Antisthenes Quotes

Greek philosopher, founder of Cynicism (c.446–c.366 BCE)

Antisthenes (Greek: Ἀντισθένης; c. 445 – c. 365 BC) was a Greek philosopher, a pupil of Socrates, and founder of the Cynic school.

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Native Name: Ἀντισθένης

Alternative Names: Antisthenes of Athens

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προσέχειν τοῖς ἐχθροῖς· πρῶτοι γὰρ τῶν ἁμαρτημάτων αἰσθάνονται.

The investigation of the meaning of words is the beginning of education.

τὰ πονηρὰ νόμιζε πάντα ξενικά.

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

Once, when he was applauded by rascals, he remarked, "I am horribly afraid I have done something wrong."

τὸν σοφὸν οὐ κατὰ τοὺς κειμένους νόμους πολιτεύσεσθαι, ἀλλὰ κατὰ τὸν τῆς ἀρετῆς.

ἔλεγέ τε συνεχές, “μανείην μᾶλλον ἢ ἡσθείην.”

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

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.

As iron is eaten away by rust, so the envious are consumed by their own passion.

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

ἐρωτηθεὶς τί αὐτῷ περιγέγονεν ἐκ φιλοσοφίας, ἔφη, “τὸ δύνασθαι ἑαυτῷ ὁμιλεῖν.”

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.

τήν τ᾿ ἀδοξίαν ἀγαθὸν καὶ ἴσον τῷ πόνῳ

κρεῖττόν ἐστι μετ᾿ ὀλίγων ἀγαθῶν πρὸς ἅπαντας τοὺς κακοὺς ἢ μετὰ πολλῶν κακῶν πρὸς ὀλίγους ἀγαθοὺς μάχεσθαι.