Zeno of Citium Quotes

Greek philosopher, founder of Stoicism

Zeno of Citium (334 BC – 262 BC) was a Greek philosopher from Cyprus, and was the founder of the Stoic school of philosophy which he taught in Athens, from about 300 BC.

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Native Name: Ζήνων ὁ Κιτιεύς

Alternative Names: Zenon of Citium • Zeno • Zeno the Stoic • Zeno of Kition

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No one entrusts a secret to a drunken man; but one will entrust a secret to a good man; therefore, the good man will not get drunk.

Love is a God, who cooperates in securing the safety of the city.

If melodiously piping flutes sprang from the olive, would you doubt that a knowledge of flute-playing resided in the olive? And what if plane trees bore harps which gave forth rhythmical sounds? Clearly you would think in the same way that the art of music was possessed by plane trees. Why, then, seeing that the universe gives birth to beings that are animate and wise, should it not be considered animate and wise itself?

(The end is) life in agreement with nature

We have two ears and one mouth, so we should listen more than we say.

All the good are friends of one another.

Happiness is a good flow of life.

A bad feeling is a commotion of the mind repugnant to reason, and against nature.

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.

No evil is honorable; but death is honorable; therefore death is not evil.