Diogenes Laërtius · fl. 3rd century CE
Lives of Eminent Philosophers 7.172 — Diogenes Laërtius on Cleanthes
Translation by R. D. Hicks (1925)
Diogenes Laërtius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers 7.172
Reported speech · Diogenes Laërtius on Cleanthes
When some one inquired of him what lesson he ought to give his son, Cleanthes in reply quoted words from the Electra: Silence, silence, light be thy step. A Lacedaemonian having declared that toil was a good thing, he was overjoyed and said, Thou art of gentle blood, dear child. Dicit autem Hecato in Sententiis eum, cum adulescens quidam formosus dixisset, Si pulsans ventrem ventrizat, pulsans coxas coxizat, dixisse, Tibi habeas, adulescens, coxizationes: nempe vocabula quae conveniunt analogia non semper etiam significatione conveniunt. Once in conversation with a youth he put the question, “Do you see?” and when the youth nodded assent, he went on, “Why, then, don’t I see that you see?”
Cite this passage
Diogenes Laërtius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers 7.172 (on Cleanthes), tr. R. D. Hicks (1925)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/lives-of-the-stoics/7.172
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 notesAsked what to teach his son, Cleanthes answered with a line urging silence and a light step, meaning be quiet and unobtrusive. He was delighted by a Spartan who called toil good. An untranslated Latin aside points out that words that sound alike need not mean alike.
Older wording
- “Lacedaemonian”
- — a Spartan
- “assent”
- — agreement, acceptance as true
Themes and situations
- Speech and silence
- Self-discipline and habit
- Family and love
- Resilience and endurance
- Parenting
Quote cards
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