Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers

...there are the books of others from which those things referring to becoming "good" rather than just "learned" can be better learned by us. Indeed, even the one little book of Epictetus The Enchiridion or "Handbook," a famous guide to Stoic ethics. Estienne notes with surprise that Diogenes Laertius omitted Epictetus from his Lives. (whose life I wonder was omitted by our Diogenes) would be an excellent teacher for us in this matter. But just as readers of that golden little book are rare, so certainly rare are those who would prefer to be better than to be more learned.

Moreover, the learning that can be sought by us from this work of Diogenes is varied and manifold. If I were to begin to speak about it point by point, I would fear that, wishing to teach such things to Crato (truly a second Crates Estienne makes a play on words between his friend's name, Crato, and the Cynic philosopher Crates of Thebes.), I might seem to want to "teach the sow to Minerva" A classical proverb (sus Minervam docet) used when an ignorant person attempts to instruct an expert.. Rather, therefore, it would be my duty at present to discourse briefly on this edition of mine of this work, and on its interpretation published at the same time. And I will do this all the more willingly, because in the meantime I shall excellently (like that character of Terence Likely referring to the character Gnatho in Terence's play The Eunuch, who was known for using flattering and flowery language.) "adorn with words" this gift of mine which I am sending to you.

Therefore, Diogenes Laertius comes forth, collated with ancient manuscripts with the highest care and diligence by three Henries (but especially by Henry Scrimgeour A Scottish humanist and scholar (1506–1572) who provided Estienne with valuable manuscript readings., whom I name for the sake of honor). From these manuscripts, he has obtained the emendation of many passages, and also many words that were missing, and in some places the addition of entire sentences. He is also augmented by the annotations of one of those Henries Referring to Estienne himself., in which many variant readings that had not been received into the main text are brought forward, and certain passages are also emended by conjecture. There are also some passages in which the translator did not act in good faith...