ἱστορίαι Historiai
D.L. 6.102-104 Lives of Eminent Philosophers, Volume II (Books VI-X), Diogenes Laertius; served verbatim
degree of audacity in wonder-working that he went about in the guise of a Fury, saying that he had come from Hades to take cognisance of sins committed, and Mas going to return and report them to the powers down below. This was his attire : a grey tunic reaching to the feet, about it a crimson girdle ; an Arcadian hat on his head with the twelve signs of the zodiac inwrought in it ; buskins of tragedy ; and he wore a very long beard and carried an ashen staff in his hand. Such are the lives of the several Cynics. But we will go on to append the doctrines which they held in common — if, that is, we decide that Cynicism is really a philosophy, and not, as some maintain, just a way of life. They are content then, like Ariston of Chios, to do away with the subjects of Logic and Physics and to devote their whole attention to Ethics. And what some assert of Socrates, Diocles records of Diogenes, representing him as saying : " We must inquire into Whate'er of good or ill within our halls is wrought." a They also dispense with the ordinary subjects of instruction. At least Antisthenes used to say that those who had attained discretion had better not study literature, lest they should be perverted by alien influences. So they get rid of geometry and music and all such studies. Anyhow, when somebody showed Diogenes a clock, he pronounced it a serviceable instrument to save one from being late for dinner. Again, to a man who gave a musical recital before him he said b :

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

← D.L. 6.100-102 contents D.L. 6.104-105 →

Filed here — the addresses this episode attests; counted by the house’s first pass
Antisthenes — a candidate entry Ariston — a candidate entry Diogenes — a candidate entry

Lives of Eminent Philosophers, Volume II (Books VI-X), Diogenes Laertius — translated by R. D. Hicks, 1925
Apparatus shelf — Diogenes Laertius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers, vol. II (R. D. Hicks translation, Loeb L185) · 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 from the scan itself; only the English rectos are served, Hicks's translation)