Lives of Eminent Philosophers 7.174 — Diogenes Laërtius on Cleanthes

Diogenes Laërtius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers 7.174

Reported speech · Diogenes Laërtius on Cleanthes

To the solitary man who talked to himself he remarked, “You are not talking to a bad man.” When some one twitted him on his old age, his reply was, “I too am ready to depart; but when again I consider that I am in all points in good health and that I can still write and read, I am content to wait.” We are told that he wrote down Zeno’s lectures on oyster-shells and the blade-bones of oxen through lack of money to buy paper. Such was he; and yet, although Zeno had many other eminent disciples, he was able to succeed him in the headship of the school. He has left some very fine writings, which are as follows: Of Time. Of Zeno’s Natural Philosophy, two books. Interpretations of Heraclitus, four books. De Sensu. Of Art. A Reply to Democritus. A Reply to Aristarchus. A Reply to Herillus. Of Impulse, two books.