From the book
Stobaeus, Volume II
John Stobaeus · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordCynicism names a way of life that the wise person may continue but will not newly begin once wise, according to this brief reported distinction rather than a detailed program of Cynic practices.
- In StobaeusThe passage explains living as a Cynic through persistence and then contrasts that continuation with beginning the life after attaining wisdom, keeping the temporal distinction central to its limited assertion.
- In this editionPreserve the supplied explanatory connection and the difference between persisting and beginning, without expanding the sentence into a universal command to adopt or reject every practice associated with Cynics.
- A place to readChapter 7 · Excerpt 11s · Passage 3 Read persisting and once wise together, noticing that the apparent contrast turns on whether the life is being continued or newly initiated rather than on a list of its customs.
- English renderings
- Cynicism; living as a Cynic
Meaning
Kynismos names the Cynic way of life in a brief Stoic claim. It is not modern cynicism as distrustful sneering or denial that anyone acts well.
Use in the book
The report says the wise person will live as a Cynic, explaining this as persistence in Cynicism, but denies that he will begin Cynicism once already wise. Continuing and initiating are therefore the substance of the passage. It should not be flattened into a universal command to adopt every Cynic custom or a blanket rejection of the way of life. No detailed program of Cynic practices is given. The lexicon identifies the name and this limited assertion without importing a biography or fuller external account of the school.
The first statement can sound like an unrestricted future prescription until the explanation and contrast are read. Living as a Cynic is equated with persisting in Cynicism; beginning the life once already wise is then denied. The supplied explanatory connection remains marked. The small passage gives no account of particular clothing, possessions, exercises or public behavior. Its usable distinction is temporal: continuing and initiating are not treated alike. An expanded picture of the school would therefore exceed what this local witness establishes.
“yet, once wise, he will not begin the Cynic life.” (Chapter 7 · Excerpt 11s · Passage 3).
Places to read
- Chapter 7 · Excerpt 11s · Passage 32Continuing a Cynic life differs from beginning it once wise.
Translation in this edition
Capitalization marks the named ancient way of life.
κυνισμῷ
Attested. Chapter 7 · Excerpt 11s · Passage 3; Wachsmuth II, printed p. 114.
τὸν σοφὸν λέγουσιν, ἴσον ⟨ὂν⟩ τῷ ἐπιμένειν τῷ κυνισμῷ, οὐ μὴν σοφὸν ὄντα ἐνάρξεσθαι τοῦ κυνισμοῦ.
Source note
Wachsmuth, volume II, printed p. 114. The noun is directly witnessed; the related future verb is also printed in the passage.