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)
We should not act as if we were going to live forever, but as if we might die at any moment.
By silence, I hear other men's imperfections and conceal my own.
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.
One must not tie a ship to a single anchor, nor life to a single hope.
The most necessary part of learning is to unlearn our errors.
The universe is a living being, rational, animate and intelligent.
Extravagance is its own destroyer.
A city should be built for the sound and healthy; the sick should be left to die.
Love is a God, who cooperates in securing the safety of the city.
The wise man is the only priest, the only diplomat, the only king, and finally, the only fit person to live with.
He who has drunk of the waters of virtue is not disturbed by the clamor of the mob.
It is better to be in chains with friends than to be in a garden with strangers.
The happy life is a virtue-life.
Nature gave us one tongue and two ears so we could hear twice as much as we speak.
The sun, moon, and stars are not gods, but rather masses of fire.
A cynic is a spy, who must be honest and bold enough to tell the truth.
The soul is a sensitive subject, capable of changing impressions.
The good alone are free; the wicked are slaves.
The wise man, even when he is asleep, is doing good.
The voice is the flower of beauty.
Contemporaries of Zeno of Citium
Other Philosophys born within 50 years of Zeno of Citium (-334–-262).