Antisthenes
Every line we've sourced
It's royal to do good and be insulted for it.
"From Antisthenes: It is royal to do good and to be abused"
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 7.36, George Long, 1862
Virtue is a weapon no one can take from you.
"Virtue is a weapon of which a man cannot be deprived"
Diogenes Laertius, Lives 6, C. D. Yonge, 1853
Pay attention to your enemies. They spot your mistakes first.
"One should attend to one's enemies, for they are the first persons to detect one's errors"
Diogenes Laertius, Lives 6, C. D. Yonge, 1853
My parents weren't wrestlers. I'm a wrestler anyway.
"οὐδὲ γὰρ ἐκ δύο, ἔφη, παλαιστικῶν, ἀλλὰ παλαιστικός εἰμι."
Diogenes Laertius 6.4, our translation from the Greek
Rust eats iron. Envy eats the envious.
"ὥσπερ ὑπὸ τοῦ ἰοῦ τὸν σίδηρον, οὕτως ἔλεγε τοὺς φθονεροὺς ὑπὸ τοῦ ἰδίου ἤθους κατεσθίεσθαι."
Diogenes Laertius 6.5, our translation from the Greek
Write it on your soul, not on paper.
"ἔδει γάρ, ἔφη, ἐν τῇ ψυχῇ αὐτὰ καὶ μὴ ἐν τοῖς χαρτίοις καταγράφειν."
Diogenes Laertius 6.5, our translation from the Greek
Brothers of one mind are stronger than any wall.
"Ὁμονοούντων ἀδελφῶν συμβίωσιν παντὸς ἔφη τείχους ἰσχυροτέραν εἶναι."
Diogenes Laertius 6.6, our translation from the Greek
Pack only what will swim with you in a shipwreck.
"τοιαῦτʼ ἔφη δεῖν ποιεῖσθαι ἐφόδια ἃ καὶ ναυαγήσαντι συγκολυμβήσει."
Diogenes Laertius 6.6, our translation from the Greek
What did philosophy give me? I can keep myself company.
"ἐρωτηθεὶς τί αὐτῷ περιγέγονεν ἐκ φιλοσοφίας, ἔφη, τὸ δύνασθαι ἑαυτῷ ὁμιλεῖν."
Diogenes Laertius 6.6, our translation from the Greek
The most necessary skill: unlearning.
"ἐρωτηθεὶς τί τῶν μαθημάτων ἀναγκαιότατον, τὸ περιαιρεῖν, ἔφη, τὸ ἀπομανθάνειν."
Diogenes Laertius 6.7, our translation from the Greek
Lots of people praise me? What did I do wrong?
"πρὸς τὸν εἰπόντα, πολλοί σε ἐπαινοῦσι, τί γάρ, ἔφη, κακὸν πεποίηκα;"
Diogenes Laertius 6.8, our translation from the Greek