖν, ἵνα μὴ γένηται, ἀνδρείων δὲ γενόμενα καταπαύειν.

    Pittacus the wise said that the task of intelligent men is to plan ahead for whatever evil might occur, so that it might not occur, and that the task of brave men is to end it if it does.

  455. Ὁ αὐτὸς Βίαντα ἠρώτησε· „τί δυσχερέστερον ἐν τῷ βίῳ“; τοῦ δὲ εἰπόντος· „τὸ ἑαυτὸν γνῶναι“ πάλιν ἤρετο· „τί δὲ ῥᾴδιον“; καὶ πάλιν Βίας φησί· „τὸ ἕτερον ψέξαι“.

    [Pittacus] asked Bias: “What is difficult in life?” and he said: “Knowing thyself”; so he asked again: “But what’s easy?” and Bias answered back: “Blaming someone else.”

  456. Ὁ αὐτὸς ὑβρισθεὶς ὑπό τινος καὶ ἔχων ἐξουσίαν αὐτὸν κολάσαι ἀφῆκεν εἰπών· „συγγνώμη τιμωρίας ἀμείνων· τὸ μὲν γὰρ ἡμέρου φύσεώς ἐστι, τὸ δὲ θηριώδους“.

    [Pittacus] was insulted by someone and though he had the authority to punish him he let it pass, saying: “Mercy is better than revenge; for the former belongs to a cultivated form, but the latter to the uncultivated.”

  457. Ὁ αὐτὸς παρακαλούμενος υἱῷ καὶ πατρὶ δικάσαι εἶπε πρὸς τὸν υἱόν· „εἰ μὲν δικαιότερα μέλλεις λέγειν τοῦ πατρός, διὰ τοῦτο ἄξιος εἶ κατακεκρίσθαι· εἰ δὲ ἀδικώτερα, καὶ οὕτως ἄξιος εἶ κατακεκρίσθαι“.

    [Pittacus], summoned to adjudicate a case between son and father, said to the son: “If you intend to speak more justly than your father, you would be rightly condemned for this; if more unjustly, then you would also thus be rightly condemned.”

  458. Πυθαγόρας ὁ φιλόσοφος παρῄνει σιγᾶν ἢ κρείττονα σιγῆς λέγειν.

    Pythagoras the philosopher advised to be silent or to speak better than silence.

  459. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔλεγε φεύγειν κακῶν φιλίαν καὶ ἀγαθῶν ἔχθραν.

    [Pythagoras] said that to avoid bad things is goodwill and to avoid good things is hatred.

  460. Ὁ αὐτὸς παρῄνει βίον αἱρεῖσθαι τὸν ἄριστον λέγων ὅτι ἡδὺν αὐτὸν ἡ συνήθεια ποιήσει.

    [Pythagoras] advised to choose the virtuous life, saying that familiarity will make it sweet.

  461. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔφη μήθ’ ἵππον χωρὶς χαλινοῦ μήτε πλοῦτον δίχα φρονήσεως δύνασθαι κρατεῖσθαι.

    [Pythagoras] said it’s possible to control neither a horse separate from its bit nor wealth separate from prudence.

  462. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς ὑπό τινος πῶς ἄν τις εἴη πλούσιος ἔφη· „εἰ τῶν ἡδονῶν εἴη πένης“.

    [Pythagoras] having been asked by someone how one might be rich, said: “If one might be poor of pleasures.”

  463. Πυθαγόρας νεανίσκον ἰδὼν ἀθλητικὸν οἴνῳ καὶ κρεοφαγίᾳ καὶ ἀσκήσει σάρκα πολλὴν ὑποτρέφοντα εἶπεν· „ὦ δαιμόνιε, παῦσαι καθ’ ἑαυτοῦ ποιῶν τὸ δεσμωτήριον ἰσχυρόν!“

    Pythagoras, having seen a young athlete who by wine and meat-eating and lifestyle was nourishing their huge body, said: “Sir, stop making your own strong prison!”

  464. Πυλάδης ὁ Μεσσήνιος θεασάμενος κατάκριτον ἀναγινώσκοντα νόμους εἶπεν· „ὀψὲ τοὺς ἀναγινώσκεις“.

    Pylades of Messene, seeing someone sentenced to death reading the laws, said: “You’re certainly reading them late.”

  465. Πύῤῥος ὁ Ἠπειρώτης ἐρωτηθεὶς ὑπό τινος ποῖος αὐτοῦ τῶν υἱῶν διάδοχος τῆς βασιλείας ἔσται εἶπεν· „ὅστις ἂν ὀξυτέραν ἔχῃ τὴν μάχαιραν“.

    Pyrrhus of Epirus having been asked by someone which of his sons would be the successor to the throne, said: “Whichever one holds the sharpest blade.”

  466. Ὁ αὐτὸς ναυαγοῦ τινος αὐτῷ μακρῶς τὰ καθ’ ἑαυτὸν διηγουμένου εἶπεν· „δικαίως καὶ ὑπὸ τοῦ Ποσειδῶνος ἐξεβλήθης οὕτως μακρολογῶν“.

    [Pyrrhus] hearing a long detailed account from someone who was shipwrecked alone, said: “You were justly cast away by Poseidon thus, on account of your droning on.”

  467. Πρωταγόρας ἐποποιοῦ τινος αὐτὸν βλασφημοῦντος ἐπὶ τῷ μὴ ἀποδέχεσθαι τὰ ποιήματα αὐτοῦ „ὦ τάν“, ἔφη· „κρεῖττόν μοί ἐστι κακῶς ἀκούειν ὑπό σου ἢ τῶν σῶν ποιημάτων ἀκούειν“.

    Protagoras having been disparaged by an epic poet for not approving of his poems, said: “Buddy, it’s better for me to hear you speak badly of me than for me to hear your poems.”

  468. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔφη· „πολυμαθίη κάρτα μὲν ὠφελέει, κάρτα δὲ βλάπτει“.

    [Protagoras] said: “Polymathy greatly helps, but greatly hurts.”

  469. Σωκράτης ὁ φιλόσοφος ἐρωτηθεὶς τί ἥδιστον ἐν τῷ βίῳ εἶπε· „παιδεία καὶ ἀρετὴ καὶ ἱστορία τῶν ἀγνοουμένων“.

    Socrates the philosopher having been asked what is sweetest in life, said: “education and virtue and inquiry into things unknown.

  470. Σωκράτης ἐρωτηθεὶς τί κτῆμα συμφορώτατον εἶπε· „φίλος βέβαιος.“

    Socrates having been asked what possession was most useful, said: “A steady friendship.”

  471. Σωκράτης ἔλεγεν ἐκεῖνον μόνον βασιλέα εἶναι τὸν δυνάμενον ἄρχειν τῶν οἰκείων παθῶν.

    Socrates said that the only ideal ruler is one who is able to rule their own emotions.

  472. Σωκράτης ἐπὶ πενίᾳ τινὰ λυπούμενον ἰδών, ἐντυχὼν ὅτε τοὺς πλουσίους οἱ τριάκοντα τύραννοι ἀνῄρουν, „μή τίς ἐστιν“ εἶπε „μεταμέλεια πενομένῳ;“

    Socrates having seen someone bemoaning their poverty, and later happening upon them when the Thirty Tyrants were executing the rich, said: “Is this not the one who regrets being poor?”

  473. Σωκράτης λέγοντος αὐτῷ τινος ὅτι „φιλῶ σε“ „ἄλλος“ ἔφη „αἴτιος, οὐκ ἐγώ.“

    Socrates having been told by someone “I love you”, said: “Someone else is responsible, not me.”

  474. Σωκράτης ἐρωτηθεὶς εἰ κατασχεῖν δύναταί τις λόγον ἀπόῤῥητον ἔφη· „ὅστις διάπυρον ἄνθρακα τῇ γλώττῃ κατασχεῖν δυνήσεται.“

    Socrates having been asked if it was possible for someone to keep a secret, said: “Whoever can keep a red-hot coal on their tongue.”

  475. Σωκράτης ἐρωτηθεὶς „τίς σοι πλουσιώτερος εἶναι δοκεῖ;“ εἶπεν· „ὁ ἐλαχίστοις ἀρκούμενος· αὐτάρκεια γάρ ἐστι φύσεως πλοῦτος.“

    Socrates having been asked “Who do you think the wealthiest person is?”, said: “The one who suffices with the least: for self-sufficiency is the form of wealth.”

  476. Σωκράτης εἶπε τῆς αὐτῆς ἁμαρτίας εἶναι τὸ διδόναι, οἷς μὴ δεῖ, καὶ τὸ μὴ διδόναι, οἷς δεῖ.

    Socrates said that the same wrong is done by giving to those who one should not, as by not giving to those who one should.

  477. Σωκράτης Ἀθηναῖος καταδικασθεὶς ὑπὸ Ἀθηναίων κατακρημνισθῆναι τῆς γυναικὸς Ξανθίππης κλαιούσης καὶ λεγούσης· „ὦ Σώκρατες, ἀδίκως ἀποθνήσκεις“ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτήν· „σὺ οὖν ἐβούλου με δικαίως ἀποθνήσκειν;“

    Socrates the Athenian, when he was sentenced to be thrown off a cliff by the Athenians, and his wife Xanthippe was crying and said: “O Socrates, you’re dying unjustly!”, he said to her: “So you would want me to die justly?”

  478. Σωκράτης τοὺς ἄλλους ἔφησε ζῆν ἵνα ἐσθίωσιν, ἑαυτὸν δὲ ἐσθίειν ἵνα ζῇ.

    Socrates said that others live to eat, but that he eats to live.

  479. Σωκράτης ἔφη· „καλόν ἐστι συζῆν γυναικὶ θυμώδει χάριν ἀσκήσεως· καὶ γὰρ τοὺς ἱππέας ἐθίζεσθαι <δεῖ> τραχέσιν ἵπποις κεχρῆσθαι· τούτων γὰρ κρατήσαντες καὶ τῶν ἄλλων ῥᾳδίως κρατήσουσιν.“

    Socrates said: “It’s good to live with a woman with a fierce demeanor; for it is also <necessary> for equestrians to accustom themselves to difficult horses, since if they can control these they can easily control the others as well.”

  480. Σωκράτει παρακολουθοῦντός τινος, ἅμα δὲ καὶ λοιδοροῦντος τῶν συνόντων <τις> „τί σοι“ ἔφη „λοιδορεῖται οὗτος;“ <ὁ δὲ> „οὐκ ἐμοί“, ἔφη, „ἀλλ’ ᾧ ταῦτα πρόσεστιν.“

    When someone was following him and insulting Socrates, <someone> present said: “Why does he insult you?”, <and Socrates> said: “Not me, but those present.”

  481. Σωκράτης ἠρωτήθη <ὑπό τινος> πῶς ἂν δύναιτο ἀναμαρτήτως διαλέγεσθαι καὶ εἶπεν· „εἰ μηδὲν λέγοις, ὧν μὴ σαφῶς οἶσθα.“

    Socrates was asked <by someone> how it might be possible to have a discussion without error, and he said: “If you never speak, about that which you do not securely know.”

  482. Σωκράτης ἀκαίρως τινὸς ἀδολεσχοῦντος „κρεῖττον“ ἔφησε „τῷ ποδὶ διολισθαίνειν ἢ τῇ γλώττῃ· τὸ μὲν γὰρ ἱματίῳ μολύσματα παρέχει, τὸ δὲ αὐτῷ <ἀνθρώπῳ> πολλάκις εἰς ἅπαντα τὸν χρόνον κηλῖδα <περιάπτει>· καὶ τὸ μὲν ἰατρὸν ἔχει τὸ ὕδωρ, τὸ δὲ ῥητὸν οὐκέτι ἄῤῥητον δύναται γενέσθαι.“

    Socrates, when someone was prattling on unreasonably, said: “It’s better to slip with the foot than the tongue; for one puts dirt on clothing, but the other often <ties> the same <person> to a stain for all time; and water holds the cure for one, but what is spoken can never be unspoken.”

  483. <Σ>ωκράτης ἰδὼν πλούσιον ἀπαίδευτον „ἰδού,“ φησί, „τὸ χρυσοῦν πρόβατον.“

    Socrates seeing a wealthy uneducated person, said: “Behold! The golden sheep.”

  484. Σωκράτης ἔλεγε τὸν φθόνον ἕλκος εἶναι τῆς ἀληθείας.

    Socrates said that jealousy is a festering wound to truth.

  485. Σωκράτης πολλὰ τῶν φίλων αὐτῷ πεμπόντων, ἐπεὶ μηδὲν δραξάμενος ὑπὸ Ξανθίππης τῆς γυναικὸς ηὐθύνετο, ἔφη· „βλέπε· ἂν τὰ διδόμενα ἑτοίμως λαμβάνωμεν, οὐδὲ αἰτοῦντες τοὺς δώσοντας ἕξομεν.“

    Socrates’ friends were sending him lots of things, but since he never accepted them he was criticized by his wife Xanthippe, and he said: “Look, if we readily took what is given, we’d never have need of being given things.”

  486. Σωκράτης εἰπόντος αὐτῷ τινος· „Ἀθηναῖοί σου θάνατον <κατ>εψηφίσαντο“ ἔφη· „αὐτῶν δὲ ἡ φύσις.“

    Socrates, when someone told him: “The Athenians have condemned you to death”, said: “But that is our nature.”

  487. Σωκράτης ἐν συμποσίῳ τινὶ παρεκχέοντα οἶνον ἐπεί τινες αὐτὸν ἐμέμφοντο ἐπὶ τῷ ἀπολλύναι τὸν οἶνον ἔφησεν· „ἐὰν γὰρ αὐτὸν ἐκπίω, οὐ μόνον αὐτὸς ἀπόλλυται, ἀλλὰ κἀμὲ προσαπόλλυσιν.“

    Socrates poured out a little wine at a certain symposium, and since some criticized him for losing the wine, he said: “If I drank it up, not only would it be lost, but I’d be lost alongside it.”

  488. Σωκράτης ἐρωτηθεὶς εἰ σφαιροειδής ἐστιν ὁ κόσμος ἔφη· „οὐχ ὑπερέκυψα.“

    Socrates having been asked if the cosmos is spherical, said: “I haven’t commanded a view of it.”

  489. Ὁ αὐτὸς πάντα τὰ πράγματα ἔφη εἶναι τῶν δυναμένων αὐτοῖς χρῆσθαι.

    [Socrates] said that all things belong to those who are able to use them.

  490. Ὁ αὐτὸς διαλοιδορουμένης αὐτῷ ποτε Ξανθίππης τῆς γυναικός, ἔπειτα ἐκ μετεώρου ἐκχεάσης διὰ θυρίδος ὕδωρ, ὃ κατηνέχθη ἐπὶ τὸν Σωκράτην, εἶπεν· „ἐγίνωσκον ὅτι βροντῶσα Ξανθίππη καὶ βρέξει.“

    [Socrates] was being upbraided by his wife Xanthippe, who then poured water out of a high window, which landed on Socrates, and he said: “I knew that a thundering Xanthippe would also rain.”

  491. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἰδών τινα πᾶσιν ἑξῆς προχείρως χαριζόμενον καὶ ὑπηρετοῦντα „κακὸς κακῶς“ εἶπεν „ἀπόλοιο, ὅτι τὰς Χάριτας παρθένους οὔσας πόρνας ἐποίησας.“

    [Socrates] seeing someone hastily granting favors and serving everyone one after another, said: “May you die wretchedly you wretch, that you’ve made the pure Graces be prostitutes!”

  492. Ὁ αὐτὸς θεασάμενος Ἀρίστιππον ἠμφιεσμένον πολυτελῶς ἐμόλυνεν τὴν καθέδραν, ἐφ’ ἣν καθίζειν ἔμελλεν· τοῦ δὲ Ἀριστίππου κατὰ τὸ ἀσφαλὲς καθίσαντος εἶπε· „νενόηκα ὅτι ἔχεις τὸ ἱμάτιον, καὶ οὐκ ἔχῃ ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ.“

    [Socrates] once saw a lavishly-dressed Aristippus about to sit down on a seat which he had dirtied; and when Aristippus was safely seated he said: “I see that you have the robe, and that you are not had by it.”

  493. Ὁ αὐτὸς θεασάμενός τινα ἐν λίμνῃ κολυμβῶντα καὶ σπουδάζοντα ὑπὸ τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἐπαινεῖσθαι θαυμάζειν ἔφη, εἰ οὐκ αἰσχύνεται τὸ μὲν τοῦ δελφῖνος ἔργον εὖ ποιῶν, τὸ δὲ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου οὐ δυνάμενος.

    [Socrates] once saw someone swimming in a pool eager to be praised by people for it, and he said he was amazed, if they weren’t ashamed to be doing a dolphin’s work well, while they were unable to do the work of a human.

  494. Ὁ αὐτὸς καλούμενος ὑπ’ Ἀρχελάου εἰς Μακεδονίαν ἐπὶ μεγάλαις δωρεαῖς ἀπαγγελθῆναι ἐκέλευσεν αὐτῷ ὅτι, ἕως ἂν τριῶν χαλκῶν ἡ χοῖνιξ τῶν ἀλφίτων πωλῆται καὶ ἡ ἐκ γειτόνων κρήνη ῥέῃ, οὐκ ἀφίξεται Σωκράτης εἰς Μακεδονίαν.

    [Socrates] was being invited to Macedonia by Archelaus with impressive gifts, and he requested a message to be sent back, that as long as three coppers bought a day’s worth of meal and the nearby well was flowing, Socrates would not come to Macedonia.

  495. Σωκράτης ἐρωτηθεὶς πῶς ἔχειν αὐτῷ δοκεῖ πρὸς εὐδαιμονίαν ὁ βασιλεὺς Ἀρχέλαος ἀγνοεῖν ἔφη· „τὸ γὰρ πῶς πρὸς παιδείαν ἔχει ἀγνοῶ.“

    Socrates was asked how he thought king Archelaus held himself with respect to happiness, and he said he didn’t know: “For I don’t know how he holds himself with respect to education.”

  496. Ὁ αὐτὸς εἶπεν· „εἰ [ἐν] τῷ πλουτεῖν τὸ χαίρειν συνῆν, πολλοῦ ἂν ἦν ἄξιον· νῦν δὲ ταῦτα χωρίζεται· ὁ γοῦν Μενέλαος παρὰ τῷ ποιητῇ φησιν· ὣς οὔτοι χαίρων τοῖσδε κτεάτεσσιν ἀνάσσω.“

    [Socrates] said: “If happiness resided [in] being rich, it would be extremely worthwhile; but for now these things are distinct. Indeed as the poet’s Menelaus says: ‘I take no joy in ruling these riches.’”

  497. Ὁ αὐτὸς καταμαθών τινα τῶν νέων περὶ τῆς κυνηγεσίας σφόδρα ἐσπουδακότα, τῶν δὲ λοιπῶν ὀλιγωροῦντα „πόσου“, ἔφη, „ὦ νεανίσκε, ἔστι κυνηγὸν ἀγαθὸν ὠνήσασθαι;“ τοῦ δὲ εἰπόντος ὅτι „χιλίων δραχμῶν“ „ἴσθι τοίνυν“ εἶπε „μὴ πλείονος ἄξιος ἐσόμενος, ἐάν σοι τὰ κατὰ πρόθεσιν <καλῶς> ἀποβαίνῃ.“

    [Socrates], having learned that one of the youths was very eager for hunting, but neglected everything else, said: “Hey kid, what’s a good hunter cost?”, and he answered that it was “a thousand drachmas”, so [Socrates] said: “Now see that you won’t be worth more than this, if your plan works out <well>.”

  498. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς διὰ τί συντάγματα οὐ γράφει ἔφη· „ὅτι τὰ ἄγραφα τῶν γεγραμμένων ὁρῶ πλείονος πωλούμενα.“

    [Socrates] having been asked why he didn’t write down his works, said: “Since I see the blank sheets selling for more than those that have been written on.”

  499. Ὁ αὐτὸς θαυμάσαντός τινος ὅτι λακτισθεὶς ἠνέσχετο ἔφη· „εἰ δὲ ὄνος με ἐλάκτισε, δίκην ἂν αὐτῷ ἔλαχον;“

    [Socrates], when someone was marveling that he restrained himself after being kicked, said: “And if a donkey kicks me, should I file a lawsuit?”

  500. Σόλων ὁ σοφὸς ἐρωτῶντος αὐτόν τινος πῶς ἂν μὴ γένοιτο ἀδίκημα εἶπεν· „εἰ ὁμοίως ἀγανακτοῖεν ἐπὶ τοῖς ἀδικήμασιν οἱ μὴ ἀδικούμενοι τοῖς ἀδικουμένοις.“

    Solon the wise man, when someone asked him how wrongs could not happen, said: “If those who are not wronged would be equally vexed as those who are wronged at the wrongs done.

  501. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐπιτιμωμένου τινὸς ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τῷ κυβεύειν καὶ λέγοντος περὶ μικροῦ παίζειν „ἀλλὰ τό γε ἔθος“ εἶπεν „οὐ μικρὸν [κακόν].“

    When someone was rebuked by [Solon] for playing at dice and said that he played for a small amount, he said: “But your character, at any rate, is no small thing.”

  502. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔφη ἐκείνην ἄριστα διοικεῖσθαι τὴν πόλιν, ἐν ᾗ τοὺς ἀγαθοὺς συμβαίνει τιμᾶσθαι, κάκιστα δὲ οἰκεῖσθαι, ἐν ᾗ τοὺς κακούς.

    [Solon] said that that city is managed best in which it happens that the good are honored, but that that one is managed worst in which the bad are.

  503. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔγραψεν ἐντὸς πεντήκοντα ἐτῶν γυναῖκα εἰς τὸ δημόσιον μὴ προιέναι· ἐρωτώμενος δὲ „διὰ τί τοῦτο ἐποίησας;“ εἶπεν· „ἵνα μήτις πυνθάνηται, τίνος γυνή, ἀλλὰ τίνος μήτηρ.“

    [Solon] wrote for a woman within 50 years not to go into a public building. But when asked, “Why did you do this?” he said: “So that no one would ask, ‘Whose wife is this?’ but rather ‘Whose mother?’”

  504. Σόλων ἔλεγε τοὺς παρὰ τοῖς τυράννοις δυναστεύοντας παραπλησίους εἶναι ταῖς ψήφοις ταῖς ἐπὶ τῶν λογισμῶν· καὶ γὰρ ἐκείνων ἑκάστην ποτὲ μὲν πλείω σημαίνειν, ποτὲ δὲ ἐλάττω· καὶ τούτων τοὺς τυράννους ποτὲ μὲν μέγαν ἕκαστον ἄγειν, ποτὲ δὲ ἄτιμον.

    Solon said that those who hold power alongside tyrants are akin to the pebbles used for calculations. For each of them sometimes means more, and sometimes less. And the tyrants treats each of these men sometimes as great, and sometimes as dishonored.

  505. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς διὰ τί κατὰ πατροκτόνου νόμον οὐκ ἔθηκεν εἶπε· „διὰ τὸ ἀπελπίσαι.“

    [Solon], when he was asked why he did not establish a law against father-killing, said: “Because I hoped it would not happen.”

  506. Σόλων ἐρωτηθεὶς ὑπό τινος τί ἐστι νόμος εἶπε· „τῶν μὲν δειλῶν φόβος, τῶν δὲ τολμηρῶν κόλασις.“

    Solon, having been asked by someone what the law is, said: “A fear, for the cowardly, and a punishment, for the daring.”

  507. Σόλων ἐπερωτῶν Κροῖσον τί παρὰ τῆς βασιλείας ἔσχε τιμιώτατον, ἐκείνου δὲ εἰπόντος· „τὸ τοὺς ἐχθροὺς μετελθεῖν καὶ φίλους εὐεργετεῖν“ „πόσῳ μᾶλλον“ ἔφη „χαριέστερον <ἂν> ἐποίησας, εἰ καὶ τούτους εἰς φιλίαν μετετρόπωσας;“

    When Solon asked Croesus what he considered the most valuable thing from his kingdom and that man said, “To attack my enemies and show kindness to my friends”, he said: “How much more pleasant would you have considered it if you had turned these men also towards friendship?”

  508. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς διὰ τίνα αἰτίαν οὐ τεκνοποιεῖ ἔφη· „διὰ φιλοτεκνίαν.“

    [Solon], having been asked why he did not bear children, said: “Because of my love for children.”

  509. Σιμωνίδης ἐρωτηθεὶς ὑπό τινος ποῖός ἐστιν ἀσφαλέστατος βίος ἔφη· „ὅταν τις οὕτως ζήσῃ, ὥστε μήτε ἐλεεῖσθαι μήτε βασκαίνεσθαι.“

    When Simonides was asked by someone what the safest sort of life was, he said: “Whenever someone lives in such a way that they never feel pity nor envy.”

  510. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔφη τὰ πάθη τοῖς ἀνθρώποις μαθήματα εἶναι περὶ τὸν βίον· „πολλοὶ γὰρ οὐ δυνάμενοι τῷ λόγῳ προορᾶν τὸ μέλλον τῷ πάσχειν ᾔσθοντο τὰ πράγματα.“

    [Simonides] said that the emotions are lessons for humans about life: “For many, although they are not able through reason to foretell the future, through suffering they understood their circumstances.”

  511. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς εἰ πάντα γηράσκει ἔφη· „<πάντα> πλὴν κέρδους ἀπλήστου.“

    [Simonides], having been asked if all things grow old, said: “<Everything> except the insatiable desire for profit.”

  512. Ὁ αὐτὸς νεανίσκου τινὸς αὐτὸν παρακαλοῦντος γράψαι ἐγκώμιον αὐτοῦ, χάριν γὰρ αὐτῷ ἕξειν, „δύο μοι“, εἶπεν, „ὦ βέλτιστε, κιβώτια ὑπάρχει· καὶ εἰς μὲν τὸ ἓν τὰς χάριτας ἀποτίθεμαι, εἰς δὲ τὸ ἕτερον ἀργυρίδιον· ὅταν οὖν ἀνοίξω αὐτὰ βουλόμενος χρῆσθαι, τὸ μὲν τοῦ ἀργυρίου πλῆρες εὑρίσκω, τὸ δὲ τῶν χαρίτων κεκενωμένον.“

    [Simonides], when some young man asked him to write an encomium of him, for he would consider it a favor for him, he said: “O good man, I have two boxes. And into the one I put favors, and into the other, silver coin. Then whenever I open them wanting to make use of them, I find the one full of silver, and the other empty of any favors.”

  513. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς πότερος κρείσσων, Ὅμηρος ἢ Ἡσίοδος, εἶπεν· „Ἡσίοδον μὲν αἱ Μοῦσαι, Ὅμηρον δὲ αἱ Χάριτες ἐτέκνωσαν.“

    [Simonides], when he was asked who was greater, Homer or Hesiod, said: “The Muses bore Hesiod, the Graces, Homer.”

    1. Στίλπων ὁ Μεγαρικὸς φιλόσοφος ἁλούσης αὐτοῦ τῆς πατρίδος ὑπὸ Δημητρίου τοῦ Πολιορκητοῦ καὶ διαρπαγείσης ἀναχθεὶς ἐπὶ τὸν βασιλέα καὶ ἐρωτώμενος εἴ τι δὴ αὐτὸς ἀπώλεσε „τῶν ἐμῶν μὲν οὐδὲν“ ἔφη· „τὸν γὰρ λόγον καὶ τὴν παιδείαν ἔχω, τὰ δὲ λοιπὰ διὰ τί μᾶλλον ἐμὰ ἢ οὐχὶ τῶν πολιορκούντων;“

      Stilpo the Megarian philosopher was kicked out of his homeland by Demetrius the taker-of-cities, and having had his things seized and returned to the king and being asked if he had lost anything, said: “Nothing of mine, for I still have speech and an education, and as for the rest why should they really belong to me instead of the taker-of-cities?”

    2. <Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς τῆς πόλεως αὐτοῦ διαρπαζομένης ὑπὸ Δημητρίου· „μὴ καὶ τῶν σῶν, Στίλπων, τὶ ἀφαιρεῖται;“ εἶπεν „οὐδέν· οὐ γὰρ πώ ποτ’ ἐμὰς βοῦς ἤλασαν, οὐδὲ μὲν ἵππους·> ἄλλως τε οὐδένα στρατιωτῶν ἀρετὴν ἐπ’ ὤμων εἶδον ἐκφέροντα.“

      <[Stilpo] having been asked about his city being plundered by Demetrius: “And of your things, Stilpo, what did he take?”, said: “Nothing: ‘for neither were my cattle ever driven away, nor my horses.’> I especially didn’t see the soldiers carrying out virtue on their shoulders.”

  514. <Ὁ> αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς τί ἰσχυρότερόν ἐστιν ἀνδριάντος εἶπεν· „ἄνθρωπος ἀναίσθητος.“

    [Stilpo] having been asked what is harder than a statue, said: “An unfeeling man.”

  515. Σοφοκλῆς, ὁ τῶν τραγῳδιῶν ποιητής, ἀκούσας Εὐριπίδην ἐν Μακεδονίᾳ τεθνηκέναι εἶπεν· „ἀπώλετο ἡ τῶν ἐμῶν ποιημάτων ἀκόνη.“

    Sophocles, the poet of tragedies, when he heard that Euripides had died in Macedonia, said: “The whetstone of my poems has died.”

  516. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς διὰ τί αὐτὸς μὲν ποιεῖ τὰ ἤθη τῶν ἀνθρώπων χρηστά, Εὐριπίδης δὲ φαῦλα „ὅτι“ ἔφη „ἐγὼ μέν, οἵους ἔδει εἶναι, τοὺς ἀνθρώπους ποιῶ, ἐκεῖνος δέ, ὁποῖοί εἰσιν.“

    When [Sophocles] was asked why he depicted the character of people as good and Euripides as bad, said: “Because I depict men that should exist, and that man depicts those that do.

  517. Στρατόνικος ἰδὼν μεγάλα πρόπυλα ἰδιωτικῆς οἰκίας κόψας τὴν θύραν πρὸς τὸν ὑπακούσαντα εἶπεν· „ἔνδον Ἀγαμέμνων;“

    Stratonicus having seen a private house with huge gates and knocking on the door, said to the person answering: “Is Agamemnon home?”

  518. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐπιδεικνύμενός ποτε παρὰ Βοιωτοῖς [καὶ] ἐξιόντος ἐκ τοῦ θεάτρου φαλακροῦ εἶπε· „σὺ μὲν ἔξιθι· οἱ δ’ ἄλλοι μενέουσι κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοί.“

    [Stratonicus] was putting on a show for some Boeotians [and] when a bald one left the theater, he said: “You, go; ‘but the rest of the flowing-haired Achaeans will remain here.’”

  519. Ὁ αὐτὸς διατρίψας παρὰ Διονυσίῳ τῷ τυράννῳ καὶ κληθεὶς ἐπὶ δεῖπνον, φαύλου ὄντος τοῦ οἴνου καὶ δοκοῦντος παρ’ αὐτοῖς χρηστοτάτου, ἐδυσχέραινε· τοῦ δὲ Διονυσίου ἀκούσαντος καὶ εἰπόντος· „ἀλλὰ μὲν ἐκ Πέτρας αὐτὸν μετεπεμψάμην“ „κἀγὼ“ φησὶν „διηπόρουν, εἰ ἐξ ἀμπέλου ἐστίν.“

    [Stratonicus] was spending time with Dionysius the tyrant and was summoned to dinner, where the wine was bad but considered their best, disgusting him; Dionysius heard this and said: “But I got it from Petra!”, and [Stratonicus] said: “Me, I was completely in doubt, if it even came from a vineyard.”

  520. Ὁ αὐτὸς καταπαίζων τῆς Θηβαίων πόλεως ἔφησε· „τίς ἂν προνοηθείη τῆς πόλεως ταύτης, ἐν ᾗ τὰ μὲν λάχανα πωλεῖται ὑπὸ στέγην, τὰ δὲ ἄλφιτα ἐν ὑπαίθρῳ;“

    [Stratonicus], mocking the Theban polis, said: “Who would conceive of a polis like this, in which vegetables are sold under a roof, but barley-groats are sold in the open?”

  521. Ὁ αὐτὸς κιθαρῳδοῦ ἐπιδειξαμένου αὐτῷ ἀφυοῦς καὶ πολλάκις λέγοντος, τί μάλιστα ἤρεσεν αὐτῷ, ἔφη· „τὰ πρὸ τοῦ προοιμίου·“ [τοῦτο γάρ, εἶπε, καὶ μάλιστα ἤρεσέν μοι].

    [Stratonicus], when a dull citharode was playing for him and repeatedly asking, what was most pleasing to him, said: “The bit before the start.” [For this, he said, was also the most pleasing to me.]

  522. Ὁ αὐτὸς θεασάμενος ἰατρὸν κακὸν καὶ ἱππιατρὸν ἀλλήλοις ὁμιλοῦντας εἶπε· „νῦν τούτων ὁ ἕτερος λέγει· ἀλλὰ σύ γ’ ἄνδρας ἔναιρε· μελήσουσιν δ’ ἐμοὶ ἵπποι.“

    [Stratonicus] seeing a bad doctor who others compared to a veterinarian, said: “One of them says this now; but ‘you go kill the people, I’ll stay here and watch the horses.’” (Iliad 10.481)

  523. Ὁ αὐτὸς εἰσελθὼν εἰς οἰκίαν ἀφυοῦς ποιητοῦ καὶ θεασάμενος τὰ ποιήματα αὐτοῦ ἐν τοῖς τοίχοις γεγραμμένα εἶπε· „τῶν μὲν λοιπῶν τὰ κακὰ σκέπουσιν οἱ τοῖχοι, τὰ δὲ σὰ ἐκφαίνουσιν.“

    [Stratonicus] went into the home of a dull poet and seeing the poet’s poems written on the walls, said: “Everyone else’s walls conceal their trash, but yours show it off.”

  524. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς διὰ τί Θηβαῖοι πολλὰ ἐσθίουσιν εἶπεν· „ὅτι ἐξ ὀδόντων γεγένηνται.“

    [Stratonicus], asked why Thebans ate so much, said: “Because they came from teeth.”

  525. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἀῤῥωστήσας ἐν Κύπρῳ καὶ διατεθεὶς ἐπικινδύνως βοῦν ηὔξατο θύσειν τῇ Ἀφροδίτῃ, ἐὰν σωθῇ· οὐκ ἔχων δὲ παραστῆσαι τὴν θυσίαν πλακοῦντα <μέγαν> καθ’ ὑπερβολὴν ἤνεγκεν τῇ θεῷ καὶ τῇ ἱερείᾳ εἶπεν ὅτι τὸ παρὸν ἀπορούμενος ἀξιοῖ τὴν Ἀφροδίτην συγγνώμην ἔχειν αὐτῷ· ἡ δὲ λαβοῦσα τὸν πλακοῦντα ἤρξατο καθ’ ἕνα τῶν βωμῶν αἴρουσα· „τοῦτο μὲν ἀντὶ τοῦ σκέλους ἐμοί, τοῦτο δὲ ἀντὶ τοῦ ὤμου τῷ ῥάντῃ, τοῦτο δὲ ἀντὶ τῆς πλευρᾶς τῷ κλειδοφόρῳ.“ Ὁ δὲ Στρατόνικος λαβὼν τὸ χειρόμακτρον, ᾧ συνεκαλύπτετο ὁ πλακοῦς, „σὺ δέ“, ἔφη, „παιδάριον, ἆρον ἐκ μέσου τοῦτο, μὴ καὶ ἀντὶ τῆς βύρσης ἀπενέγκηται αὐτό τινι τῶν περὶ αὐτήν.“

    [Stratonicus] was sick in Cyprus and when the illness became dangerous he prayed that he would sacrifice a bull to Aphrodite, if she saved him; but not having provided the sacrifice he brought a ridiculously <huge> cake to the goddess, and said to the priestess that with what he had he was at loss as to what to do and hoped to beg for Aphrodite’s forgiveness; and the priestess having taken the cake began preliminary offerings, setting aside pieces one-by-one on the altars—”This part instead of the leg for me, this part instead of the shoulder for the one who sprinkles the holy water, this part instead of the ribs for the keybearer…” And Stratonicus taking a cloth, which was covering the cake, said: “You, servant girl, get this one out of here, lest it also get carried away to someone around her as a substitute for the hide!”

  526. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς ὑπό τινος· „τίνα λειοτάτην ὁδὸν ἐπίστασαι;“ ἔφη· „τὴν <εἰς> Ἅιδου· ἐν ταύτῃ γὰρ καὶ μύοντες οὐ προσκόπτουσιν.“

    [Stratonicus] having been asked by someone “What road do you think is smoothest?”, said: “The one <into> Hades; for in this one even those with their eyes shut do not stumble.”

  527. Ὁ αὐτός, ἐπεὶ ὁ μοιχεύων αὐτοῦ τὴν παλλακίδα εἰσερχομένῳ ἀπήντησεν ἐξιών, καταλαβὼν ἐκείνην ἔτι ἐπὶ κλίνης ἠρώτησεν τί οὕτως ἐστὶ σκυθρωπή· αἰφνιδίως δὲ αὐτῆς εἰπούσης ὅτι πυρετὸς ἔλαβεν αὐτὴν καὶ ἀρτίως ἀφῆκε· „πιστεύω σοι“ ἔφη· „καὶ γὰρ ἐμοὶ ἐκπορευόμενος ὑπήντα.“

    [Stratonicus], after he ran into an adulterer leaving his mistress, he caught her still upon the bed and asked why she was so gloomy; so she said that a fever had suddenly siezed her and left immediately; and he said: “I believe you, for it met me on its way out.”

  528. Ὁ αὐτὸς εἰς Ἰταλίαν ἐλθὼν καὶ φαῦλον πιὼν οἶνον θεασάμενος τὴν ἄμπελον ἐκ τῶν φυτῶν εἰς ὕψος ἀνηρτημένην „δικαίως“ ἔφη „κρέμαται τοιοῦτον οἶνον φέρουσα.“

    [Stratonicus] having gone to Italy and seeing someone drinking bad wine, hung the grape-vine at a height outside of the plants, and said: “This sort of wine is rightly brought to be hung.”

  529. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐν βαλανείῳ κλέπτου τινὸς τρίβοντος αὐτὸν καὶ λέγοντος ὡς ψυχρὸν ἔχει τὸ σῶμα „σὺ μὲν οὖν“ ἔφη „θερμὰς τὰς χεῖρας.“

    [Stratonicus], when a cheat was massaging him in the bathhouse and saying how cold his body was, said: “Well, you have hot hands.”

  530. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔφη· „γῆρας καὶ πενία δύο τραύματα δυσθεράπευτα.“

    [Stratonicus] said: “Old age and poverty are two wounds which are difficult to cure.”

  531. Σωσιγένης χαλεπώτερον εἶπε τοῦ κατηγορεῖν τὸ ἀπολογεῖσθαι· „τὸν μὲν γὰρ κατηγοροῦντα μόνον δεῖ πεῖσαι, τὸν δὲ ἀπολογούμενον καὶ μεταπεῖσαι“.

    Sosigenes said that it was more difficult to defend a charge than to accuse: “For in accusing it’s only necessary to persuade, but in defending a charge it’s also necessary to change that persuasion.”

  532. Σκύθης ἀνὴρ γυμνὸς ὑπαντήσας τινὶ ψύχους ὄντος ἰσχυροῦ ἐρωτηθεὶς εἰ ῥιγοῖ ἔφη· „οὔ“. τοῦ δὲ θαυμάσαντος ἀντηρώτησεν ὁ Σκύθης εἰ ἐκεῖνος τὸ μέτωπον ῥιγοῖ· ἀρνησαμένου δὲ αὐτοῦ εἶπεν· „ἐγὼ τοίνυν ὅλος εἰμὶ μέτωπον.“

    Scythes having encountered a naked man when it was bitterly cold asked if he might shiver, he said: “No.” So being amazed Scythes asked him in return if his forehead might shiver; but he answered no and said: “Thus I am all forehead.”

  533. Τίμων ὁ μισάνθρωπος καταληφθείς ποτε εἰς ἐρημίαν καὶ τοῦ καταλαβόντος αὐτὸν εἰπόντος· „ὦ Τίμων, ὡς ἡδὺ <ἡ> ἐρημία!“ εἶπεν· „εἰ μὴ σύγε παρῆς.“

    Timon the misanthrope, when he had escaped to solitude and someone caught up to him saying, “O Timon, how sweet <the> solitude!”, said: “If only you weren’t here.”

  534. Ὁ αὐτὸς στοιχεῖα δύο ἔφη τῶν κακῶν εἶναι· „ἀπληστίαν καὶ φιλοδοξίαν.“

    [Timon] said there are two components of evil: “Greed and a desire for fame.”

  535. Τιμόθεος ἔφη· „ὥσπερ τοῖς νοσοῦσιν οἱ ἰατροὶ σωτῆρές εἰσιν, οὕτω καὶ τοῖς ἀδικουμένοις οἱ νόμοι.“

    Timotheus said: “Just as doctors are saviors of the sick, thus also laws are saviors of the wronged.”

  536. Ὑπερίδης ἔφη δεῖν τὸν ἀγαθὸν ἐπιδείκνυσθαι ἐν μὲν τοῖς λόγοις, ἃ φρονεῖ, ἐν δὲ τοῖς ἔργοις, ἃ ποιεῖ.

    Hyperides said that it was necessary for the virtuous to show by words, that which they think, but by works, that which they do.

  537. Φίλιππος ἐρωτηθεὶς τίς αὐτῷ τὸν ὀφθαλμὸν ἐξέκοψεν, εἶπεν· „ὁ τῆς Ἑλλάδος ἔρως.“

    Philip, having been asked who knocked out his eye, said: “The desire for Greece.”

  538. Ὁ αὐτὸς κατεάξας τὴν κλεῖν ἐν πολέμῳ καὶ πολλὰ αἰτούμενος χρήματα ὑπὸ τοῦ θεραπεύοντος αὐτὸν ἰατροῦ παίξας εἶπε πρὸς αὐτόν· „ἕως τὴν κλεῖν ἔχεις, ταμιεύου σεαυτόν.“

    [Philip], having broken his collar bone in war and being asked for much money by the doctor tending him, jokingly said to him: “As long as you have the key, dispense for yourself.”

  539. Ὁ αὐτὸς λέγοντος αὐτῷ τινος ὅτι Ἀθηναῖοι αὐτὸν μισοῦσιν εἶπε· „καὶ γὰρ αἱ ἐν Μακεδονίᾳ γυναῖκες.“

    [Philip], when someone told him that the Athenians hate him, said: “So too do the women in Macedonia.”

  540. Ὁ αὐτὸς παραγενομένων πρὸς αὐτὸν ἐκ Μιλήτου πρεσβευτῶν ἀπρεπῶν „χαίρετε“ ἔφη „Κᾶρες“· τῶν δὲ εἰπόντων· „οὐκ ἐσμὲν Κᾶρες, ἀλλ’ Ἴωνες“ „χαίρετε τοίνυν“ ἔφη „Καρίωνες.“

    [Philip], when some unseemly ambassadors from Miletus came to him, he said: “Greetings Carians.” And when they said, “We are not Carians but Ionians”, he said: “So greetings, little Care-ions.”

  541. Ὁ αὐτὸς μετὰ τὸ καταστρέψασθαι <τὰ> περὶ τὴν Μακεδονίαν ἔθνη παρακαλούμενος ὑπὸ τῆς μητρὸς Εὐρυδίκης σχολάζειν ἤδη ἐν Μακεδονίᾳ ἔφη· „ἐποίησα ἄν, ὦ μῆτερ, ὃ ἐκέλευσας, εἰ μὴ ἑώρων τοὺς σχολάζοντας τοῖς ἀσχολουμένοις ὑποτασσομένους.“

    [Philip], after subduing the nations around Macedonia, being summoned by his mother Eurydice to rest at this point in Macedonia, said: “I would have done, mother, what you commanded, if I did not now see those resting being subject to those who are busy.”

  542. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἔλεγεν ἔνια [τῶν] ὑφ’ ἑαυτοῦ διοικεῖσθαι οὕτω κρυπτῶς, ὥστε μηδὲ τὴν χλανίδα αὑτῷ συνιστορεῖν.

    [Philip] said that some things were handled by him so secretly that not even his cloak shared in the knowledge with him.

  543. Ο αὐτὸς ἔλεγε τὸν βασιλέα δεῖν μνημονεύειν ὅτι ἄνθρωπος ὢν ἐξουσίαν εἴληφεν ἰσόθεον, ἵνα προαιρῆται μὲν καλὰ καὶ θεῖα, φωνῇ δὲ ἀνθρωπίνῃ χρῆται.

    [Philip] said that a king should remember that, although a man, he has taken authority equal to a god, in order that he may prefer good and godly things but employ a human voice.

  544. Φίλιππος τὸν πλούσιον καὶ ἀπαίδευτον ἔφησε ῥύπον περιηργυρωμένον.

    Philip said that the wealthy and uneducated person is silver-plated filth.

  545. Φιλόξενος ἔφησε τῶν ἀνθρώπων τὰς ἀκοὰς τῇ γλώσσῃ συντετρῆσθαι· πρὶν γὰρ ἢ καλῶς ἀκοῦσαι, σπουδάζειν αὐτοὺς ἅπερ οὐκ ἐπίστανται πρὸς ἄλλους λέγειν.

    Philoxenus said that peoples’ ears are cleared out by their tongue; for before one hears well, they eagerly tell others that which they do not know.

  546. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἰδὼν μειράκιον ἐρυθριᾶσαν ἔφη· „θάῤῥει· τοιοῦτον γὰρ ἔχει ἡ ἀρετὴ τὸ χρῶμα.“

    [Philoxenus] seeing a young man blushing, said: “Cheer up! For virtue holds this color.”

  547. Χίλων ὁ σοφὸς λυπουμένου τινὸς ἐπὶ τοῖς ἑαυτοῦ κακοῖς εἶπεν· „εἰ τὰ πάντων κατανοήσαις, ἔλαττον <ἂν>\ ἐπὶ τοῖς σαυτοῦ δυσφορήσαις.“

    Chilon the sage, when someone was grieving at his own evils, said: “If you should observe the affairs of everyone, you would bear your own with less pain.”

  548. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς τί παραδοξότατόν ἐστιν ἐν ἀνθρώποις εἶπεν· „εἴ τις ἐξουσίας κυριεύσας ἑαυτὸν γνωρίζοι.“

    [Chilon], having been asked what is most unexpected among people, said: “If someone with mastery over his resources should recognize himself.”

  549. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἀκούσας τινὸς εἰπόντος ὡς οὐδεὶς αὐτῷ ἐχθρὸς εἴη οὐκ ἔχειν αὐτὸν εἶπεν οὐδὲ φίλον.

    [Chilon], having heard someone say that he had no enemy, said that he also had no friend.

  550. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς ὑπό τινος τί κράτιστον ἐν βίῳ εἶπε· „τὸ μηδὲν ἄγαν.“

    [Chilon] having been asked by someone what is best in life, said: “Doing ‘nothing in excess.’”

  551. Χίλων Αἰσώπου πυθομένου τί εἴη ποιῶν ὁ Ζεὺς εἶπε· „τὰ μὲν ὑψηλὰ ταπεινοῖ, τὰ δὲ ταπεινὰ ὑψοῖ.“

    Chilon having been asked by Aesop what Zeus might be doing, said: “He might be debasing the exalted, or he might be exalting the debased.”

  552. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς τί δύσκολόν ἐστιν ἔφη· „μάλιστα τὸ τὰ ἀπόῤῥητα σιωπῆσαι καὶ σχολὴν εὖ διαθέσθαι καὶ ἀδικούμενον δύνασθαι φέρειν.“

    [Chilon], having been asked what is hard to bear, said: “Especially to stay silent about secrets, to manage one’s leisure well, and to be able to bear injustice.”

  553. Χαβρίας ἔλεγε φοβερώτερον εἶναι στρατόπεδον ἐλάφων ἡγουμένου λέοντος ἢ λεόντων ἡγουμένης ἐλάφου.

    Chabrias said that a lion commanding an army of deer was more terrifying than a deer commanding lions.

  554. Χαβρίας καταλαβὼν [τινας] ἐπὶ στρατοπέδου δύο φύλακας καθεύδοντας ἀπέκτεινεν εἰπών· „οἵους κατέλαβον, τοιούτους κατέλιπον.“

    Chabrias having found two guards sleeping in the camp, killed them, saying: “If I find people like that, I leave them like this.”

  555. Χαβρίας εἰπόντος αὐτῷ τινος· „ὁ φίλος σε λάθρα λοιδορεῖ“ εἶπε· „μὴ ἔλεγχε αὐτόν, ἵνα μὴ φανερῶς αὐτὸ μέλλῃ ποιεῖν.“

    Chabrias having been told by someone: “A friend secretly hates you”, said: “Don’t expose them, so that they’re not forced to do it openly.”

  556. Χαβρίας ὑπὸ πονηροῦ πολλὰ λοιδορηθεὶς ἔφη· „κάλλιστα ἐποίησας μηδέν σοι τῶν προσόντων παραλιπών.“

    Chabrias having been insulted by a very worthless person, said: “You did excellently in leaving out not a single one of your qualities.”

  557. Ὁ αὐτὸς ἐρωτηθεὶς ποταπὸς τῷ γένει ἐστὶν εἶπε· „κοσμογενής.“

    [Chabrias] having been asked where he was descended from, said: “I was descended from the cosmos.”

  558. Ψιττακὸς ὁ φιλόσοφος τοὺς ἀγαθοὺς τῶν ἀνθρώπων θεοῦ τι μέρος ἔλεγεν ἔχειν.

    Psittacus the philosopher said that good people have some divine portion.

  559. Ψιττακὸς ἔλεγε μὴ φιλήσαντα κρίνειν, ἀλλὰ κρίναντα φιλεῖν, καὶ μισεῖν λόγῳ, ἀλλ’ οὐ πάθει.

    Psittacus said not to judge someone while being a friend, but to be a friend while judging them, and to hate with reason, not because of circumstance.

  560. Ὡρίων ὁ φιλόσοφος εἶπεν· „ὅπερ σὺ μισεῖς παρ’ ἑτέρων σοὶ γενέσθαι, τοῦτο εἰς ἑτέρους μὴ ποίει.“

    Orion the philosopher said: “Whatever you hate others doing to you, you should not do to others.”

  561. <Ὡ>ρίων ἰδὼν νεανίαν φιλοπονοῦντα ἔφη· „κάλλιστον ὄψον τῷ γήρατι ἀρτύεις.“

    Orion, seeing a youth who loved his job, said: “You’re preparing a beautiful dish for your old age.”

  562. Αποφθέγματα γυναικῶν, ἤτοι φρονήματα.

    Apothegms of Women, or Their Thoughts

    Ἀττικὴ γυνὴ ἰδοῦσα γράμμα ἐπὶ θυρῶν μέλλοντος γαμεῖν· „Ἡρακλῆς ἐνθάδε κατοικεῖ· μηδὲν εἰσίτω κακὸν“ εἶπεν· „νῦν οὖν ἡ γυνὴ οὐ μὴ εἰσελεύσεται.“

    An Athenian woman having seen a sign on the door of someone intending to get married reading “Heracles lives here; let there be no evil”, said: “So now the wife will not enter!”

  563. [Ἡ] Ἀττικὴ γραῦς ἐρωτηθεῖσα ἐν συμποσίῳ εἰ θνητὸς ὁ Διόνυσος ἰδοῦσα κλεπτόμενον οἶνον εἶπεν· „ναὶ θνητός· εἶδον γὰρ αὐτὸν ἐκφερόμενον.“

    An old Athenian woman was asked at a symposium if Dionysus was mortal, and having seen wine being stolen, said: “Yes he’s mortal; for I saw him being carried out.”

  564. <Ἀ>ττικὴ γραῦς ἰδοῦσα νεανίσκον οἶνον ἐκχέοντα εἶπε· „μειράκιον· τὸν Οἰνέα Πηλέα ἐποίησας.“

    An old Athenian woman having seen a youth pouring wine, said: “Young man! You’ve made Peleus into Oeneus.”

  565. Γραῦς Ἀττικὴ θεασαμένη Ὀλυμπιονίκην ἀθλητὴν πρόβατα βόσκοντα εἶπε· „ταχέως ἀπὸ Ὀλυμπίων ἐπὶ Νέμεα.“

    An old Athenian woman having seen an Olympic champion tending to sheep, said: “He went from Olympic to Nemean quickly!”

  566. Γυνὴ Λάκαινα τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτῆς ἐν παρατάξει χωλωθέντος καὶ δυσφοροῦντος ἐπὶ τούτῳ „τέκνον“, εἶπε, „μὴ λυποῦ· καθ’ ἕκαστον γὰρ βῆμα τῆς ἰδίας <ἀρετῆς ὑπομνησθήσῃ.“>

    A Spartan woman whose son had become disabled in battle and was angry because of this, said: “Child, don’t despair; for every step will remind you of your personal virtue.”

  567. Γυνὴ Λάκαινα ἀκούσασα τὸν υἱὸν αὐτῆς ἐν παρατάξει τεθνηκέναι „τέκνον“, εἶπεν, „ὡς καλὰ τροφεῖα τῇ πατρίδι ἀπέδωκας!“

    A Spartan woman having heard that her son had died in battle, said: “Child, what noble nursing-costs you’ve returned to your country!”

  568. Γυνὴ Λάκαινα αἰχμαλωτισθεῖσα ἐπιπράσκετο· καὶ ἐρωτωμένη τί δύναται ποιεῖν ἔφη· „ἐλευθέρα εἶναι.“

    A Spartan woman was being sold into slavery; and being asked what she was able to do, said: “Be free.”

  569. Γυνὴ Συρακοσία μεταπεμφθεῖσα ὑπὸ Διονυσίου τοῦ τυράννου [καὶ] φάσκοντος ἐρᾶν αὐτῆς καὶ χαριεῖσθαι ὃ ἂν ἐθέλῃ· „ἄφες τοίνυν με“ εἶπε „νομίσας τὰς γυναῖκας ὁμοίας εἶναι, ὅταν ὁ λύχνος ἀποσβεσθῇ.“

    A Syracusan woman summoned by the tyrant Dionysius because he said he desired her and wanted to give her whatever she wanted, said: “Well leave me alone then, since you think all women are the same, whenever the lights are out.”

  570. Ἡ Κλεάρχου τοῦ Ῥαμφίου μήτηρ ἐπειδὴ διεβλήθη ὁ υἱὸς αὐτῆς προδιδόναι τοῖς Πέρσαις τὴν Ἑλλάδα τοιαύτην ἐπιστολὴν ἔγραψεν· „ἁ μάτηρ Κλεάρχῳ τῷ υἱῷ· κακά τευ κακκέχυται φάμα· ἢ ταύταν ἀπόθευ ἢ μὴ ἔσο.“

    The mother of Clearchus the Ramphian, when her son was being attacked for giving Greece over to the Persians, wrote him a letter like this: “From Mom to Clearchus my son: Your reputation is being dragged in disgrace; either put a stop to this or cease to exist.”

  571. Ξανθίππη ἐρωτηθεῖσα τί μέγιστον ὑπῆρχεν τῷ Σωκράτει „τοῦτο“, ἔφη, „ὅτι καὶ ἐπὶ ἀγαθοῖς καὶ ἐπὶ φαύλοις ἡ αὐτὴ ὄψις ἦν αὐτῷ“·

    Xanthippe having been asked what the best property of Socrates was, said: “This, that of the upper-class and lower-class he has the same view.”

  572. Θεανὼ ἡ Πυθαγορικὴ ἔφη· „περὶ ὧν λέγειν καλόν, περὶ τούτων σιωπᾶν αἰσχρόν, καὶ περὶ ὧν λέγειν αἰσχρόν, περὶ τούτων σιωπᾶν καλόν.

    Theano the Pythagorean said: “Concerning things it’s good to speak about, it is shameful to be silent; and concerning things it’s shameful to speak about, it is good to be silent.”

  573. Λάκαινα γυνὴ σεμνυνομένου τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτῆς ἐπὶ τῷ μόνον ἐκ τῆς παρατάξεως σεσῶσθαι ἔφη· „τί οὖν οὐκ αἰσχύνῃ μόνος ζῶν;“

    A Spartan woman whose son was proud of being the lone survivor of a battle, said: “So why aren’t you ashamed of being the only one alive?”

  574. Ὀλυμπιὰς Ἀλεξάνδρου μήτηρ ἐρωτηθεῖσα ὑπό τινος [ὅτι] „διὰ τί οὐ κοσμῇ;“ εἶπεν· „ὅτι ἀρκεῖ μοι ὁ Ἀλεξάνδρου κόσμος.“

    Olympias, mother of Alexander, having been asked by someone, “Why don’t you adorn yourself?”, said: “Because Alexander is sufficient adornment for me.”

  575. Φρύνη ἑταίρα νεανίσκου τινὸς ἀγρὸν πεπρακότος καὶ δι’ ἀῤῥωστίαν χλωροῦ ὄντος ἔφη· „νεανίσκε· τί ὠχρὸς εἶ; μή τι γῆν ἐσθίεις;

    The hetaira Phryne, to a certain young man who had sold some land and was yellow from illness, said: “Young man, why are you pale? Did you eat some of the dirt?”