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

Bion of Borysthenes Philosophy See all quotes by Bion of Borysthenes →

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“Referring to a wealthy miser he said, "He has not acquired a fortune; the fortune has acquired him.”

“Wealth is the sinews of success.”

“Self-conceit is the enemy of progress.”

“Just as the good actor perform well whatever role the poet assigns, so too must the good man perform whatever Fortune assigns. For she, says Bion, 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.”

“It hurts the bald-head just as much as the thatched-head to have his hairs plucked.”

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

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