Antisthenes Quotes on Knowledge
Antisthenes (c. 446 – c. 366 BC), the Athenian student of Socrates whom the later doxographic tradition treats as the originator of the Cynic line of descent that continued through Diogenes of Sinope and Crates of Thebes, defended a famously austere position on definition and predication: things can only be named, not defined; the proper logos of a thing reaches no further than its proper name. The doctrine — preserved chiefly in Aristotle's Metaphysics and in Diogenes Laertius — situates Antisthenes at the radical end of the post-Socratic dispute over the possibility of essential definition and grounds the Cynic priority of practical askēsis over theoretical contemplation.
Quotes
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Attributed to Antisthenes:
“There are only two kinds of luck in the world: the foreseen and the unforeseen.”
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“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 -
“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 -
“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