1001Philosophers

Phintys of Sparta c. 350 BC – c. 280 BC

Phintys of Sparta (c. 350 BC – c. 280 BC) was a Greek philosopher of the Ancient era, associated with Pre-Socratic and Ancient Greek Philosophy.

Phintys of Sparta was a Pythagorean philosopher of the fourth or third century BC, the daughter of the Pythagorean Callicrates of Croton and one of the few female Pythagoreans whose writings have survived in any form. The fragments of her On the Moderation of Women, preserved in Stobaeus, set out a Pythagorean account of the proper virtues of women, in which moderation, the discipline of the body and of speech, and the pursuit of wisdom appropriate to the household form the philosophical core of women's lives. Her work belongs to the small but important corpus of Pythagorean writings by women that have come down to us.

Key facts

Nationality
Greek
Era
Ancient
Movements
Pre-Socratic, Ancient Greek Philosophy

Selected quotes

  • Attributed to Phintys of Sparta:

    “Moderation is the chief virtue of women, as it is the chief virtue of any rational being.”

  • Attributed to Phintys of Sparta:

    “Wisdom is not denied to women; only its public exercise is constrained, and may yet be enlarged.”

  • Attributed to Phintys of Sparta:

    “The household is a small commonwealth in which the philosopher may yet rule.”

  • Attributed to Phintys of Sparta:

    “She who has learned to govern her speech has already learned to govern much else.”

  • Attributed to Phintys of Sparta:

    “The discipline of the body is the precondition of the discipline of the soul.”

Frequently asked about Phintys of Sparta

When did Phintys of Sparta live?
Phintys of Sparta was born in c. 350 BC and died in c. 280 BC.
Where was Phintys of Sparta from?
Phintys of Sparta was a Greek philosopher of the Ancient era.
What philosophical movements is Phintys of Sparta associated with?
Phintys of Sparta was associated with Pre-Socratic and Ancient Greek Philosophy.
What was Phintys of Sparta known for?
Phintys of Sparta was a Pythagorean philosopher of the fourth or third century BC, the daughter of the Pythagorean Callicrates of Croton and one of the few female Pythagoreans whose writings have survived in any form.
How many quotes are attributed to Phintys of Sparta?
There are 5 attributed quotations from Phintys of Sparta in the 1001Philosophers collection, organized by topic.