The reason why we have two ears and only one mouth is that we may listen the more and talk the less.

δύο ὦτα ἔχομεν, στόμα δὲ ἕν, ἵνα πλείονα μὲν ἀκούωμεν, ἥττονα δὲ λέγωμεν.

Zeno

Quoted in The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers, by Diogenes Laërtius

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More information about this quote

Topic

Silence is golden Listening

Speaker

Zeno

Author

Diogenes Laërtius

Source

The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers

Genre

Biography

Language

Greek

Time

430 BC 430s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Occupation

Philosopher

From

Italy Europe Ancient Greece

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Zeno. Quoted in The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers, written by Diogenes Laërtius. c. 240 AD, bk. 7, ch. 1, sect. 23.

Current Citation

Zeno. Quoted in The Lives of Eminent Philosophers, written by Diogenes Laërtius, translated by Pamela Mensch, edited by James Miller. Oxford University Press, 2018, bk. 7, ch. 1, sect. 23.

Illustrated Quote

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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote by Diogenes Laërtius

Know thyself.

Thales

Quoted in The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers, by Diogenes Laërtius

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More information about this quote
Topic
Introspection Self-knowledge Self-awareness Wisdom
Speaker
Thales

Author

Diogenes Laërtius
Source
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers
Medium
Presocratic fragment Fragment
Genre
Philosophical literature
Statement Type
Advice
Language
Greek
Time
3rd century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Thales. Quoted in The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers, written by Diogenes Laërtius. c. 240 AD, bk. 1, ch. 1.

Current Citation

Thales. Quoted in The Lives of Eminent Philosophers, written by Diogenes Laërtius, translated by Pamela Mensch, edited by James Miller. Oxford University Press, 2018, bk. 1, ch. 1.

Another quote from the 5th century BC

For the one thing even God cannot do is change the past.

Agathon

Quoted in The Nicomachean Ethics, by Aristotle

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More information about this quote
Topic
God's power God Changing the past The past
Speaker
Agathon

Author

Aristotle
Source
The Nicomachean Ethics
Genre
Philosophical literature
Language
Greek
Time
5th century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 1
Original Citation

Agathon. Quoted in Ἠθικὰ Νικομάχεια, Ēthika Nikomacheia [Nicomachean Ethics], written by Aristotle. c. 350 BC, bk. 6.

Current Citation

Agathon. Quoted in Nicomachean Ethics, written by Aristotle, translated by Terence Irwin. Hackett Publishing Company, 2019, bk. 6, ch. 2.

Another quote from Classical antiquity

You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Jesus

Matthew 7:5

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More information about this quote
Topic
Hypocrisy and religion Hypocrisy Judging others Sermon on the Mount
Speaker
Jesus
Source
Gospel of Matthew The Bible
Medium
Scripture
Genre
Religious literature
Statement Type
Orders and commands
Language
Greek
Time
60 60s 1st century
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 3
Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (Matthew 7:5).

Another quote from The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers

Having the fewest wants, I am nearest to the gods.

Socrates

Quoted in The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers, by Diogenes Laërtius

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More information about this quote
Topic
Attachment (Buddhism) Simple living Materialism Possessions
Speaker
Socrates

Author

Diogenes Laërtius
Source
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers
Genre
Historical literature
Language
Greek
Time
400 400s 3rd century
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Socrates. Quoted in Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers, written by Diogenes Laertius. c. 240 AD, bk. 2, ch. 27.

Current Citation

Socrates. Quoted in The Lives of Eminent Philosophers, written by Diogenes Laërtius, translated by Pamela Mensch, edited by James Miller. Oxford University Press, 2018, bk. 2, ch. 27.

Another quote originally in Greek

I know that I do not know.

Socrates

Quoted in Apology, by Plato

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More information about this quote
Topic
Intellectual humility Certainty Ignorance
Speaker
Socrates

Author

Plato
Source
Apology
Medium
Courtroom speech Speech
Genre
Philosophical literature
Language
Greek
Time
399 BC 390s BC 4th century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Plato. Ἀπολογία Σωκράτους [Apology of Socrates]. Speech of legal self-defence which Socrates spoke at his trial for impiety and corruption. 399 BC, Athens, Greece.

Current Citation

Plato. "Apology." Plato: Euthyphro; Apology; Crito; Phaedo, translated by Christopher Emlyn-Jones and William Preddy. Harvard University Press, 2017.