Chrysippus Quotes
Chrysippus of Soli was a Greek philosopher and the third head of the Stoic school, often regarded as its second founder. He was an extraordinarily prolific writer, credited in antiquity with more than seven hundred works, almost all of which are now lost. The quotes below are attributed to Chrysippus, organized by topic.
Browse Chrysippus by topic
Chrysippus on God
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“The universe itself is God, or an emanation of the divine mind.”
Ipsumque mundum deum dicit esse et eius animi fusionem universam.
Chrysippus on Justice
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Attributed to Chrysippus:
“Justice exists by nature and not by convention.”
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“He who is running a race ought to endeavor and strive to the utmost of his ability to come off victor; but it is utterly wrong for him to trip up his competitor, or to push him aside. So in life it is not unfair for one to seek for himself what may accrue to his benefit; but it is not right to take it from another.”
In Cicero , De Officiis , iii. 10 (tr. Andrew P. Peabody, 1887)
Chrysippus on Knowledge
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“If I had followed the multitude, I should not have studied philosophy.”
In Diogenes Laërtius, vii. 182 (tr. Robert Drew Hicks, 1925) -
“The wise man wants for nothing and yet needs many things; the fool, on the other hand, has need of nothing, for he understands the use of nothing, but is in want of everything.”
In Seneca , Moral Epistles , iii. 10 (tr. Richard Mott Gummere, 1918) -
“In Diogenes Laërtius , vii. 87 (tr. Robert Drew Hicks, 1925)”
Living virtuously is equivalent to living in accordance with experience of the actual course of nature. -
“In Cicero , De Officiis , iii. 10 (tr. Andrew P. Peabody, 1887)”
He who is running a race ought to endeavor and strive to the utmost of his ability to come off victor; but it is utterly wrong for him to trip up his competitor, or to push him aside. So in life it is not unfair for one to seek for himself what may accrue to his benefit; but it is not right to take it from another. -
“In Diogenes Laërtius, vii. 182 (tr. Robert Drew Hicks, 1925)”
If I had followed the multitude, I should not have studied philosophy -
“If I knew that it was fated for me to be sick, I would even move toward it; for the foot also, if it had intelligence, would move to go into the mud.”
In Epictetus , Discourses , ii. 6. 10 (tr. George Long, 1952) -
“In Epictetus , Discourses , ii. 6. 10 (tr. George Long, 1952)”
If I knew that it was fated for me to be sick, I would even move toward it; for the foot also, if it had intelligence, would move to go into the mud. -
“Ipsumque mundum deum dicit esse et eius animi fusionem universam.”
The universe itself is God, or an emanation of the divine mind. | In Cicero, De Natura Deorum , i. 15 (tr. Horace C. P. McGregor, 1972) -
“In Cicero, De Natura Deorum , i. 15 (tr. Horace C. P. McGregor, 1972)”
Ipsumque mundum deum dicit esse et eius animi fusionem universam.
Chrysippus on Nature
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Attributed to Chrysippus:
“Nothing happens without a cause, but everything in accordance with antecedent causes.”
Chrysippus on Virtue
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“Living virtuously is equivalent to living in accordance with one's experience of the actual course of nature.”
In Diogenes Laërtius , vii. 87 (tr. Robert Drew Hicks, 1925) -
Attributed to Chrysippus:
“Vice is contrary to nature; virtue agrees with nature.”
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“In Seneca , Moral Epistles , iii. 10 (tr. Richard Mott Gummere, 1918)”
The wise man is in want of nothing, and yet needs many things. On the other hand, nothing is needed by the fool, for he does not understand how to use anything, but he is in want of everything.