ἱστορίαι Historiai
D.L. 2.143-144 Lives of Eminent Philosophers, Volume I (Books I-V), Diogenes Laertius; served verbatim
to Antigonus, but was made the victim of a false charge ; that he betook himself to Antigonus and was anxious to regain freedom for his country ; that, as Antigonus would not give way, in despair he put an end to his life by abstaining from food for seven days. The account of Antigonus of Carystus is similar. With Persaeus alone he carried on open warfare, for it was thought that, when Antigonus was willing for Menedemus’s. sake to restore to the Eretrians their democracy, Persaeus prevented him. Hence on one occasion over the wine Menedemus refuted Persaeus in argument and said, amongst other things, ‘“‘ Such he is as a philosopher but, as a man, the worst of all that are alive or to be born hereafter.” According to the statement of Heraclides he died in his seventy-fourth year. I have written the following epigram upon him?: I heard of your fate, Menedemus, how, of your own free will, you expired by starving yourself for seven days, a deed right worthy of an Eretrian, but unworthy of a man ; but despair was your leader and urged you on. These then are the disciples of Socrates or their immediate successors. We must now pass to Plato, the founder of the Academy, and his successors, so far as they were men of reputation.

The Greek stands ready in the workroom; the English is served. Both faces will read together.

← D.L. 2.140-143 contents D.L. 3.1-2 →

Filed here — the addresses this episode attests; counted by the house’s first pass
Carystus — a candidate entry Heraclides — a candidate entry Menedemus — a candidate entry Plato — a life

Lives of Eminent Philosophers, Volume I (Books I-V), Diogenes Laertius — translated by R. D. Hicks, 1925
Apparatus shelf — Diogenes Laertius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers, vol. I (R. D. Hicks translation, Loeb L184) · R. D. Hicks, Loeb Classical Library, London: William Heinemann / New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, MCMXXV (1925)
license: public-domain (US: published 1925, pre-1930 — the MCMXXV title page verified by the 2026-07-08 acquisition lane, pin in ops/sources/MANIFEST.md; only the English rectos are served, Hicks's translation)