There are many marvellous stories told of Pherecydes. For it is said that he was walking along the seashore at Samos, and that seeing a ship sailing by with a fair wind, he said that it would soon sink; and presently it sank before his eyes. At another time he was drinking some water which had been drawn up out of a well, and he foretold that within three days there would be an earthquake; and there was one.

Aristippus being asked what were the most necessary things for well-born boys to learn, said, "Those things which they will put in practice when they become men.

A man once asked Diogenes what was the proper time for supper, and he made answer, "If you are a rich man, whenever you please; and if you are a poor man, whenever you can.

Pittacus said that half was more than the whole.

He used to say that it was better to have one friend of great value than many friends who were good for nothing.

The mountains too, at a distance, appear airy masses and smooth, but seen near at hand they are rough.

One of the sophisms of Chrysippus was, "If you have not lost a thing, you have it.