Polemo Quotes
Polemo of Athens was a Greek philosopher and the fourth scholarch of the Platonic Academy, succeeding Xenocrates and presiding over the school for nearly forty years until his death around 270 BC. The ancient biographers tell the famous story of his youthful conversion to philosophy, when, returning drunk and crowned with garlands from a revel, he wandered into a lecture by Xenocrates and was so struck by the discourse on temperance that he abandoned his old life on the spot. The quotes below are attributed to Polemo, organized by topic.
Polemo on Nature
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Attributed to Polemo:
“We should imitate nature in living simply and rationally.”
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Attributed to Polemo:
“He who lives according to nature lives well.”
Polemo on Virtue
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Attributed to Polemo:
“Philosophy must change a life, not adorn it.”
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Attributed to Polemo:
“Virtue alone is sufficient for happiness.”
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Attributed to Polemo:
“Words apart from deeds are no philosophy.”