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Diogenes Laërtius was a biographer of the Greek philosophers. Nothing is definitively known about his life, but his surviving Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers is a principal source for the history of ancient Greek philosophy. His reputation is controversial among scholars because he often repeats information from his sources without critically evaluating it. He also frequently focuses on trivial or insignificant details of his subjects' lives while ignoring important details of their philosophical teachings and he sometimes fails to distinguish between earlier and later teachings of specific philosophical schools. However, unlike many other ancient secondary sources, Diogenes Laërtius generally reports philosophical teachings without attempting to reinterpret or expand on them, which means his accounts are often closer to the primary sources. Due to the loss of so many of the primary sources on which Diogenes relied, his work has become the foremost surviving source on the history of Greek philosophy. Wikipedia  

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Diogenes Laërtius photo
Diogenes Laërtius: 107   quotes 12   likes

Diogenes Laërtius Quotes

“Xenophanes was the first person who asserted… that the soul is a spirit.”

Diogenes Laërtius

Xenophanes, 3.
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (c. 200 A.D.), Book 9: Uncategorized philosophers and Skeptics

Soul , Personality

“The chief good is the suspension of the judgment, which tranquillity of mind follows like its shadow.”

Diogenes Laërtius

Pyrrho, 11.
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (c. 200 A.D.), Book 9: Uncategorized philosophers and Skeptics

“Democritus says, "But we know nothing really; for truth lies deep down."”

Diogenes Laërtius

Pyrrho, 8.
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (c. 200 A.D.), Book 9: Uncategorized philosophers and Skeptics

Truth

“Aristippus being asked what were the most necessary things for well-born boys to learn, said, "Those things which they will put in practice when they become men."”

Diogenes Laërtius

Aristippus, 4.
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (c. 200 A.D.), Book 2: Socrates, his predecessors and followers

Men , Boy , Learning

“Anaximander used to assert that the primary cause of all things was the Infinite,—not defining exactly whether he meant air or water or anything else.”

Diogenes Laërtius

Anaximander, 2.
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (c. 200 A.D.), Book 2: Socrates, his predecessors and followers

Water

“When Thales was asked what was difficult, he said, "To know one’s self." And what was easy, "To advise another."”

Diogenes Laërtius

Thales, 9.
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (c. 200 A.D.), Book 1: The Seven Sages

“One ought to seek out virtue for its own sake, without being influenced by fear or hope, or by any external influence. Moreover, that in that does happiness consist.”

Diogenes Laërtius

Zeno, 53.
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (c. 200 A.D.), Book 7: The Stoics

Fear , Hope , Happiness

“When he was praised by some wicked men, he said, "I am sadly afraid that I must have done some wicked thing."”

Diogenes Laërtius

Antisthenes, 4.
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (c. 200 A.D.), Book 6: The Cynics

Men

“Arcesilaus had a peculiar habit while conversing of using the expression, "My opinion is," and "So and so will not agree to this."”

Diogenes Laërtius

Arcesilaus, 12.
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (c. 200 A.D.), Book 4: The Academy

“The apophthegm "Know thyself" is his.”

Diogenes Laërtius

Thales, 13. Compare" "There are two sentences inscribed upon the Delphic oracle, hugely accommodated to the usages of man’s life: 'Know thyself', and 'Nothing too much'; and upon these all other precepts depend", Plutarch, Consolation to Apollonius.
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (c. 200 A.D.), Book 1: The Seven Sages

“Just step aside for me to enjoy the sunshine.”

Diogenes Laërtius

Actually said by his namesake Diogenes of Sinope, when asked by Alexander the Great if there was anything he wanted.
Plutarch, Parallel Lives, "Alexander", ch. 14, section 4.
Misattributed

“Like sending owls to Athens, as the proverb goes.”

Diogenes Laërtius

Plato, 32.
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (c. 200 A.D.), Book 3: Plato

“Thales said there was no difference between life and death. "Why, then," said some one to him, "do not you die?" "Because," said he, "it does make no difference."”

Diogenes Laërtius

Thales, 9.
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (c. 200 A.D.), Book 1: The Seven Sages

Life , Death

“Nothing can be produced out of nothing.”

Diogenes Laërtius

Diogenes of Apollonia, 2.
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (c. 200 A.D.), Book 9: Uncategorized philosophers and Skeptics

“Diogenes would frequently praise those who were about to marry, and yet did not marry.”

Diogenes Laërtius

Diogenes, 4 (note that this is Diogenes of Sinope).
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (c. 200 A.D.), Book 6: The Cynics

“He was once asked what a friend is, and his answer was, "One soul abiding in two bodies."”

Diogenes Laërtius

Aristotle, 9.
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (c. 200 A.D.), Book 5: The Peripatetics

Soul

“As some say, Solon was the author of the apophthegm, "Nothing in excess."”

Diogenes Laërtius

Solon, 16.
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (c. 200 A.D.), Book 1: The Seven Sages

“Apollodorus says, "If any one were to take away from the books of Chrysippus all the passages which he quotes from other authors, his paper would be left empty."”

Diogenes Laërtius

Chrysippus, 3.
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (c. 200 A.D.), Book 7: The Stoics

Books , Quotes

“Very late in life, when he was studying geometry, some one said to Lacydes, "Is it then a time for you to be learning now?"”

Diogenes Laërtius

"If it is not," he replied, "when will it be?"
Lacydes, 5.
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (c. 200 A.D.), Book 4: The Academy

Life , Study , Learning , Time

“Once Diogenes, who was washing vegetables, ridiculed him as he passed by, and said, "If you had learnt to eat these vegetables, you would not have been a slave in the palace of a tyrant." But Aristippus replied, "And you, if you had known how to behave among men, would not have been washing vegetables."”

Diogenes Laërtius

Aristippus, 4.
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (c. 200 A.D.), Book 2: Socrates, his predecessors and followers

Men

“They say that the first inclination which an animal has is to protect itself.”

Diogenes Laërtius

Zeno, 52.
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (c. 200 A.D.), Book 7: The Stoics

Animals

“Protagoras asserted that there were two sides to every question, exactly opposite to each other.”

Diogenes Laërtius

Protagoras, 3.
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (c. 200 A.D.), Book 9: Uncategorized philosophers and Skeptics

Question

“Pittacus said that half was more than the whole.”

Diogenes Laërtius

Pittacus, 2.
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (c. 200 A.D.), Book 1: The Seven Sages

“Often when he was looking on at auctions he would say, "How many things there are which I do not need!"”

Diogenes Laërtius

Socrates, 10.
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (c. 200 A.D.), Book 2: Socrates, his predecessors and followers

“It was a favourite expression of Theophrastus that time was the most valuable thing that a man could spend.”

Diogenes Laërtius

Theophrastus, 10.
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (c. 200 A.D.), Book 5: The Peripatetics

Time

“Old age is the harbor of all ills.”

Diogenes Laërtius

Bion, 47.
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (c. 200 A.D.), Book 4: The Academy

Age

“He said that men ought to remember those friends who were absent as well as those who were present.”

Diogenes Laërtius

Thales, 9.
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (c. 200 A.D.), Book 1: The Seven Sages

Men

“But Chrysippus, Posidonius, Zeno, and Boëthus say, that all things are produced by fate. And fate is a connected cause of existing things, or the reason according to which the world is regulated.”

Diogenes Laërtius

Zeno, 74.
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (c. 200 A.D.), Book 7: The Stoics

Fate , World

“When asked what learning was the most necessary, he said, "Not to unlearn what you have learned."”

Diogenes Laërtius

Antisthenes, 4.
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (c. 200 A.D.), Book 6: The Cynics

Learning

“On one occasion Aristotle was asked how much educated men were superior to those uneducated: "As much," said he, "as the living are to the dead."”

Diogenes Laërtius

Aristotle, 9.
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (c. 200 A.D.), Book 5: The Peripatetics

Men , Education , Dead

“Diogenes lighted a candle in the daytime, and went round saying, "I am looking for a man."”

Diogenes Laërtius

Diogenes, 6.
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (c. 200 A.D.), Book 6: The Cynics

Light

“Bury me on my face," said Diogenes; and when he was asked why, he replied, "Because in a little while everything will be turned upside down.”

Diogenes Laërtius

Diogenes, 6.
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (c. 200 A.D.), Book 6: The Cynics

“There is a written and an unwritten law. The one by which we regulate our constitutions in our cities is the written law; that which arises from customs is the unwritten law.”

Diogenes Laërtius

Plato, 51.
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (c. 200 A.D.), Book 3: Plato

Law

“Alcæus mentions Aristodemus in these lines:
’T is money makes the man; and he who ’s none
Is counted neither good nor honourable.”

Diogenes Laërtius

Thales, 8.
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (c. 200 A.D.), Book 1: The Seven Sages

Money

“It was a saying of his that education was an ornament in prosperity and a refuge in adversity.”

Diogenes Laërtius

Aristotle, 9.
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (c. 200 A.D.), Book 5: The Peripatetics

Education

“Aristippus said that a wise man’s country was the world.”

Diogenes Laërtius

Aristippus, 13.
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (c. 200 A.D.), Book 2: Socrates, his predecessors and followers

World , Country