Antisthenes Quotes
Antisthenes of Athens was an ancient Greek philosopher of the 5th and 4th centuries BC, a student of Socrates and traditionally regarded as the founder of the Cynic school of philosophy. He taught at the Cynosarges gymnasium in Athens, possibly the source of the school's name through the Greek kunikos meaning dog-like. The quotes below are attributed to Antisthenes, organized by topic.
Browse Antisthenes by topic
Antisthenes on Death
-
“It is better to fall in with crows than with flatterers; for in the one case you are devoured when dead , in the other case while alive .”
§ 4
Antisthenes on Justice
-
“Once, when he was applauded by rascals, he remarked, "I am horribly afraid I have done something wrong."”
FromLives and Opinions of the Eminent PhilosophersbyDiogenes Laërtius | § 5
Antisthenes on Knowledge
-
“Pay attention to your enemies, for they are the first to discover your mistakes.”
§ 12 -
“ἀρχὴ παιδεύσεως ἡ τῶν ὀνομάτων ἐπίσκεψις”
The investigation of the meaning of words is the beginning of education . Arrian , Discourses of Epictetus , i. 17 -
“The investigation of the meaning of words is the beginning of education . Arrian , Discourses of Epictetus , i. 17”
ἀρχὴ παιδεύσεως ἡ τῶν ὀνομάτων ἐπίσκεψις -
“ἔλεγέ τε συνεχές, “ μανείην μᾶλλον ἢ ἡσθείην.”
I'd rather be mad than feel pleasure. § 3; quoted also by Eusebius of Caesarea , Praeparatio Evangelica xv. 13 -
“ἀκούσας ποτὲ ὅτι Πλάτων αὐτὸν κακῶς λέγει, “βασιλικόν,” ἔφη, “ καλῶς ποιοῦντα κακῶς ἀκούειν.”
It is a royal privilege to do good and be ill spoken of. § 3; quoted also by Marcus Aurelius , vii. 36 -
“πρός τε τὸ Ποντικὸν μειράκιον μέλλον φοιτᾶν αὐτῷ καὶ πυθόμενον τίνων αὐτῷ δεῖ, φησί, “βιβλιαρίου καινοῦ καὶ γραφείου καινοῦ καὶ πινακιδίου καινοῦ,” τὸν νοῦν παρεμφαίνων.”
Antisthenes ... said once to a youth from Pontus who was on the point of coming to him to be his pupil, and was asking him what things he wanted, "You want a new book, and a new pen, and a new tablet;" - meaning a new mind. § 4 -
“Antisthenes ... was asked on one occasion what learning was the most necessary, and he replied, "To unlearn one's bad habits.”
§ 4 -
“ἐρωτηθεὶς τί αὐτῷ περιγέγονεν ἐκ φιλοσοφίας, ἔφη, “τὸ δύνασθαι ἑαυτῷ ὁμιλεῖν.”
When he was asked what advantage had accrued to him from philosophy, his answer was, “The ability to hold converse with myself.” § 4 -
“Being asked what learning is the most necessary, he replied, "How to get rid of having anything to unlearn."”
FromLives and Opinions of the Eminent PhilosophersbyDiogenes Laërtius | § 7
Antisthenes on Life
-
Attributed to Antisthenes:
“There are only two kinds of luck in the world: the foreseen and the unforeseen.”
Antisthenes on Mind
-
“Antisthenes ... said once to a youth from Pontus who was on the point of coming to him to be his pupil, and was asking him what things he wanted, "You want a new book, and a new pen, and a new tablet;" - meaning a new mind. § 4”
πρός τε τὸ Ποντικὸν μειράκιον μέλλον φοιτᾶν αὐτῷ καὶ πυθόμενον τίνων αὐτῷ δεῖ, φησί, “βιβλιαρίου καινοῦ καὶ γραφείου καινοῦ καὶ πινακιδίου καινοῦ,” τὸν νοῦν παρεμφαίνων.
Antisthenes on Politics
-
“Antisthenes ... used to say that the wise man would regulate his conduct as a citizen, not according to the established laws of the state, but according to the law of virtue.”
FromLives and Opinions of the Eminent PhilosophersbyDiogenes Laërtius | § 5
Antisthenes on Truth
-
“To all my friends without distinction I am ready to display my opulence: come one, come all; and whosoever likes to take a share is welcome to the wealth that lies within my soul.”
FromSymposiumbyXenophon | iv. 35 -
“Wealth and poverty do not lie in a person's estate, but in their souls .”
FromSymposiumbyXenophon | iv. 34
Antisthenes on Virtue
-
Attributed to Antisthenes:
“Virtue is sufficient for happiness; it requires nothing else but the strength of a Socrates.”
-
“I would rather go mad than feel pleasure.”
ἔλεγέ τε συνεχές, “ μανείην μᾶλλον ἢ ἡσθείην. -
Attributed to Antisthenes:
“It is the privilege of the gods to want nothing, and of godlike men to want little.”
-
“It is a royal privilege to do good and be ill spoken of. § 3; quoted also by Marcus Aurelius , vii. 36”
ἀκούσας ποτὲ ὅτι Πλάτων αὐτὸν κακῶς λέγει, “βασιλικόν,” ἔφη, “ καλῶς ποιοῦντα κακῶς ἀκούειν. -
“Virtue is the same for a man and for a woman.”
FromLives and Opinions of the Eminent PhilosophersbyDiogenes Laërtius | § 5