Diogenes Laërtius · fl. 3rd century CE
Lives of Eminent Philosophers 7.1 — Diogenes Laërtius on Zeno
Translation by R. D. Hicks (1925)
Diogenes Laërtius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers 7.1
Reported speech · Diogenes Laërtius on Zeno
Zeno, the son of Mnaseas (or Demeas), was a native of Citium in Cyprus, a Greek city which had received Phoenician settlers. He had a wry neck, says Timotheus of Athens in his book On Lives. Moreover, Apollonius of Tyre says he was lean, fairly tall, and swarthy—hence some one called him an Egyptian vine-branch, according to Chrysippus in the first book of his Proverbs. He had thick legs; he was flabby and delicate. Hence Persaeus in his Convivial Reminiscences relates that he declined most invitations to dinner. They say he was fond of eating green figs and of basking in the sun.
Cite this passage
Diogenes Laërtius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers 7.1 (on Zeno), tr. R. D. Hicks (1925)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/lives-of-the-stoics/7.1
Diogenes Laërtius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers, Book VII, tr. R. D. Hicks (Loeb, 1925). Text: Perseus Digital Library (CC BY-SA 4.0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesBasic background on Zeno of Citium, the founder of Stoicism, covering his birthplace, parentage and physical appearance, plus a few habits like skipping dinner parties and enjoying figs and sunshine. Biographical detail with no direct advice.
Older wording
- “wry neck”
- — a neck held twisted to one side
Themes and situations
- Simplicity and frugality
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