Antisthenes Quotes

ἀκούσας ποτὲ ὅτι Πλάτων αὐτὸν κακῶς λέγει, “βασιλικόν,” ἔφη, “καλῶς ποιοῦντα κακῶς ἀκούειν.”

πρός τε τὸ Ποντικὸν μειράκιον μέλλον φοιτᾶν αὐτῷ καὶ πυθόμενον τίνων αὐτῷ δεῖ, φησί, “βιβλιαρίου καινοῦ καὶ γραφείου καινοῦ καὶ πινακιδίου καινοῦ,” τὸν νοῦν παρεμφαίνων.

ἀρχὴ παιδεύσεως ἡ τῶν ὀνομάτων ἐπίσκεψις

Being asked what learning is the most necessary, he replied, "How to get rid of having anything to unlearn."

ἐρωτηθεὶς τί τῶν μαθημάτων ἀναγκαιότατον, “τὸ περιαιρεῖν,” ἔφη, “τὸ ἀπομανθάνειν.”

Antisthenes ... was asked on one occasion what learning was the most necessary, and he replied, "To unlearn one's bad habits."

One should attend to one's enemies, for they are the first persons to detect one's errors.

I have enough to eat till my hunger is stayed, to drink till my thirst is sated; to clothe myself withal; and out of doors not Callias there, with all his riches, is more safe than I from shivering; and when I find myself indoors, what warmer shirting do I need than my bare walls? what ampler greatcoat than the tiles above my head?

I'd rather be mad than feel pleasure.

προσέχειν τοῖς ἐχθροῖς· πρῶτοι γὰρ τῶν ἁμαρτημάτων αἰσθάνονται.

There is no work so mean, but it would amply serve me to furnish me with sustenance.

States are doomed when they are unable to distinguish good men from bad.

It is better to fall in with crows than with flatterers; for in the one case you are devoured when dead, in the other case while alive.

Pay attention to your enemies, for they are the first to discover your mistakes.

ἀνδρὸς καὶ γυναικὸς ἡ αὐτὴ ἀρετή.