Diogenes Laërtius · fl. 3rd century CE
Lives of Eminent Philosophers 7.32 — Diogenes Laërtius on Zeno
Translation by R. D. Hicks (1925)
Diogenes Laërtius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers 7.32
Reported speech · Diogenes Laërtius on Zeno
Hence he had been well trained even before he left his native place. And thus it came about that on his arrival at Athens he attached himself to Crates. And it seems, he adds, that, when the rest were at a loss how to express their views, Zeno framed a definition of the end. They say that he was in the habit of swearing by “capers” just as Socrates used to swear by “the dog.” Some there are, and among them Cassius the Sceptic and his disciples, who accuse Zeno at length. Their first count is that in the beginning of his Republic he pronounced the ordinary education useless: the next is that he applies to all men who are not virtuous the opprobrious epithets of foemen, enemies, slaves, and aliens to one another, parents to children, brothers to brothers, friends to friends.
Cite this passage
Diogenes Laërtius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers 7.32 (on Zeno), tr. R. D. Hicks (1925)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/lives-of-the-stoics/7.32
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 notesFinishes the account of Zeno's early training and his definition of the goal of life, then begins a list of attacks from a hostile critic: that his Republic dismissed ordinary education as useless and labelled everyone who is not virtuous as enemies, slaves and strangers to one another.
Older wording
- “opprobrious”
- — abusive or insulting
- “foemen”
- — enemies
- “definition of the end”
- — an account of life's ultimate goal
Themes and situations
- Virtue and character
- Learning and progress
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