Antisthenes Quotes
It is a royal privilege to do good and be ill spoken of.
Laërtius, Diogenes. Lives of Eminent Philosophers. Translated by R. D. Hicks, vol. 2, Harvard University Press, 1925, p. 5.
His army had been so successful that many of his men had all the riches they ever dreamed of and great glory as well. Some just wanted to slow down and enjoy the conquered lands where they had been received very cordially as Alexander’s “occupation” was much more benign than the Asian rulers had been. So some of Alexander’s men were critical of Alexander and in effect, Alexander said that the complaints are what a successful king should expect after so much success and popularity. This quotation was inscribed in Latin on the town-hall of Zittau, in Saxony during the reign of Frederick The Great. Politicians have been comforted by Alexander’s quotation even to modern times. Also, see {632232} for Voltaire’s version of Alexander’s statement.
Antisthenes (/ænˈtɪsθɪniːz/; Greek: Ἀντισθένης; c. 446 – c. 366 BC) was a Greek philosopher and a pupil of Socrates. Antisthenes first learned rhetoric under Gorgias before becoming an ardent disciple of Socrates. He adopted and developed the ethical side of Socrates' teachings, advocating an ascetic life lived in accordance with virtue. Later writers regarded him as the founder of Cynic philosophy.
