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I should like to cite a few of his well-directed and witty remarks, and may as well begin with Favorinus An eunuch from Arles, of considerable repute as a sophist. and what he said to him. When Favorinus was told by someone that Demonax was making fun of his lectures and particularly of the laxity of their rhythm, saying that it was vulgar and effeminate and not by any means appropriate to philosophy, he went to Demonax and asked him: “Who are you to libel my compositions?” “A man with an ear that is not easy to cheat,” said he. The sophist kept at him and asked: “What qualifications had you, Demonax, to leave school and commence philosophy?” “Those-you lack,” he retorted.
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Another time the same man went to him and asked what philosophical school he favoured most. Demonax replied: “Why, who told you that I was a philosopher?” As he left, he broke into a very hearty laugh; and when Favorinus asked him what he was laughing at, he replied: “It seemed to me ridiculous that you should think a philosopher can be told by his beard when you yourself have none.”
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When the Sidonian sophist Otherwise unknown. was once showing. his powers at Athens, and was voicing his own praise to the effect that he was acquainted with all philosophy—but I may as well cite his very words: “If Aristotle calls me to the Lyceum, I shall go with him; if Plato calls me to the Academy, I shall come; if Zeno calls, I shall spend my time in the Stoa; if Pythagoras calls, I shall hold my tongue.” Alluding to the Pythagorean vow of silence. Well, Demonax arose in the midst of the audience and said: “Ho” (addressing him by name), “Pythagoras is calling you!”
