Lives of Eminent Philosophers
Diogenes Laertius
1925
A biographical compendium of ancient Greek philosophers preserving many sayings, anecdotes, and doctrines that survive nowhere else.
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Quotes from this source
2 verified quotes
“The reason why we have two ears and only one mouth is that we may listen more and talk less.”
― Zeno of CitiumLives of Eminent Philosophers (Book VII, Section 23)Original translation
Modernized wording
AI put this 1925 translation into today's English. Only the wording changed: each rewrite was checked against the original to keep its exact meaning.
“The reason why we have two ears and only one mouth is that we may listen the more and talk the less.”
Translated by R. D. Hicks, 1925