1001Philosophers

Crates of Athens c. 350 BC – c. 268 BC

Crates of Athens (c. 350 BC – c. 268 BC) was a Greek philosopher of the Ancient era, associated with Platonism and Ancient Greek Philosophy.

Crates of Athens was a Greek philosopher and the fifth head of the Platonic Academy after Polemo, succeeding around 270 BC. Together with his slightly older friend Polemo, who had moved the Academy in a more sober and ethical direction after the more speculative Old Academy of Speusippus and Xenocrates, Crates is remembered for the gentle moral seriousness of the Athenian Academy in his time, before its turn to skepticism under his pupil Arcesilaus. He wrote on ethics, comedy, and the proper conduct of philosophical conversation, but his works survive only in references in Diogenes Laertius and the doxographers.

Key facts

Nationality
Greek
Era
Ancient
Movements
Platonism, Ancient Greek Philosophy

Selected quotes

  • Attributed to Crates of Athens:

    “Reason is the proper ornament of the soul; rhetoric is its borrowed costume.”

  • Attributed to Crates of Athens:

    “Friendship between philosophers is the truest of philosophical proofs.”

  • Attributed to Crates of Athens:

    “He who knows how to converse has half-mastered the philosophical life.”

  • Attributed to Crates of Athens:

    “The Academy is a school of virtuous quiet, not of clever noise.”

  • Attributed to Crates of Athens:

    “What is shared in the garden is more precious than what is taught in the lecture hall.”

Frequently asked about Crates of Athens

When did Crates of Athens live?
Crates of Athens was born in c. 350 BC and died in c. 268 BC.
Where was Crates of Athens from?
Crates of Athens was a Greek philosopher of the Ancient era.
What philosophical movements is Crates of Athens associated with?
Crates of Athens was associated with Platonism and Ancient Greek Philosophy.
What was Crates of Athens known for?
Crates of Athens was a Greek philosopher and the fifth head of the Platonic Academy after Polemo, succeeding around 270 BC.
How many quotes are attributed to Crates of Athens?
There are 5 attributed quotations from Crates of Athens in the 1001Philosophers collection, organized by topic.