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diogenes_of_sinope:diogenes_laertius_book_2_66

Diogenes of Sinope | Diogenes Laertius, Book 2 §66

<blockquote>[Aristippus] was capable of adapting himself to place, time and person, and of playing his part appropriately under whatever circumstances. Hence he found more favour than anybody else with Dionysius, because he could always turn the situation to good account. He derived pleasure from what was present, and did not toil to procure the enjoyment of something not present Hence Diogenes called him the king's poodle Timon, too, sneered at him for luxury in these words:

Such was the delicate nature of Aristippus, who groped after error by touch

He is said to have ordered a partridge to be bought at a cost of fifty drachmae, and, when someone censured him, he inquired, “Would not you have given an obol for it?” and, being answered in the affirmative, rejoined, “Fifty drachmae are no more to me.”

Source: Lives of the Eminent Philosophers (1925) by Diogenes Laërtius, translated by Robert Drew Hicks </blockquote>

diogenes_of_sinope/diogenes_laertius_book_2_66.txt · Last modified: 2014/01/14 23:19 by 127.0.0.1

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