Diogenes Laërtius · fl. 3rd century CE
Lives of Eminent Philosophers 7.168 — Diogenes Laërtius on Cleanthes
Translation by R. D. Hicks (1925)
Diogenes Laërtius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers 7.168
Reported speech · Diogenes Laërtius on Cleanthes
Cleanthes, son of Phanias, was a native of Assos. This man, says Antisthenes in his Successions of Philosophers, was at first a pugilist. He arrived in Athens, as some people say, with four drachmas only, and meeting with Zeno he studied philosophy right nobly and adhered to the same doctrines throughout. He was renowned for his industry, being indeed driven by extreme poverty to work for a living. Thus, while by night he used to draw water in gardens, by day he exercised himself in arguments: hence the nickname Phreantles or Welllifter was given him. He is said to have been brought into court to answer the inquiry how so sturdy a fellow as he made his living,
Cite this passage
Diogenes Laërtius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers 7.168 (on Cleanthes), tr. R. D. Hicks (1925)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/lives-of-the-stoics/7.168
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 notesCleanthes arrived in Athens nearly penniless, a former boxer, and studied philosophy while drawing water in gardens at night to pay his way. His hard work earned the nickname Well-lifter, and he was even questioned in court about how such a sturdy man made a living.
Older wording
- “pugilist”
- — boxer
- “drachmas”
- — Greek silver coins
Themes and situations
- Resilience and endurance
- Wealth and poverty
- Learning and progress
- Adversity and hardship
- Losing money
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