The Best Zeno of Citium Quotes

Zeno of Citium (c. 335 – 262 B.C) was a Greek philosopher active in Athens from about 300 B.C. He is considered the founder of the Stoic school of philosophy. Zeno’s philosophy was more of a middle way between the Cynics’ rejection of society and the Stoics’ obsession with duty.

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Zeno was born in the Greek Colony of Kition, or modern day Larnaca on the island of Cyprus. He was the son of a merchant, possibly of Phoenician heritage and was himself a merchant until he founded his stoic school of philosophy in Athens at the age of 42.

When he was around thirty years old, Zeno became a student of Crates of Thebes, the most famous Cynic philosopher of the time. According to the legend, Zeno wandered in Athens after a shipwreck and found the work of Socrates in a bookshop. On asking how to find the man, the bookseller pointed to Crates of Thebes and Zeno became his student.

Zeno led an ascetic life. His main enjoyment was to sit in the sun eating figs and drinking wine. Zeno had very few female friends, preferring the company of men and boys. Zeno died in 262 or 261 B.C. According to Diogenes Laertius, he tripped and fell and broke a toe. And because a stoic sage must do what is appropriate for Nature and as Zeno was very old at the time, he felt appropriate to die and strangled himself. Zeno’s pupil Cleanthes of Assos succeeded him as the head of the Stoic school.

Little of Zeno’s work has survived and all we know of him is from quotations and anecdotes in the works of his followers and critics. Like the Cynics, Zeno recognized a single, sole and simple good which is the only goal to strive for and which can only consist of virtue. He viewed that things which are morally indifferent could still have value to us.

He lectured his students on the value of “apatheia” or the absence of passion. He argued that only by controlling one’s emotions and physical desires could one develop wisdom and the ability to apply it. He explained that one could suppress the influence of passions by developing an indifference to both pain and pleasure by means of meditation.

More stoic quotes from Zeno of Citium to reflect on

“Better to trip with the feet than with the tongue.” – Zeno

“Man conquers the world by conquering himself.” – Zeno

“We have two ears and one mouth, so we should listen more than we say.” – Zeno

“If you lay violent hands on me, you’ll have my body, but my mind will remain with Stilpo.” – Zeno

“The goal of life is living in agreement with Nature.” – Zeno

“Happiness is a good flow of life.” – Zeno

“A bad feeling is a commotion of the mind repugnant to reason, and against nature.” – Zeno

“Well-being is realized by small steps, but is truly no small thing.” – Zeno