The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-10-15
Gems of wfsAOm.

From the great Philosophers: collected by
Prof W. A. Smith, Ph. D., NJ. D., Secretary
The characteristics OF a wise man are
temperance and sincerity.-Zsn0
One day Zeno was at an entertainH
ment, where ambassadors from Ptolemy
were present. He never spoke during
the whole time the supper lasted, which
greatly surprised the ambassadors, who
asked him if he had anything to COM
municate to the King. "Inform him. u
he replied, that there is q man here
" no can be silent"
Epicurus regarded the study OF
philosophy as the nOblest employment
Of the human mind. These studies give
strength in youth, and joy in old age;
sdorn prosperity, and are the support
| and consolation of adversely; at home
they are delightful, and abroad they are
easy; at night they are company to us,
when we travel they attend US, and in
our rural retirements they do not for
sake US.
Said Crates, "Here is the woman who
has left her tapestry and needle. +"
''True," replied Hipparchia, "but do you
think that in preferring philosophy to
female exercises 1 have acted amissS"
Demetreus Phalereus one day sent
Crates a few loaves of bread and q bot
tie of wine. Crates, indignant that he
OnOulO SupPO5C PAllOSOPACA hOONONa
wine, sent it back, saying, "WOuld 70
heaven We had fountains also of bread. "
When Crates was asked what was the
use of his philosophy, he answered,
ITO learn to be contented with pulse,
and to live without care or anxiety"
"All my possessions" SAID ne consist
in what have learned"
Here is the epitaph of Diogenes:
"Nor breathing brasstime spares, nor
Gha11
nes thy name.'I
BLESS near and independent thou hast
shown. and earned the Hottest philo-
sophie fame"
1t has the usual characteristics of an
epitaph; what is said is we'll said, except
that it is not altogether true.
Diogenes said that the whole world
was in slavery; that white slaves obey
their masters, the masters themselves
are slaves to their passions.
Being asked what he had profited by
his philosophy he replied, Had 1
made no other use of it than TO prepare
myself to suffer whatever may befall
me, should have reason to be abun-
dainty satis6ed&
He sometimes entreated statues to
grant him tavors; being asked his rsa~
son for it, he answered, ITO accustom
myself to meet with refusals."
Such was the effect OF the eloqHence
OF Xenocrates upon Polemo that he i'm
mediately renounced his intemperance,
and ever afterwards led a virtuOus life.
Aristotle, being asked what sdvsn~
tage he had derived from philosophy,
answered, ITO do voluntarily what 9TH
ers do through fear OF the laws"
"Knowlege," he said, sis an orna-
ment in prosperity, and in adversely q
refuge: those who give children good
education are much more their fathers
than their parents are; for their parents
have only communicated life to them,
whereas, those who educate them put it
into their power to spend it in comfort !"
This is Il truly noble sentiment, and
strikingly expressed. Life Is a b essing
only as it may be virtGOusly and hap
pily spent; and he who contributes
most largely tothe end, is our great est
benefactor.
The rulers Off republic, he laid, do
not care though they ruin the state, pro-
vided they enrich themselves. AriE-
totle's reasoning in favor of monarchy is
too much cont addicted by facts to be Of
any value; but what he says of the dan
gers to which republics are exposed,
may well engage our serious attention.
Are there not many indications among
US that should make US watch1ul against
these dangers?
Aristotle affirmS that the cultivation
of letters is the chief consolation of age;
and elegant literature, he thinks, con-
tributes greatly 10 produce love OF
virtue.
On one occasion Antisthenes was ask
ed what was the most desirable thing in
the world. "a happy DEATH" he res
piled. He used to say that to unlearn
evil was the most useful science.