1001Philosophers

Heraclides Lembus c. 200 BC – c. 130 BC

Heraclides Lembus (c. 200 BC – c. 130 BC) was a Greek philosopher of the Ancient era, associated with Peripatetic School and Hellenistic.

Heraclides Lembus was a Greek Peripatetic philosopher and Egyptian official of the second century BC, who served Ptolemy VI Philometor and is credited with negotiating the famous Day of Eleusis intervention by Rome to expel Antiochus IV from Egypt in 168 BC. As a philosopher he composed a continuation of Sotion of Alexandria's Successions of the Philosophers and a long collection of historical and antiquarian materials, and is best known for the abridgment of Aristotle's lost Constitutions of Greek States, fragments of which survive in later epitomes. His combination of high public office and serious philosophical work made him an influential model for the Hellenistic philosopher-statesman.

Key facts

Nationality
Greek
Era
Ancient
Movements
Peripatetic School, Hellenistic

Selected quotes

  • Attributed to Heraclides Lembus:

    “The wise man is a citizen first; his philosophy must serve the city he inhabits.”

  • Attributed to Heraclides Lembus:

    “Successions of the philosophers are the trellis on which their thought has grown.”

  • Attributed to Heraclides Lembus:

    “What is preserved of Aristotle's research must be re-read by every age in turn.”

  • Attributed to Heraclides Lembus:

    “He who would write the history of thought must first know the politics of his own day.”

  • Attributed to Heraclides Lembus:

    “Public life is the testing ground for what private philosophy has already settled.”

Frequently asked about Heraclides Lembus

When did Heraclides Lembus live?
Heraclides Lembus was born in c. 200 BC and died in c. 130 BC.
Where was Heraclides Lembus from?
Heraclides Lembus was a Greek philosopher of the Ancient era.
What philosophical movements is Heraclides Lembus associated with?
Heraclides Lembus was associated with Peripatetic School and Hellenistic.
What was Heraclides Lembus known for?
Heraclides Lembus was a Greek Peripatetic philosopher and Egyptian official of the second century BC, who served Ptolemy VI Philometor and is credited with negotiating the famous Day of Eleusis intervention by Rome to expel Antiochus IV from Egypt in 168 BC.
How many quotes are attributed to Heraclides Lembus?
There are 5 attributed quotations from Heraclides Lembus in the 1001Philosophers collection, organized by topic.