Diogenes Laërtius · fl. 3rd century CE
Lives of Eminent Philosophers 7.123 — Diogenes Laërtius on the Stoics
Translation by R. D. Hicks (1925)
Diogenes Laërtius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers 7.123
Reported speech · Diogenes Laërtius on the Stoics
They are also without offence; for they do no hurt to others or to themselves. At the same time they are not pitiful and make no allowance for anyone; they never relax the penalties fixed by the laws, since indulgence and pity and even equitable consideration are marks of a weak mind, which affects kindness in place of chastizing. Nor do they deem punishments too severe. Again, they say that the wise man never wonders at any of the things which appear extraordinary, such as Charon’s mephitic caverns, ebbings of the tide, hot springs or fiery eruptions. Nor yet, they go on to say, will the wise man live in solitude; for he is naturally made for society and action. He will, however, submit to training to augment his powers of bodily endurance.
Cite this passage
Diogenes Laërtius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers 7.123 (on the Stoics), tr. R. D. Hicks (1925)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/lives-of-the-stoics/7.123
Diogenes Laërtius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers, Book VII, tr. R. D. Hicks (Loeb, 1925). Text: Perseus Digital Library (CC BY-SA 4.0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesThe ideal sage harms no one and is not prone to wonder at marvels like tides or hot springs. In this view they show no pity and never soften legal penalties, and they do not live in solitude because humans are made for society and action. They also train to endure physical hardship.
Older wording
- “mephitic”
- — poisonous, foul-smelling
- “equitable consideration”
- — fair-minded allowance for circumstances
- “chastizing”
- — punishing, correcting
Themes and situations
- Justice and fairness
- Kindness and forgiveness
- Solitude and retreat
- Self-discipline and habit
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