Labor Did Not Enter into the Cynic Scheme of Life

The word πονοσ ordinarily meant labor; thus we read of the twelve πονοι of Hercules. When the Cynics accepted Hercules as their patron saint- perhaps in the 2nd century B. C.- they may have taken the word πονοσ with him. But labor did not enter into the Cynic scheme of life and they restricted the meaning of the word to hardship (Dio Chrysostom 8, 28). Labor was regarded as an evil and was connected with the idea of hardship, as appears from the following. "All that costly array of means of enjoyment which you so gloat over is obtained only at the price of labor of the body and vexation of the mind. Consider, if you please, the gold that is so sought after, the silver, the luxurious houses, the elaborate clothing- and then remember through how much toil and trouble and danger these have been acquired- yes, and through how many men's blood and death and ruin. To bring these things to you many seamen must perish; to find and fashion them many laborers must endure misery... I enjoy the things that cost the least trouble to prepare" (Lucian, Cynicus).

The early Stoic leaders retained many Cynic ideas (D. L. 7, 121) and the attitude of the Cynics toward labor is probably expressed in the following quotation from Chrysippus; "And yet what reason is there that he (the wise man) should provide a living? For if it be to support life, life is after all a thing indifferent. If it be for pleasure, pleasure too is a thing indifferent. While if it be for virtue, virtue in itself is sufficient to constitute happiness. The modes of getting a livelihood are also ludicrous" (D.L.7,189).

Lactantius says; "Diogenes, with a multitude of his dogs; (canum), who professed that high and complete virtue- the contempt of all possessions- preferred to beg for food rather than gain it by honorable labor or to have anything of his own. Certainly the life of a wise man should be an example to others. But if every one should imitate their wisdom, how are cities to continue to exist?" (Institutionum Epitome 34). Plutarch says, "The exile… has leisure, can walk about, read, sleep without being disturbed, and can say like Diogenes, 'Aristotle has to dine when Philip thinks fit, Diogenes can dine at any time he himself chooses,' having no business, or magistrate or prefect to put him out of his general habits of living" (On Exile 12).

Image: Probable portrait of Lactantius from unidentified fresco
Photo by Unknown via Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain