Contents
-BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD
S.A. Bent, comp. Familiar Short Sayings of Great Men. 1887.
Demonax
[A Cynic philosopher; born in Cyprus; lived at Athens about 150 A.D.]
Probably all laws are useless; for good men do not want laws at all, and bad men are made no better by them.
To a rich man who seemed proud of his mantle, which was dyed purple, Demonax said, “Before you wore it, it was worn by a sheep.”A bad speaker, who was advised to practise before an audience, said he always spoke to himself. “It is no wonder you speak so badly,” suggested Demonax, “with such a fool to hear you.”
