ἱστορίαι Historiai
D.L. 7.169-170 Lives of Eminent Philosophers, Volume II (Books VI-X), Diogenes Laertius; served verbatim
donation of ten minas, which Zeno forbade him to accept. We are also told that Antigonus made him a present of three thousand drachmas. Once, as he was conducting some youths to a public spectacle, the Mind blew his cloak aside and disclosed the fact that he wore no shirt, whereupon he was applauded by the Athenians, as is stated by Demetrius of Magnesia in his work on Men of the Same Name. This then also increased the admiration felt for him. There is another story that Antigonus when attending his lectures inquired of him why he drew water and received the reply, " Is drawing water all I do ? What ? Do I not dig ? What ? Do I not water the garden ? or undertake any other labour for the love of philosophy ? " For Zeno used to discipline him to this and bid him return him an obol from his wages. And one day he produced a handful of small coin before his acquaintance and said, " Cleanthes could even maintain a second Cleanthes, if he liked, whereas those who possess the means to keep themselves yet seek to live at the expense of others, and that too though they have plenty of time to spare from their studies." Hence Cleanthes was called a second Heracles. He had industry, but no natural aptitude for physics, and was extraordinarily slow. On which account Timon describes him thus b : Who is this that like a bell-wether ranges over the ranks of men, a dullard, lover of verse, hailing from Assos, c a mass of rock, unventuresome. And he used to put up with gibes from his fellowpupils and did not mind being called the ass, telling

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

← D.L. 7.167-169 contents D.L. 7.170-172 →

Filed here — the addresses this episode attests; counted by the house’s first pass
Antigonus — a candidate entry Cleanthes — a candidate entry Demetrius — a life Magnesia — a candidate entry Timon — a candidate entry Zeno — 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)