The reason why we have two ears and only one mouth is that we may listen the more and talk the less.

δύο ὦτα ἔχομεν, στόμα δὲ ἕν, ἵνα πλείονα μὲν ἀκούωμεν, ἥττονα δὲ λέγωμεν.

Zeno

Quoted in The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers, by Diogenes Laërtius

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Topic

Silence is golden Listening

Speaker

Zeno

Author

Diogenes Laërtius

Source

The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers

Genre

Biography

Language

Greek

Time

430 BC 430s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Occupation

Philosopher

From

Italy Europe Ancient Greece

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Zeno. Quoted in The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers, written by Diogenes Laërtius. c. 240 AD, bk. 7, ch. 1, sect. 23.

Current Citation

Zeno. Quoted in The Lives of Eminent Philosophers, written by Diogenes Laërtius, translated by Pamela Mensch, edited by James Miller. Oxford University Press, 2018, bk. 7, ch. 1, sect. 23.

Illustrated Quote

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A quote by Zeno about silence is golden: “The reason why we have two ears and only one mouth is that we may listen the more…”
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A quote by Zeno about silence is golden: “The reason why we have two ears and only one mouth is that we may listen the more…”
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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote by Diogenes Laërtius

One soul dwelling in two bodies.

Aristotle

Quoted in The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers, by Diogenes Laërtius

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Topic
Friends Friendship
Speaker
Aristotle

Author

Diogenes Laërtius
Source
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers
Genre
Biography Historical literature
Language
Greek
Time
3rd century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Aristotle. Quoted in Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers, written by Diogenes Laertius. c. 240 AD, bk. 5, ch. 1, sect. 20.

Current Citation

Aristotle. Quoted in The Lives of Eminent Philosophers, written by Diogenes Laërtius, translated by Pamela Mensch, edited by James Miller. Oxford University Press, 2018, bk. 5, ch. 1, sect. 20.

Another quote from the 5th century BC

For I am the Lord, I change not.

Malachi 3:6

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More information about this quote
Topic
Nature of God God
Source
Malachi The Bible
Medium
Scripture
Genre
Religious literature
Language
Hebrew
Time
424 BC 420s BC 5th century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 3
Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (Malachi 3:6).

Another quote from Classical antiquity

I found Rome a city of bricks and left it a city of marble.

Caesar Augustus

Quoted in Lives of the Caesars, by Suetonius

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Topic
Rome
Speaker
Caesar Augustus

Author

Suetonius
Source
Lives of the Caesars
Medium
Biography
Genre
Historical literature
Statement Type
Boast
Language
Latin
Time
121 120s 2nd century
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Augustus, Caesar. Quoted in De vita Caesarum [About the Life of the Caesars], written by Suetonius. c. 121.

Current Citation

Augustus, Caesar. Quoted in The Lives of the Caesars, written by Suetonius, translated by Catharine Edwards. Oxford University Press, 2009.

Another quote from The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers

Do not speak ill of the dead.

Chilon

Quoted in The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers, by Diogenes Laërtius

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More information about this quote
Topic
Speaking ill of the dead
Speaker
Chilon

Author

Diogenes Laërtius
Source
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers
Genre
Historical literature
Language
Greek
Time
400 400s 3rd century
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Chilon. Quoted in The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers, written by Diogenes Laërtius. c. 240 AD, bk. 1, ch. 3.

Current Citation

Chilon. Quoted in The Lives of Eminent Philosophers, written by Diogenes Laërtius, translated by Pamela Mensch, edited by James Miller. Oxford University Press, 2018, bk. 1, ch. 3.

Another quote originally in Greek

Be like a headland of rock on which the waves break incessantly: but it stands fast and around it the seething of the waters sinks to rest.

Marcus Aurelius

Meditations

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More information about this quote
Topic
Steadfastness Dependability Inner strength Courage

Author

Marcus Aurelius
Source
Meditations
Medium
Personal journal
Genre
Philosophical literature
Statement Type
Advice Metaphor, analogy and simile
Language
Greek
Time
180 180s 2nd century
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 1
Original Citation

Aurelius, Marcus. Meditations. c. 180, bk. 4.

Current Citation

Aurelius, Marcus. Meditations, edited and translated by Martin Hammond. Penguin Classics, 2015, bk. 4.