Life of Pythagoras — Iamblichus, trans. Thomas Taylor (1818)
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As it is possible for one who is clothed with a sordid robe, to have a good habit of body; thus also he whose life is poor may possess freedom of speech.
Be rather delighted with those that reprove, than with those that flatter you; but avoid flatterers, as worse than enemies. Pythagoras. Stob. p. 149.
The life of the avaricious resembles a funeral banquet. For though it has all things [requisite to a feast,] yet no one present rejoices. Stob. p. 155.7
Acquire continence as the greatest strength and wealth. Pythagoras. Stob. p. 156.
“Not frequently man from man,” is one of the exhortations of Pythagoras; by which he obscurely signifies, that it is not proper to be frequently engaged in venereal connexions. Stob. p. 156.
It is impossible that he can be free who is a slave to his passions. Pythagoras. Stob. p. 165.
Pythagoras said, that intoxication is the meditation of insanity. Stob. p. 165.
Pythagoras being asked, how a lover of wine might be cured of intoxication, answered, if he frequently surveys what his actions were when he was intoxicated. Stob. p. 165.
en ee said, that it was either requisite to be
1 Stob. p. 147. The above four sentences, are in Stobzus ascribed to Socrates; but I refer them either to Democrates or Demophilus.
2 This sentence in Stobzus is ascribed to Socrates, as is also the one which immediately precedes it, viz. ‘The wealth of the avaricious man, like the sun descending under the earth, delights no living thing.” But as this sentence is to be found among the Similitudes of Demophilus, there can be no doubt of the other belonging to the same work.
19° silent, or to say something better than silence. Stob.
215.
7 Let it be more eligible to you to throw a stone in
vain, than to utter an idle word. Pythagoras. Stob. . 215.
J Do not say a few things in many words, but much ina few words. Pythagoras. Stob. p. 216.
Genius is to men either a good or an evil demon. Epicharmus. Stob. p. 220.
Pythagoras being asked, how a man ought to conduct himself towards his country, when it had acted inihance with respect to him, replied, as to a mother.
tob. p. 227.
Travelling teaches a man frugality, and the way in which he may be sufficient to himself. For bread made of milk and flour, and a bed of grass, are the sweetest remedies of hunger and labor.
To the wise man every land is eligible as a place of residence; for the whole world is the country of the worthy soul.t Stob. p. 231.
Pythagoras said, that luxury entered into cities in the first place, afterwards satiety, then lascivious insolence, and after all these destruction. Stob. p. 247.
Pythagoras said, that of cities that was the best, which contained worthy men. Stob. p. 247.
Do those things which you judge to be beautiful, though in doing them you should be without renown. For the rabble is a bad judge of a good thing. [Despise therefore the reprehension of those whose praise you despise.] Demophilus. Stob. p. 310.?
Those that do not punish bad men, wish that good men may be injured. Pythagoras. Stob. p. 321.
It is not possible for a horse to be governed without
1 This and the preceding sentence, are in Stobzus ascribed to Democritus, but I attribute them to Democrates or Demophilus.
2 This sentence in Stobzus is ascribed to Pythagoras, but, excepting the part within the brackets, is to be found among the sentences of Demophilus.
191 a bridle, or riches without prudence. Pythagoras. Stob. p. 513.
It is the same thing to think greatly of yourself in prosperity, as to contend in the race in a slippery road. Stob. p. 563.
There is not any gate of wealth so secure, which the opportunity of Fortune may not open. Stob. p. 563.2
Expel by reasoning the unrestrained grief of a torpid soul. Stob. p. 572.
It is the province of a wise man to bear poverty with equanimity. Stob. p. 572.?
Spare your life, lest you consume it with sorrow and care. Pythagoras. Stob. p. 616.
Nor will I be silent as to this particular, that it appeared both to Plato and Pythagoras, that old age was not to be considered with reference to an egress from the present life, but to the beginning of a blessed life. From Phavorinus on Old Age. Stob. p. 585.
The two following extracts are from Clemens Alexandrinus in Stromat. lib. 3. p. 413.
The ancient theologists and priests testify that the soul is conjoined to the body through a certain punishment, and that it is buried in this body as in a sepulchre. Philolaus.
Whatever we see when awake, is death; and when asleep, a dream. Pythagoras.
1 This sentence in Stobzus, is ascribed to Democritus, and that immediately preceding it, to Socrates; but I ascribe both of them to Democrates, or Demophilus.
2 This and the preceding sentences, together with two other sentences that accompany them, are in Stobzus ascribed to Democritus ; but as the other two are to be found in the Collection of Democrates, there can be no doubt that all of them are from the same author.
SELECT SENTENCES OF
SEXTUS THE PYTHAGOREAN.
To neglect things of the smallest consequence, is not the least thing in human life.
The wise man, and the despiser of wealth, resembles God.
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