Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers

​Bias, son of Teutamus, of Priene, was chosen ahead of the Seven by Satyrus. Some say that he was wealthy, while Duris says that he was a resident alien (or tenant). Phanodicus says that he ransomed captive Messenian maidens, reared them as daughters, gave them dowries, and sent them back to Messene to their fathers. In time, as mentioned before, when the bronze tripod was found at Athens by the fishermen, bearing the inscription “For the wise,” Satyrus says that the maidens—though others say their father, as Phanodicus also does—came before the assembly, and declared Bias to be wise, recounting what had happened concerning themselves. And the tripod was sent to him; but Bias, seeing it, said that Apollo was the wise one, and would not accept it.

​Others say that he dedicated it to Heracles in Thebes, since he was a descendant of the Thebans who had sent a colony to Priene, as Phanodicus also says. It is also told that when Alyattes was besieging Priene, Bias fattened two mules and drove them out into the camp; and that Alyattes, observing this, was astonished that their abundance should extend even to brute beasts. And he wished to make a truce, and sent in a herald. Bias, having heaped up piles of sand and sprinkled grain over them, showed them to the man; and finally Alyattes, upon learning this, concluded peace with the people of Priene. But when Alyattes sent to Bias, asking that he come to him, Bias said: “And I bid Alyattes to eat onions,” [equivalent to saying, “to weep”].

​He is also said to have been most formidable at pleading causes. He used his oratorical power, however, for a good purpose. Whence Demodocus of Leros alludes to this, saying: “If you happen to be judging, judge the Prienean justice;” and Hipponax: “and to plead causes better than Bias of Priene.” Now he died in the following manner. Having pleaded a cause on behalf of someone when he was already very old, after finishing his speech he rested his head in the bosom of his daughter’s son; and when the opponent had also spoken and the judges had cast their votes in favor of the man assisted by Bias, upon the dismissal of the court he was found dead in the youth's bosom.

​And the city buried him magnificently, and inscribed upon his tomb: “This stone conceals Bias, born in Priene’s famous plains, a great glory to the Ionians.” And we also have written: “Here I conceal Bias, whom Hermes gently led to Hades, when he was snowed upon by hoary old age. For he pleaded, pleaded a cause for a certain comrade; then, leaning back into the child’s arms, he stretched out into the long sleep.” He also composed about two thousand verses on Ionia, concerning how it might best prosper. And among the poems recited by him, the following was well reputed: “Please all the citizens, if you remain in a city; for it brings the greatest favor; but an arrogant manner often kindles pernicious ruin.”

​He used to say that being physically strong is the work of nature, but to be able to speak things profitable to one's country is the property of the soul and of practical wisdom. He said that an abundance of wealth comes to many even by chance; and that he is unfortunate who cannot endure misfortune; and that it is a disease of the soul to desire impossibilities, and to be unmindful of the misfortunes of others. When asked what is difficult, he said: “To bear nobly a change for the worse.” Once, sailing with ungodly men, when the ship was tossed by a storm and they were calling upon the gods, he said: “Silence, lest they perceive that you are sailing here!” When asked by an impious man what piety actually is, he was silent. And when the man inquired the cause of his silence, he said: “I am silent because you are inquiring about things that in no way concern you.”

​When asked what is sweet to human beings, he said: “Hope.” He said that it was pleasanter to judge between enemies than between friends; for of friends one is sure to become an enemy, but of enemies one becomes a friend. When asked what a man does that gives him pleasure, he said: “Gaining profit.” He used to say that we should measure life as though we were to live both a long and a short time, and love as though we might hate; for the majority of people are bad. And he advised thus: “Be slow in setting about what you do; but whatever you choose, persist in holding to it firmly.” “Do not

​speak fast; for it displays madness. Love practical wisdom. Speak of the gods as they are. Do not praise an unworthy man on account of wealth. Gain by persuasion, not by compulsion. Whatever good you do, refer it to the gods. Lay up wisdom from youth to old age as a provision for the journey; for this is more secure than all other possessions.” Hipponax also mentions Bias, as has been said before, and the fastidious Heraclitus praised him above all, writing: “In Priene was born Bias, son of Teutamus, of whom there is more account than of the others.” And the people of Priene dedicated to him a sacred precinct called the Teutameum. His apothegm was: “The majority are bad.”