Metrocles' Life

I. Metrocles was the brother of Hipparchia; and though he had formerly been a pupil of Theophrastus, he had profited so little by his instructions, that once, thinking that, while listening to a lecture on philosophy, he had disgraced himself by his inattention, he fell into despondency, and shut himself up in his house, intending to starve himself to death. Accordingly, when Crates heard of it, he came to him, having been sent for; and eating a number of lupins, on purpose, he persuaded him by numbers of arguments, that he had done no harm; for that it was not to be expected that a man should not indulge his natural inclinations and habits; and he comforted him by showing him that he, in a similar case, would certainly have behaved in a similar manner. And after that, he became a pupil of Crates, and a man of great eminence as a philosopher.

I. Metrocles was Hipparchia’s brother and had once been a pupil of Theophrastus. But he had gained so little from Theophrastus’s teaching that he once fell into despair over an incident. While listening to a philosophy lecture, he thought he had disgraced himself by not paying attention. He shut himself up at home, intending to starve himself to death. When Crates heard about this, he was sent for and came to see Metrocles. Crates deliberately ate a number of lupins and offered many arguments to persuade Metrocles that he had done no harm. He said that people could not be expected to resist their natural inclinations and habits. He also comforted Metrocles by showing him that he would certainly have behaved the same way in a similar situation. After that, Metrocles became Crates’s pupil and a highly distinguished philosopher.

II. He burnt all his writings, as Hecaton tells us in the first book of his Apophthegms, and said:—

II. He burned all his writings, as Hecaton tells us in the first book of his Apophthegms, and said:

As if he meant that they were all nonsense. But some say that it was the notes which he had taken of the lectures of Theophrastus which he burnt, quoting the following verse:—

As if he meant that they were all nonsense. But some say he burned his notes from Theophrastus’s lectures, quoting the following verse:

III. He used to say that some things could be bought with money, as for instance a house; and some with time and industry, as education; that wealth was mischievous, if a man did not use it properly.

III. He used to say that some things, such as a house, could be bought with money. Others, such as education, could be gained through time and hard work. He also said that wealth was harmful if a person did not use it properly.

IV. He died at a great age, having suffocated himself.

IV. He died at an old age after suffocating himself.

V. His pupils were Theombrotus and Cleomenes, Demetrius of Alexandria, the son of Theombrotus, Timarchus of Alexandria, the son of Cleomenes, and Echecles, of Ephesus. Not but what Echecles was also a pupil of Theombrotus; and Menedemus, of whom we shall speak hereafter, was his pupil. Menippus, of Sinope, too, was a very eminent person in his school.

V. His pupils were Theombrotus, Cleomenes, Demetrius of Alexandria, Timarchus of Alexandria, and Echecles of Ephesus. Demetrius was the son of Theombrotus, and Timarchus was the son of Cleomenes. Echecles was also a pupil of Theombrotus. Menedemus, whom we will discuss later, was his pupil. Menippus of Sinope was also a very distinguished member of his school.