Edited by Jude Patterson
The world will be a better place if a fraction of us will take to heart two of the quotes by two ancient philosophers, one by Aesop and the other by Marcus-Aurelius.
4 stars out of five stars
This little book is 7” long by 5” wide and weights 5.7 oz. It is probably the lightest among the books I own. In its 57 pages, it contains about 400 quotes of wisdom/timeless truths uttered by some 78 immortal philosophers, from ancient Greece, Rome, and China. The quotes are presented as if the philosophers were engaged in conversation and organized under the topics of The Gift of Philosophy, The Political Animal, Calumny and Conscience, The Art of War, Desire, Linger in Your own Company, The Circle of Friendship, Do What You Would be, the Unbent Mind and The Torch of Life. Indeed, the same universal themes are still being searched by philosophers today.
For me, the quotes can be classified under five categories, depending on whether the quote and/or the author were previously known or unknown to me. An example in each category is given below:
I. Both the quote and the author were previously known
Sun-Tzu: The best victory is when the opponent surrenders of its own accord before there are any actual hostilities. It is best to win without fighting.
II. Quote known; author unknown
Publilius Syrus: A good reputation is more valuable than money.
III. Both quote and author unknown
Chabrias: An army of deer led by a lion is more to be feared than an army of lions led by a deer.
IV. Quote unknown; author known
Julius Caesar: What sort of death is best? A sudden death.
V. Both quote and author were known, but did not know they were connected
Lao-Tzu: A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.
I have since found out that Publilius Syrus was a Latin writer who lived in 85-43 BC. He was a Syrian from Antioch who was brought as a slave to Roman Italy. Chabrias was an Athenian general active in the first half of the 4th century BC.
Source: Wikipedia
This little book will do a great service to humanity if only a fraction of us would take to our hearts the following two quotes:
Marcus-Aurelius: Death hangs over thee. While thou still live, while thou may, do good.
Aesop (a Greek storyteller): No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.
Source: Wikipedia
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