Zeno of Citium
Founder of Stoicism, which emphasized virtue, reason, and living in harmony with nature.
Most quoted
"The avaricious man is like the barren sandy ground of the desert which sucks in all the rain and dew with greediness, but yields no fruitful herbs or plants for the benefit of others."
— from As reported by Diogenes Laërtius
"That which exercises reason is more excellent than that which does not exercise reason; there is nothing more excellent than the universe, therefore the universe exercises reason."
— from As reported by Diogenes Laërtius
"The end may be defined as life in accordance with nature or, in other words, in accordance with our own human nature as well as that of the universe."
— from As reported by Diogenes Laërtius
All quotes by Zeno of Citium (145)
Man conquers the world by conquering himself.
The goal of life is living in agreement with nature.
We have two ears and one mouth, so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.
No evil is honorable: but death is honorable; therefore death is not evil.
The wise man is sufficient unto himself for a happy life.
Happiness is a good flow of life.
The end is to live consistently with nature.
All things are parts of one whole, which is the universe.
The universe is one living being, endowed with soul and reason.
The wise man is free from passion.
Only the good is good.
Virtue is the only good.
The wise man is never surprised.
The wise man is always at peace.
The wise man is never in a hurry.
The wise man is never afraid.
The wise man is never angry.
The wise man is never sad.
The wise man is never happy in the common sense.
The wise man is never unhappy.
Contemporaries of Zeno of Citium
Other Philosophys born within 50 years of Zeno of Citium (-334–-262).