Lives of Eminent Philosophers 7.179 — Diogenes Laërtius on Chrysippus

Diogenes Laërtius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers 7.179

Reported speech · Diogenes Laërtius on Chrysippus

Chrysippus, the son of Apollonius, came either from Soli or from Tarsus, as Alexander relates in his Successions. He was a pupil of Cleanthes. Before this he used to practise as a long-distance runner; but afterwards he came to hear Zeno, or, as Diocles and most people say, Cleanthes; and then, while Cleanthes was still living, withdrew from his school and attained exceptional eminence as a philosopher. He had good natural parts and showed the greatest acuteness in every branch of the subject; so much so that he differed on most points from Zeno, and from Cleanthes as well, to whom he often used to say that all he wanted was to be told what the doctrines were; he would find out the proofs for himself. Nevertheless, whenever he had contended against Cleanthes, he would afterwards feel remorse, so that he constantly came out with the lines: Blest in all else am I, save only where I touch Cleanthes: there I am ill-fortuned.