Myson's Life

I. Myson, the son of Strymon, as Sosicrates states, quoting Hermippus as his authority, a Chenean by birth, of some Œtæan or Laconian village, is reckoned one of the seven wise men, and they say that his father was tyrant of his country. It is said by some writers that, when Anacharsis inquired if any one was wiser than he, the priestess at Delphi gave the answer which has been already quoted in the life of Thales in reference to Chilo:—

I. Myson was the son of Strymon, according to Sosicrates, who cites Hermippus as his source. He was born in Chene, a village in either Œtæa or Laconia. He is counted among the seven wise men, and his father is said to have been the tyrant of his country. Some writers say that Anacharsis asked whether anyone was wiser than he was. The priestess at Delphi gave the answer already quoted in the life of Thales in reference to Chilo:

And that he, having taken a great deal of trouble, came to the village, and found him in the summer season fitting a handle to a plough, and he addressed him, “O Myson, this is not now the season for the plough.” “Indeed,” said he, “it is a capital season for preparing one;” but others say, that the words of the oracle are the Etean sage, and they raise the question, what the word Etean means. So Parmenides says, that it is a borough of Laconia, of which Myson was a native; but Sosicrates, in his Successions says, that he was an Etean on his father’s side, and a Chenean by his mother’s. But Euthyphron, the son of Heraclides Ponticus, says that he was a Cretan, for that Etea was a city of Crete.

After considerable effort, he came to the village and found Myson fitting a handle to a plough. It was summer, and he said to Myson, “Myson, this is not the season for ploughing.” Myson replied, “Indeed, it is an excellent season for preparing a plough.” But others say that the oracle’s words are “the Etean sage,” and they ask what “Etean” means. Parmenides says that Etea is a borough of Laconia, where Myson was born. But Sosicrates says in his Successions that Myson was an Etean on his father’s side and a Chenean on his mother’s. Euthyphron, the son of Heraclides Ponticus, says that Myson was a Cretan, because Etea was a city of Crete.

II. And Anaxilaus says that he was an Arcadian. Hipponax also mentions him, saying, “And Myson, whom Apollo stated to be the most prudent of all men.” But Aristoxenus, in his Miscellanies, says that his habits were not very different from those of Timon and Apemantus, for that he was a misanthrope. And that accordingly he was one day found in Lacedæmon laughing by himself in a solitary place, and when some one came up to him on a sudden and asked him why he laughed when he was by himself, he said, “For that very reason.” Aristoxenus also says that he was not thought much of, because he was not a native of any city, but only of a village, and that too one of no great note; and according to him, it is on account of this obscurity of his that some people attribute his sayings and doings to Pisistratus the tyrant, but he excepts Plato the philosopher, for he mentions Myson in his Protagoras, placing him among the wise men instead of Periander.

II. Anaxilaus says that Myson was an Arcadian. Hipponax also mentions him, saying, “And Myson, whom Apollo said was the wisest of all men.” But Aristoxenus says in his Miscellanies that Myson’s habits were much like those of Timon and Apemantus. Like them, he was a misanthrope. So one day, he was found laughing to himself in a lonely place in Lacedæmon. Someone suddenly came up and asked why he was laughing when he was alone. He replied, “For that very reason.” Aristoxenus also says that Myson was not highly regarded because he came from a village, not a city. The village was not a notable one, either. According to Aristoxenus, Myson’s obscurity led some people to attribute his sayings and deeds to Pisistratus the tyrant. But Aristoxenus makes an exception for Plato the philosopher. In his Protagoras, Plato mentions Myson and places him among the wise men instead of Periander.

III. It used to be a common saying of his that men ought not to seek for things in words, but for words in things; for that things are not made on account of words, but that words are put together for the sake of things.

III. He often said that people should not look for things in words, but for words in things. For things are not made for the sake of words. Rather, words are put together for the sake of things.

IV. He died when he had lived ninety-seven years.

IV. He died at the age of ninety-seven.