Zeno of Citium, Ζήνων ὁ Κιτιεύς, Zenon, Zeno
c. 334 B.C.E. – 262 B.C.E.
Birthplace: Citium, Cyprus
Greek educator & philosopher; considered to be the founder of the Stoicism school of philosophy
“Better to trip with the feet than with the tongue.”
~Zeno of Citium, Greek philosopher
Cited by Diogenes Laërtius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers (3rd century) trans. Robert Drew (R.D.) Hicks, Book VII, chapter 1, no. 26, Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1972 [first published 1925]; online via Perseus Digital Library, Tufts University, www.perseus.tufts.edu
Extended excerpt [Cited by Diogenes Laërtius, an ancient historian of Greek philosophy & philosophers. None of Zeno’s work survived to the modern era.]:
“When he was asked why he, though so austere, relaxed at a drinking-party, he said, “Lupins too are bitter, but when they are soaked become sweet.” Hecato too in the second book of his Anecdotes says that he indulged freely at such gatherings. And he would say, “Better to trip with the feet than with the tongue.”
Alternative translation:
“And he used to say that it was better to trip with the feet than with the tongue.” (p. 269)
[Alternative translation source: Diogenes Laërtius, The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (3rd century) trans. C.D. Yonge, Book VII, no. 22, London: Henry G. Bohn, 1853, p. 269; online via Oxford University & Internet Archive, www.archive.org]
Source link [Featured source – Hicks translation]: Lives of Eminent Philosophers (3rd century) online via Perseus Digital Library: http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0258%3Abook%3D7%3Achapter%3D1#notea
Source link [Yonge translation]: The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (3rd century|1853 Yonge trans.) online via Internet Archive: https://archive.org/stream/livesandopinion02laergoog#page/n281/mode/2up/search/one+mouth
“The reason why we have two ears and only one mouth is that we may listen the more and talk the less.”
~Zeno of Citium, Greek philosopher
Fragment 310, cited by Diogenes Laërtius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers (3rd century) trans. Robert Drew (R.D.) Hicks, Book VII, chapter 1, no. 23, Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1972 [first published 1925]; online via Perseus Digital Library, Tufts University, www.perseus.tufts.edu
Extended excerpt [Cited by Diogenes Laërtius, an ancient historian of Greek philosophy & philosophers. None of Zeno’s work survived to the modern era.]:
“To a stripling who was talking nonsense his words were, “The reason why we have two ears and only one mouth is that we may listen the more and talk the less.”
Alternative translation:
“A young man was talking a great deal of nonsense, and he said to him, “This is the reason why we have two ears and only one mouth, that we may hear more and speak less.” (p. 268)
[Alternative translation source: Diogenes Laërtius, The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (3rd century) trans. C.D. Yonge, Book VII, London: Henry G. Bohn, 1853, p. 268 [*typo shows 368 in text]; online via Oxford University & Internet Archive, www.archive.org]
Source note: For a list of Zeno’s fragments in the Greek language, please see Stoicorum veterum fragmenta (1964) by Hans Friedrich August von Arnim; online via University of Toronto & Internet Archive, www.archive.org. A link to the page relevant to this quote can be found under our “Source Links” tab.
Source link [Featured source – Hicks translation]: Lives of Eminent Philosophers (3rd century) online via Perseus Digital Library: http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0258%3Abook%3D7%3Achapter%3D1#notea
Source link [Yonge translation]: The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (3rd century|1853 Yonge trans.) online via Internet Archive: https://archive.org/stream/livesandopinion02laergoog#page/n279/mode/2up/search/one+mouth
Source link [Greek text – von Arnim]: Stoicorum veterum fragmenta (1964) online via Internet Archive: https://archive.org/details/stoicorumveterum01arniuoft/page/68
“Well-being is attained by little and little, and nevertheless it is no little thing itself.”
~Zeno of Citium, Greek philosopher*
Attributed Hecato, via Diogenes Laërtius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers (3rd century) trans. Robert Drew (R.D.) Hicks, Book VII, chapter 1, no. 26, Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1972 [first published 1925]; online via Perseus Digital Library, Tufts University, www.perseus.tufts.edu *Note that Laërtius also states that this idea had also been attributed to Socrates by “some” or “other” authors.
Extended excerpt [Cited by Diogenes Laërtius, an ancient historian of Greek philosophy & philosophers. None of Zeno’s work survived to the modern era.]:
“When he was asked why he, though so austere, relaxed at a drinking-party, he said, “Lupins too are bitter, but when they are soaked become sweet.” Hecato too in the second book of his Anecdotes says that he indulged freely at such gatherings. And he would say, “Better to trip with the feet than with the tongue.” “Well-being is attained by little and little, and nevertheless it is no little thing itself. [Others attribute this to Socrates.]”
Alternative translation:
“And he used to say that it was better to trip with the feet, than with the tongue. And that goodness was attained little and little, but was not itself a small thing. Some authors, however, attribute this saying to Socrates.” (p. 269)
[Alternative translation source: Diogenes Laërtius, The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (3rd century) trans. C.D. Yonge, Book VII, no. 22, London: Henry G. Bohn, 1853, p. 269; online via Oxford University & Internet Archive, www.archive.org]
Source link [Featured source – Hicks translation]: Lives of Eminent Philosophers (3rd century) online via Perseus Digital Library: http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0258%3Abook%3D7%3Achapter%3D1#notea
Source link [Yonge translation]: The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (3rd century|1853 Yonge trans.) online via Internet Archive: https://archive.org/stream/livesandopinion02laergoog#page/n281/mode/2up/search/goodness+was+
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