Antisthenes

Virtue is a weapon that cannot be taken away from his owner.

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ANTISTHENES

Βίοι καὶ γνῶμαι τῶν ἐν φιλοσοφίᾳ εὐδοκιμησάντων, Διογένης Λαέρτιος: ΣΤ, 2

Neither a celebration without good company nor affluence without virtue can bring joy.

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ANTISTHENES

Ιωάννου Στοβαίου Ανθολόγιον: Α, 30

Once, while Antisthenes was being initiated into the Orphic Mysteries when the priest told him that those involved will receive many delights in the afterworld, he replied: "So, what are you waiting for, why aren't you dying"?

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ANTISTHENES

Βίοι καὶ γνῶμαι τῶν ἐν φιλοσοφίᾳ εὐδοκιμησάντων, Διογένης Λαέρτιος: ΣΤ, 4

As prostitutes wish that their lovers possess all earthly goods except mind and prudence, flatterers wish exactly the same for those they associate with.

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ANTISTHENES

Ιωάννου Στοβαίου Ανθολόγιον: ΙΔ, 19

It is far better to associate with crows than sycophants because crows feast on a man’s corpse while sycophants feast on his soul.

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ANTISTHENES

Ιωάννου Στοβαίου Ανθολόγιον: ΙΔ, 17

One should wish his enemies all the goods except bravery. In that way, all would go to the victors, and not to the ones possessing them.

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ANTISTHENES

Ιωάννου Στοβαίου Ανθολόγιον: ΝΔ, 41

When someone told him that war would destroy the poor, he replied: "And will make, of course, lots of people poor".

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ANTISTHENES

Ιωάννου Στοβαίου Ανθολόγιον: Ν, 11

Regarding political matters, one should have the same stance as with fire. Not too close, so he doesn’t get burned, not too far, so he doesn’t freeze to death.

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ANTISTHENES

Ιωάννου Στοβαίου Ανθολόγιον: ΜΕ, 28

When he was asked why wise men go to the rich people instead of the opposite, he said: "Because wise men know what is required to live, but rich people don’t".

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ANTISTHENES

Βίοι καὶ γνῶμαι τῶν ἐν φιλοσοφίᾳ εὐδοκιμησάντων, Διογένης Λαέρτιος: ΣΤ, 3

While being accused of consorting with crooks, he replied: "Doctors, too are consorting with the sick, but they never have a fever".

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ANTISTHENES

Βίοι καὶ γνῶμαι τῶν ἐν φιλοσοφίᾳ εὐδοκιμησάντων, Διογένης Λαέρτιος: ΣΤ, 6

Be aware of your enemies. They are the first to notice your faults.

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ANTISTHENES

Βίοι καὶ γνῶμαι τῶν ἐν φιλοσοφίᾳ εὐδοκιμησάντων, Διογένης Λαέρτιος: ΣΤ, 12

As iron is corroded by rust, so the envious are consumed by their own passions.

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ANTISTHENES

Βίοι καὶ γνῶμαι τῶν ἐν φιλοσοφίᾳ εὐδοκιμησάντων, Διογένης Λαέρτιος: ΣΤ, 5

The one who fears others, turns into a slave, without realizing it.

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ANTISTHENES

Ιωάννου Στοβαίου Ανθολόγιον: Η, 14

You shouldn’t treat the one who talks back by the same means, but by enlightenment. For you don’t cure the insane by acting insanely.

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ANTISTHENES

Ιωάννου Στοβαίου Ανθολόγιον: ΠΒ, 8

Executioners are more respectable than tyrants. Because executioners put to death the unjust while tyrants the innocent.

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ANTISTHENES

Ιωάννου Στοβαίου Ανθολόγιον: ΜΘ, 47

No miser is ever good nor free, even if he is a king.

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ANTISTHENES

Ιωάννου Στοβαίου Ανθολόγιον: Ι, 42

Strive for the pleasures that come from toils, and not for the ones that precede them.

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ANTISTHENES

Ιωάννου Στοβαίου Ανθολόγιον: ΚΘ, 65