Pythagoras’ teachings

He forbids us to pray for ourselves, since we do not know what is good for us. He substitutes for the word ‘drunkness’ the word ‘damage’, and rejects every type of satiety, saying that one should not exceed what is moderate when drinking or eating. About sexual pleasure he speaks as follows: ‘Have sexual relations in winter, not in summer; though less harmful in autumn and spring, they are harmful in every season and not good for one’s health’. When someone once asked him when one should have sexual relations, he replied, ‘Whenever you want to become weaker than yourself.’

Diogenes Laertius - Lives of the eminent philosophers

Pythagoras on Life

He said that life resembles a festival, where some go to compete for a prize, others to buy or sell, but the best men as spectators; for likewise in life, some men are servile by nature, hunters of fame and profit, while the philosopher hunts for the truth.

Diogenes Laertius - Lives of the eminent philosophers

Happiness according to Aristotle

Happines, he maintained, is made up of three sorts of goods: goods of the soul, which he indeed calls the foremost in importance; socondly, goods of the body: health, strenght, beauty, and the like; and thirdly, external goods: wealth, noble birth, reputation, and the like.
He held that virtue, by itself, is not sufficient to ensure happiness; bodily and external goods are also necessary, since the wise man will be wretched if he lives in pain, poverty, and the like.
Yet vice, by itself, is sufficient to ensure unhappiness, even if abundant bodily and external goods accompany it.

Diogenes Laertius - Lives of the eminent philosophers

Aristotle on moderation

Mankind, he used to say, was divided into those who were as thrifty as if they were going to live forever, and those who were as extravagant as if they were were going to die any moment.

Diogenes Laertius - Lives of the eminent philosophers

Socrate about marriage

When asked whether or not one should marry, he said, ‘Whichever you do you will regret it.’

Diogenes Laertius - Lives of the eminent philosophers

The wisdom of Bias

Be slow to undertake any enterprise; but persevere steadfastly in whatever you undertake.
Do not rush to speak, for this is a sign of madness.
Love wisdom.
As concerns the gods, say that they exist.
If a man is unworthy, do not praise him because of his wealth.
Prevail by persuation, not by force.
Attribute to the gods whatever good you do.
Take wisdom as your provision from youth to old age, for it is more dependable than all other provisions.

His maxim is: Most men are bad.

Diogenes Laertius - Lives of the eminent philosophers

Chilon’s advices

Watch your tongue, especially at a drinking party.
Do not speak ill of your neighbors; for if you do you will be spoken of in ways that give you pain.
Make no threats, for that is womanish.
Be quicker to visit friends in adversity than in prosperity.
Make a thrifty marriage.
Do not speak ill of the dead.
Honor old age.
Take thought for your safety.
Prefer a loss to an ill-gotten gain; the one will only grieve you once, the other forever.
Do not laugh at another’s misfortune.
When strong be gentle, that you may be respected, rather than feared, by your neighbors.
Learn how to manage your own house well.
Do not let your tongue outrun your thought.
Control your temper.
Do not despise divination.
Do not desire impossibilities.
Do not hurry on the road.
When speaking, do not gesticulate; for that is a sign of madness.
Obey the laws.
Remain calm.

Diogenes Laertius - Lives of the eminent philosophers

Solon’s advices

Trust good character more than an oath.
Do not lie.
Pursue worthy goals.
Be in no hurry to make friends; but once they are made, do not discard them.
Command only when you have learned to be ruled.
Give the best advice, not the most pleasant.
Make reason your guide.
Have no dealings with base men.
Honor the gods.
Respect your parents.

Diogenes Laertius - Lives of the eminent philosophers

Thales of Miletus maxims

The most ancient of beings: God, for he is uncreated.
The most beautiful thing: the universe, for it is god’s creation.
The largest thing: space, for it contains all things.
The quickest thing: mind, for it runs through everything.
The strongest thing: necesety, for it masters everything.
The wisest thing: time, for it discovers everything.

Diogenes Laertius - Lives of the eminent philosophers