Book 4
6.32
He also attended the lectures of the geometer Hipponicus, at whom he pointed a jest as one who was in all besides a listless, yawning sluggard but yet proficient in his subject. Geometry, he said, must have flown into his mouth while it was agape. When this man’s mind gave way, Arcesilaus took him to his house and nursed him until he was completely restored. He took over the school on the death of Crates, a certain Socratides having retired in his favour. According to some, one result of his suspending judgement on all matters was that he never so much as wrote a book.If this be so, the study of the poet Ion ( § 31) must have remained unpublished. Others relate that he was caught revising some works of Crantor, which according to some he published, according to others he burnt. He would seem to have held Plato in admiration, and he possessed a copy of his works.
6.33
Some represent him as emulous of Pyrrho as well. He was devoted to dialectic and adopted the methods of argument introduced by the Eretrian school. On account of this Ariston said of him: Plato the head of him, Pyrrho the tail, midway Diodorus.A parody of Homer, Il. vi. 181: a chimaera has a lion’s front, a dragon’s tail, and the body of a goat. And Timon speaks of him thusCf. Hom. Od. v. 346.: Having the lead of Menedemus at his heart, he will run either to that mass of flesh, Pyrrho, or to Diodorus. And a little farther on he introduces him as saying: I shall swim to Pyrrho and to crooked Diodorus.
6.33
He was highly axiomatic and concise, and in his discourse fond of distinguishing the meaning of terms. He was satirical enough, and outspoken.
