Diogenes Laërtius · fl. 3rd century CE
Lives of Eminent Philosophers 7.114 — Diogenes Laërtius on the Stoics
Translation by R. D. Hicks (1925)
Diogenes Laërtius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers 7.114
Reported speech · Diogenes Laërtius on the Stoics
Wrath is anger which has long rankled and has become malicious, waiting for its opportunity, as is illustrated by the lines: Even though for the one day he swallow his anger, yet doth he still keep his displeasure thereafter in his heart, till he accomplish it. Resentment is anger in an early stage. Pleasure is an irrational elation at the accruing of what seems to be choiceworthy; and under it are ranged ravishment, malevolent joy, delight, transport. Ravishment is pleasure which charms the ear. Malevolent joy is pleasure at another’s ills. Delight is the mind’s propulsion to weakness, its name in Greek (τέρψις ) being akin to τρέψις or turning. To be in transports of delight is the melting away of virtue.
Cite this passage
Diogenes Laërtius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers 7.114 (on the Stoics), tr. R. D. Hicks (1925)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/lives-of-the-stoics/7.114
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 notesWrath is anger that has festered into malice and bides its time, while resentment is anger in its early stage. Pleasure is an irrational thrill at something that merely seems worth having, and its forms include delighting in other people's misfortune and being carried away by delight, which melts away virtue.
Older wording
- “Wrath”
- — long-nursed anger that waits for revenge
- “malevolent joy”
- — pleasure at someone else's misfortune
- “Ravishment”
- — a charmed delight, here the pleasure of listening
Themes and situations
- Anger
- Emotions and the passions
- Pleasure and pain
- Being angry with someone
Quote cards
The opening line of this passage as an image, with its citation — for sharing or keeping.