Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers

​Lacydes, son of Alexander, of Cyrene. This is the man who inaugurated the New Academy and succeeded Arcesilaus, a most venerable man who had no few adherents; from youth he was industrious, and while poor, in other respects he was charming and affable. It is said that he also conducted himself most amusingly in matters of household management; for whenever he took anything out of the storeroom, after sealing it he would throw the signet-ring back inside through the hole, so that nothing of the stored goods might ever be taken away from him and carried off. The servant-boys, having learned this, would break the seal and carry off as much as they wished, and then in the same manner would drop the ring through the hole into the storeroom; and though doing this, they were never detected.

​At all events, Lacydes held his school in the Academy in the garden laid out by King Attalus, and it was called the Lacydeum after him. And he alone of all men throughout time handed over the school during his lifetime to Telecles and Evander of Phocaea. Hegesinus of Pergamum succeeded Evander, from whom came Carneades. A witty remark is related concerning Lacydes; for when Attalus sent for him, they say he replied that portraits ought to be viewed from a distance. And to him when he was studying geometry late in life, someone said: “Is it, then, the right time now?” And he replied: “Is it, then, not even now?”

​He died having begun his scholarchate in the fourth year of the hundred and thirty-fourth Olympiad, having presided over the school for twenty-six years; and his death was caused by paralysis resulting from excessive drinking. And we made sport of him as follows: “Of thee too, Lacydes, I have heard the report that Bacchus, having seized thee, dragged thee by the tips of thy feet down to Hades. Truly it was clear: whenever Dionysus enters abundantly into the body, he loosens the limbs; why then was he not born Lyaeus, the Loosener?”