Biography

Zeno of Citium, The Stoic, was a Hellenistic philosopher from Cyprus. Born in 334 BC to a merchant, Zeno was himself a merchant until he was 42. At that time, after studying under Crates, Stiplo, and Philo with Cynical roots, Zeno started the Stoic school of Philosophy. There, Cynic-related philosophies were spread, with their general "back-to-nature" ideas. Zeno of Citium became known as the deriver of Stoicism and all his life he continued to teach the connections of human life and Nature, the unity of all, and the importance of virtue and right Reason.

Zeno died at the rumored age of 98. He, like the Cynics, believed that one should take care of what was called for. And being at a very old age, Zeno strangled himself. Soon before that, as Zeno fell and hurt himself, he called out, "I am coming, why do you call me thus?" (cited from the Greek myth of Niobe) Zeno lived a century of dedication to the philosophies of Stoicism and Cynicism, and because of the strength in his belief system, he is still known today.

//"We have two ears and one mouth, so we should listen more than we say."// --Zeno of Citium

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