Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers

“Is it permitted, O revered one, to ask, or must I hold my peace?” Arcesilaus caught him up and said: “Woman, why do you speak harshly to me, and not in your customary manner?” When a talkative fellow of low birth caused him trouble, he said: “The children of slaves grow up to speak without restraint.” And when another man was babbling much nonsense, he said that this man had not even met with a strict wet-nurse; while to some people he would not even reply. To a money-lender who fancied himself a lover of literature, when the man claimed to be ignorant of something, Arcesilaus said: “For indeed the pathways of the winds do not escape the female bird, except when the time of laying is at hand.” These lines are from the Oenomaus of Sophocles.

​To a certain dialectician of the school of Alexinus, who was unable to set forth adequately any of Alexinus’ teachings, he recounted what Philoxenus had done to the brickmakers. For Philoxenus, finding them singing his own songs badly, trampled their bricks, saying, “Just as you destroy my wares, so I destroy yours.” Thus Arcesilaus was thoroughly vexed with those who took up subjects of study out of due season. In conversation he used to employ, as a kind of natural mannerism, the phrases “I say,” and “So-and-so (naming the person) will not agree to this”; which mannerisms many of his pupils also emulated, along with his rhetorical style and his entire bearing.

​He was exceedingly inventive in meeting an opponent with well-aimed retorts, in bringing the periods of his discourse back to the matter in hand, and in adapting himself to every occasion. He was persuasive beyond anyone else; wherefore all the more people came to him at his school, even though they were rebuked by his sharpness of tongue. Yet they bore it gladly, for he was exceptionally good-natured and filled his listeners with hope. In his daily life he was most generous and ready to do good, while entirely unassuming about keeping his benefactions hidden. At any rate, once when he visited Ctesibius who was ill, seeing him oppressed by poverty, he secretly placed a purse under his pillow; and Ctesibius, on finding it, said, “This is Arcesilaus’ jest.” On another occasion too Arcesilaus sent him a thousand drachmas.

​And having introduced Archias the Arcadian to Eumenes, he caused him to attain great honor. Being liberal and exceptionally free from avarice, he was the first to attend the exhibitions of silverware, and hastened more than anyone to the gold displays of Archecrates and Callicrates. He assisted many people and contributed to joint funds; and once, when someone had borrowed silver plate for the entertainment of friends and kept it dishonestly, he did not demand it back nor make any show of noticing. Others say that he lent it purposely, and when the borrower tried to return it, since the man was poor, Arcesilaus made him a present of it. He had indeed an estate in Pitane, from which his brother Pylades sent him remittances; but Eumenes the nephew of Philetaerus also supplied him with large funds, which is why he dedicated his works to this king alone of all the monarchs.

​While many people courted Antigonus and went out to meet him whenever he came, Arcesilaus himself kept quiet, not wishing to force himself forward into his acquaintance. He was an intimate friend above all to Hierocles, the commander of Munichia and the Piraeus, and at the festivals he went down to him on every occasion. And indeed, though Hierocles tried hard to persuade him to greet Antigonus, he was not persuaded, but went as far as the city gates and turned back. After the naval battle of Antigonus, when many came forward and wrote congratulatory letters, he himself remained silent. Nevertheless, on behalf of his native city he went on an embassy to Antigonus at Demetrias, and was unsuccessful. In general, he spent his time in the Academy, keeping aloof from political affairs.

​On one occasion, through his intimacy with Hierocles, he prolonged his stay in the Piraeus at Athens, delivering discourses on thesis-themes; on which account he was also slandered by some. Being exceedingly fond of luxury—for what else was he but a second Aristippus?—he nevertheless attended dinners with men of like disposition. He also openly lived with the Elean courtesans Theodote and Phila, and against those who mocked him he cited the pithy sayings of Aristippus. He was fond of boys and prone to passion; whence the Stoics around Ariston of Chios brought accusations against him, calling him a corrupter of the youth, a speaker of obscenities, and a shameless fellow.