Bion of Borysthenes c. 325 BC – c. 250 BC
Bion of Borysthenes (c. 325 BC – c. 250 BC) was a Greek philosopher of the Ancient era, associated with Cynicism, Hellenistic, and Ancient Greek Philosophy.
Bion of Borysthenes was a Greek philosopher of the third century BC, the son of a freedman and a courtesan, who reinvented the ancient diatribe as a vehicle of moral instruction. Born on the Black Sea coast and educated successively in the Academy, the Cyrenaic school, the Cynic tradition, and the Peripatetic, he traveled across the Greek world as an itinerant lecturer, mocking the pretensions of courtiers, philosophers, and ordinary men alike. The fragments of his diatribes, preserved largely by Stobaeus and Diogenes Laertius, exerted a profound influence on Horace, Seneca, and the long tradition of philosophical satire.
Key facts
- Nationality
- Greek
- Era
- Ancient
- Movements
- Cynicism, Hellenistic, Ancient Greek Philosophy
Selected quotes
-
“Avarice is the mother-city of all evils.”
As quoted by Stobaeus, iii.10.37 -
Attributed to Bion of Borysthenes:
“The road to Hades is easy; one can travel it with one's eyes shut.”
-
Attributed to Bion of Borysthenes:
“Old men should give advice; young men, action; everyone else, silence.”
-
Attributed to Bion of Borysthenes:
“He who tries to please everyone pleases no one.”
-
Attributed to Bion of Borysthenes:
“Even fortune cannot rob a wise man of what he never claimed to own.”
Frequently asked about Bion of Borysthenes
- When did Bion of Borysthenes live?
- Bion of Borysthenes was born in c. 325 BC and died in c. 250 BC.
- Where was Bion of Borysthenes from?
- Bion of Borysthenes was a Greek philosopher of the Ancient era.
- What philosophical movements is Bion of Borysthenes associated with?
- Bion of Borysthenes was associated with Cynicism, Hellenistic, and Ancient Greek Philosophy.
- What was Bion of Borysthenes known for?
- Bion of Borysthenes was a Greek philosopher of the third century BC, the son of a freedman and a courtesan, who reinvented the ancient diatribe as a vehicle of moral instruction.
- How many quotes are attributed to Bion of Borysthenes?
- There are 15 attributed quotations from Bion of Borysthenes in the 1001Philosophers collection, organized by topic.