A COLOSSUS FROM RHODES

The title of this entry is quite ironic. There is not much known about our next sage from the hepta, and most of it cannot be trusted. However, several things are known, and for their sake we cannot omit this man from our consideration.

Cleobulus was a native of the city of Lindus on the island of Rhodes. He is known to have been a poet, and, apart from that, which seems to be for sure, some sources call him King of Lindus, while Plutarch mentions him as a tyrant. According to Diogenes Laertius who wrote his untrustworthy biography, Cleobulus went to Egypt to study philosophy, which probably qualifies him as a philosopher. But no matter what, the fact that he was known as one of hoi hepta sophoi is indisputable. He is named as such on most source lists, and this fact alone is sufficient to infuse some serious gravitas into the irony of our title. Predictably, Webster’s Biographical Dictionary has a very short entry on him, but all quite to the point: Cleobulus. Greek sage of 6^th century BC, one of the Seven Wise Men of Greece.

Each of the hepta, as we know, must be remembered by his pearls of wisdom, and Cleobulus is no exception. Quoted by our good unreliable Diogenes, here are a few of such pearls.

Ignorance and talkativeness bear the chief sway among men. (Thou shalt not be a blabbermouth.)

Cherish not a thought. (If this means what I think it does, I disagree. I wish he said it clearer, though.)

Do not be fickle, or ungrateful. (Be good and fair, and don’t be bad and unfair.)

Be fond of hearing rather than of talking. (Thou shalt not be a blabbermouth is now a recurring leitmotif.)

Be fond of learning rather than unwilling to learn. (The virtues of learning and education.)

Seek virtue and eschew vice. (Be good and fair, and don’t be bad and unfair.)

Be superior to pleasure. (As a very early call for moderation, this saying is most commendable.)

Instruct your children. (The virtues of learning and education are now another recurring leitmotif.)

Be ready for reconciliation after quarrels. (Be peaceable.)

Avoid injustice. (Be good and fair, and don’t be bad and unfair.)

Do nothing by force. (Be good and fair, and don’t be bad and unfair.)

Moderation is the best thing.(As a very early call for moderation, this saying is most commendable, albeit highly questionable. Moderation in vice may be a reasonably good thing, but moderation in virtue is hardly a virtue in itself.)

Aside from these pearls of wisdom, Diogenes spuriously attributes to Cleobulus the poetic inscription on the tomb of Midas (whether the mythological king Midas is indeed buried there is irrelevant to our focus, but the claim to this effect has been repudiated in modern times), which is not philosophically significant, and there is no reason for us to quote it. Diogenes also says that Cleobulus lived a long life and died at, or past the age of, seventy.