Vitae philosophorum

Diogenes Laertius

Diogenes Laertius. Hicks, R. D., editor. Cambridge, MA.: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann Ltd., 1925.

For when we are just beginning to live, lo! we die. Nothing then is so unprofitable as the love of glory. Farewell, and may you be happy. Either drop my doctrine, which involves a world of labour, or stand forth its worthy champions, for you will win great glory. Life holds more disappointment than advantage. But, as I can no longer discuss what we ought to do, do you go on with the inquiry into right conduct.

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With these words, they say, he breathed his last. And according to the story all the Athenians, out of respect for the man, escorted his bier on foot. And Favorinus tells that he had in his old age to be carried about in a litter[*](Cf. a similar statement about Bion, also attributed to Favorinus.); and this he says on the authority of Hermippus, whose account is taken from a remark of Arcesilaus of Pitane to Lacydes of Cyrene.

He too has left a very large number of writings. I think it right to catalogue them also because they abound in excellence of every kind. They are as follows:

  • Three books of Prior Analytics.
  • Seven books of Posterior Analytics.
  • On the Analysis of Syllogisms, one book.
  • Epitome of Analytics, one book.
  • Two books of Classified Topics.
  • Polemical discussion on the Theory of Eristic Argument.
  • Of the Senses, one book.
  • A Reply to Anaxagoras, one book.
  • On the Writings of Anaxagoras, one book.
  • On the Writings of Anaximenes, one book.
  • On the Writings of Archelaus, one book.
  • Of Salt, Nitre and Alum, one book.
  • Of Petrifactions, two books.
  • On Indivisible Lines, one book.
  • Two books of Lectures.
  • Of the Winds, one book.
  • Characteristics of Virtues, one book.
  • Of Kingship, one book.
  • Of the Education of Kings, one book.
  • Of Various Schemes of Life, three books.

  • Of Old Age, one book.
  • On the Astronomy of Democritus, one book.
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  • On Meteorology, one book.
  • On Visual Images or Emanations, one book.
  • On Flavours, Colours and Flesh, one book.
  • Of the Order of the World, one book.
  • Of Mankind, one book.
  • Compendium of the Writings of Diogenes, one book.
  • Three books of Definitions.
  • Concerning Love, one book.
  • Another Treatise on Love, one book.
  • Of Happiness, one book.
  • On Species or Forms, two books.
  • On Epilepsy, one book.
  • On Frenzy, one book.
  • Concerning Empedocles, one book.
  • Eighteen books of Refutative Arguments.
  • Three books of Polemical Objections.
  • Of the Voluntary, one book.
  • Epitome of Plato’s Republic, two books.
  • On the Diversity of Sounds uttered by Animals of the same Species, one book.
  • Of Sudden Appearances, one book.
  • Of Animals which bite or gore, one book.
  • Of Animals reputed to be spiteful, one book.
  • Of the Animals which are confined to Dry Land, one book.

  • Of those which change their Colours, one book.
  • Of Animals that burrow, one book.
  • Of Animals, seven books.
  • Of Pleasure according to Aristotle, one book.
  • Another treatise on Pleasure, one book.
  • Theses, twenty-four books.
  • On Hot and Cold, one book.
  • On Vertigo and Dizziness, one book.
  • On Sweating Sickness, one book.
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  • On Affirmation and Negation, one book.
  • Callisthenes, or On Bereavement, one book.
  • On Fatigues, one book.
  • On Motion, three books.
  • On Precious Stones, one book.
  • On Pestilences, one book.
  • On Fainting, one book.
  • Megarian Treatise, one book.
  • Of Melancholy, one book.
  • On Mines, two books.
  • On Honey, one book.
  • Compendium on the Doctrines of Metrodorus, one book.
  • Two books of Meteorology.
  • On Intoxication, one book.
  • Twenty-four books of Laws distinguished by the letters of the alphabet.
  • Ten books of an Epitome of Laws.

  • Remarks upon Definitions, one book.
  • On Smells, one book.
  • On Wine and Oil.
  • Introduction to Propositions, eighteen books.
  • Of Legislators, three books.
  • Of Politics, six books.
  • A Political Treatise dealing with important Crises, four books.
  • Of Social Customs, four books.
  • Of the Best Constitution, one book.
  • A Collection of Problems, five books.
  • On Proverbs, one book.
  • On Coagulation and Liquefaction, one book.
  • On Fire, two books.
  • On Winds, one book.
  • Of Paralysis, one book.
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  • Of Suffocation, one book.
  • Of Mental Derangement, one book.
  • On the Passions, one book.
  • On Symptoms, one book.
  • Two books of Sophisms.
  • On the solution of Syllogisms, one book.
  • Two books of Topics.
  • Of Punishment, two books.
  • On Hair, one book.
  • Of Tyranny, one book.
  • On Water, three books.
  • On Sleep and Dreams, one book.
  • Of Friendship, three books.
  • Of Ambition, two books.