The Greek Stoic philosopher Cleanthes was originally a boxer who took up philosophy when he came to Athens and eventually became the successor to Zeno of Citium as the second head of the Stoic school around 262 BC.

He supported his studies by working as a water-carrier at night and the short anecdotes we have about his life provide good lessons on humility and simple living.

The biographical stories I share about Cleanthes in this episode come courtesy of Diogenes Laertius and his famous work Lives of the Eminent Philosophers.

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