The Laughable Stories Collected by Mar Gregory John

PROFITABLE SAYINGS OF THE GREEK PHILOSOPHERS. I 7
"thereunto; and if it be fair, let him not defile it by
"corrupt deeds and actions."
LXIII. Another philosopher was asked, "Which is the
"best doctrine?" And he replied, "That which fools
"hate."
LXIV. As a certain philosopher was passing through
a city he there saw the captain of a host who had
not succeeded at all in warfare, together with a certain
physician, and he said to the people of that city,
"Would that this physician were the captain of your
"host, for he hath far more experience in the slaughter
"of men [than the captain of the host], and would that
"the captain of your host were your physician, because
"he is far more careful about killing men than the
"physician."
LXV. Plato said, "It is a very great disgrace^ indeed
"for a man to be both ignorant and not anxious to
"gain instruction, for two vices are gathered together
"in him."
LXVI. It was said to Socrates by a certain man, "I am
"deeply pained for thee because thou art so poor." jf
And he replied, "If thou couldst only attain unto the
"pleasure of poverty, whereof thou art [now] deprived
"thou wouldst be sorry for thyself and not for me."
LXVII. To Socrates also a certain man said, "The
"words which thou hast spoken have not been [well]
'received." And he replied, "I grieve not at all that
"they have not been [well] received, but I should grieve
"if they had not been well delivered."
^ On p. 1 6 of the Syr. text, 1. \2, for K'iflQAi.l read K'.TOiaj.i.
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