Bion of Borysthenes Quotes

11 Sourced Quotes

Good slaves are free, but bad free men are slaves of many passions.

Bion of Borysthenes
Just as the good actor perform well whatever role the poet assigns, so too must the good man perform whatever Fortune assigns. For she, just like a poet, sometimes assigns the leading role, sometimes that of the supporting role; sometimes that of a king, sometimes that of a beggar. Do not, therefore, being a supporting actor, desire the role of the lead.

Bion of Borysthenes
How stupid it was for the king to tear out his hair in grief, as if baldness were a cure for sorrow.

Bion of Borysthenes
It hurts the bald-head just as much as the thatched-head to have his hairs plucked.

Bion of Borysthenes
Once when Bion was at sea in the company of some wicked men, he fell into the hands of pirates; and when the rest said, "We are undone if we are known," – "But I," said he, "am undone if we are not known."

Bion of Borysthenes
Referring to a wealthy miser he said, "He has not acquired a fortune; the fortune has acquired him."

Bion of Borysthenes
The road to Hades is easy to travel; at any rate men pass away with their eyes shut.

Bion of Borysthenes
Boys throw stones at frogs for fun, but the frogs don't die for 'fun', but in sober earnest.

Bion of Borysthenes
The property of friends is common.

Bion of Borysthenes
Love of money is the mother-city (metropolis) of all evils.

Bion of Borysthenes
Therefore we should not try to alter circumstances but to adapt ourselves to them as they really are, just as sailors do. They don't try to change the winds or the sea but ensure that they are always ready to adapt themselves to conditions. In a flat calm they use the oars; with a following breeze they hoist full sail; in a head wind they shorten sail or heave to. Adapt yourself to circumstances in the same way.

Bion of Borysthenes