# Polemo explained — The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers

> Chapter companion for The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers by Diogenes Laërtius.

## What happens

Polemo, son of Philostratus, was an Athenian who in his youth was extremely intemperate and profligate, but after hearing Xenocrates speak on temperance while drunk, he reformed and became a devoted philosopher, eventually succeeding Xenocrates as head of the school. He adopted a rigorous moral system, remaining calm even when bitten by a mad dog or amid city confusion, and emphasized action over dialectic. He was honored in Athens, imitated Xenocrates, loved Sophocles, and died of decline at an old age.

## Themes in this chapter

### Ethics and Self-Control

Polemo's transformation from intemperance to rigorous self-discipline exemplifies the theme of ethical self-control, as he adopts a system of morals and remains unmoved by external disturbances.

### Virtue and Self-Sufficiency

Polemo's emphasis on action over dialectic and his consistent character reflect a focus on virtue and self-sufficiency, as he avoids inconsistency and cultivates noble sentiments.

## Character check-ins

### Polemo

The subject of the chapter; transforms from a profligate youth into a disciplined philosopher and successor of Xenocrates.

### Xenocrates

Polemo's teacher; his discourse on temperance inspires Polemo's reformation.

### Crantor

Charmed by Polemo's consistent and rigorous character.

### Crates of Thebes

Present with Polemo when Nicostratus the poet reads; Crates is moved while Polemo remains unmoved.

### Antigonus of Carystus

Cited as a source for details about Polemo's father and his wife's prosecution.

## Key lines

> And when he was young, he was so very intemperate and profligate, that he used always to carry money about with him, to procure the instant gratification of his passions; and he used also to hide money in the narrow alleys, for this purpose.

In his youth, Polemo was extremely dissolute, always carrying money to immediately satisfy his desires and even hiding coins in alleys for that purpose.

_Describes Polemo's early profligacy before his philosophical conversion._

> But he took no notice of him, and continued his discourse as he had begun it, and it was in praise of temperance; and the young man, hearing it, was gradually charmed, and became so industrious, that he surpassed all the rest of the disciples, and himself became the successor of Xenocrates, in his school beginning in the hundred and sixteenth olympiad.

Xenocrates ignored Polemo's drunken disruption and continued his lecture on temperance, which gradually captivated Polemo and led him to become the most diligent student, eventually succeeding Xenocrates as head of the school in the 116th Olympiad.

_Highlights the pivotal moment of Polemo's reformation through Xenocrates' teaching._

> And Polemo used to say that a man ought to exercise himself in action, and not in dialectic speculations, as if one had drunk in and dwelt upon a harmonious kind of system of art, so as to be admired for one’s shrewdness in putting questions, but to be inconsistent with oneself in character.

Polemo believed that one should practice through action rather than mere dialectical arguments, warning against being clever in questioning but inconsistent in character.

_Reflects Polemo's philosophical emphasis on practical virtue over theoretical debate._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/polemo
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- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters