moved the earth,[1] Solon wrote laws and Galen prescriptions, Euclid measured the hall, Kleobulus inquired into the future, Periander measured out their duties to men, Pittacus warred, Bias begged, Epictetus served, Seneca praised poverty while surrounded by tons of gold, Socrates informed everyone that he knew nothing; Xenophon, on the contrary, promised to teach everyone everything; Diogenes, peeping out of a tub, insulted all who passed by; Timon cursed all, Democritus laughed at all this; Heraclitus, on the other hand, cried; Zeno fasted, Epicure feasted; Anaxarchus said that all things were nothing in reality, but only appeared to exist. Of other little philosophers there were many, and each one endeavoured to prove something particular; and I did not remember everything, nor do I wish to be reminded of it all. Pondering over this, I said: "These, then, are the wise men, the lights of the world. Alas, alas! I had hoped for other things; here, as peasants in a tavern, each one screams, and each one differently." The interpreter said to me: "Thou art a fool; thou dost not understand these mysteries." Then behold, some one stepped up to us, also in the garb of a philosopher (he was called Paul of Tarsus) and he said into mine ear: "If anyone thinks himself wise in this world, let him first be simple, so that he may become wise. Assuredly the wisdom of this world is folly before God. For it is written:
- ↑ An obvious allusion to Archimedes' well-known remark to Hiero, which in the Latin version runs thus: "Da mihi punctum et terram movebo."
