Diogenous Laertiou Peri biōn, dogmatōn kai apophthegmatōn tōn en philosophia eudokimēsantōn biblia 10

HENRICUS STEPHANUS
TO THE STUDENTS OF THE READING OF DIOGENES LAERTIUS, GREETINGS.

Decorative drop cap Q featuring floral and foliate motifs.

When I think how many things I have to discuss with you, I must also think at the same time that very little time should be spent on those things which I would otherwise most gladly use as a preface to this work and its writer. Yet, in turn, I consider with myself that if I preface nothing about him and speak of other things, it will be said that I approached these prolegomena (if indeed the things I will discuss here can be called by this name) with unwashed hands i.e., unprepared or profane. Why then should I not propose for you to read the first part of the letter written to Johannes Crato, in which I treat that argument? Or, to one who has already read it, why should I not put it back, that is, place it before you a second time? To some indeed, by whom it has already been read, I will be able to be said to imitate those who set before later guests the dishes which earlier guests left entirely untouched. Moreover, it happens conveniently that we see the earlier part of that letter is well-suited to that first part of my argument.

There, then, is that part for you. I send you the lives of the philosophers, most excellent man, or rather, the lives of those called philosophers. For most of them (if we wish to confess the truth) are nothing less than philosophical, that is, worthy of philosophers. Unless, perhaps, we should say that these lives are indeed worthy of them, but that they were unworthy of the name of philosopher. We will certainly find here some lives of philosophers that are suitable for courtly philosophy (for it is pleasant to speak of courtly matters with a courtier).