Monimus's Life
I. Monimus was a Syracusan, and a pupil of Diogenes, but also a slave of some Corinthian money-changer, as Sosicrates tells us. Xeniades, who bought Diogenes, used often to come to him, extolling the excellency of Diogenes both in actions and words, till he excited a great affection for the man in the mind of Monimus. For he immediately feigned madness, and threw about all the money and all the coins that were on the table, until his master discarded him, and then he straightway went to Diogenes and became his pupil. He also followed Crates the Cynic a good deal, and devoted himself to the same studies as he did; and the sight of this conduct of his made his master all the more think him mad.
I. Monimus was from Syracuse and was a pupil of Diogenes. Sosicrates says he was also the slave of a Corinthian money-changer. Xeniades, who bought Diogenes, often visited the money-changer. He praised Diogenes highly for both his actions and his words, until Monimus developed a great affection for him. Monimus immediately pretended to be mad. He threw around all the money and all the coins on the table until his master dismissed him. Then he went straight to Diogenes and became his pupil. He also spent much time following Crates the Cynic and devoted himself to the same studies. When his master saw this, he was even more convinced that Monimus was mad.
II. And he was a very eminent man, so that even Menander, the comic poet, speaks of him; accordingly, in one of his plays, namely in the Hippocomus, he mentions him thus:—
II. He was so distinguished that even Menander, the comic poet, wrote about him. In his play Hippocomus, Menander mentions him as follows:
There is a man, O Philo, named Monimus, A wise man, though but little known, and one Who bears a wallet at his back, and is not Content with one but three. He never spoke A single sentence, by great Jove I swear, Like this one, “Know thyself,” or any other Of the oft-quoted proverbs: all such sayings He scorned, as he did beg his way through dirt; Teaching that all opinion is but vanity.
There is a man, Philo, named Monimus. He is wise, though little known, and he carries a bag on his back. He is not content with one, but carries three. By great Jove, I swear he never spoke a single sentence like “Know yourself,” or any other of the often quoted proverbs. He scorned all such sayings as he begged his way through the dirt, teaching that all opinion is worthless.
But he was a man of such gravity that he despised glory, and sought only for truth.
But he was so serious that he despised glory and sought only the truth.
III. He wrote some jests mingled with serious treatises, and two essays on the Appetites, and an Exhortation.
III. He wrote some jokes mixed with serious works, as well as two essays on the appetites and an exhortation.