"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."

“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.”