XENOCRATES, one of the most illustrious philosophers of ancient Greece, was born in Chalcedon, and became early a disciple of Plato. He studied under this great master at the same time with Aristotle, but was not possessed of the same talents; he wanting a spur, and the other a bridle. However, if Xenocrates, by the heaviness of his genius, was greatly inferior to Aristotle, he excelled him very much in practical philosophy. There was something extraordinary in the rectitude of his morals. He was absolute master of his passions; and was not fond of pleasure, riches, or applause. So great was his reputation for sincerity and probity, that he was the only person whom the magistrates of Athens dispensed from confirming his testimony with an oath. There was nothing graceful in the behaviour of Xenocrates, but a seriousness and severity were always seen in his deportment; for which reason Plato frequently exhorted him to sacrifice to the Graces. Notwithstanding this severe cast of mind, he yet was extremely compassionate. He was fond of the mathematics; and permitted none of his scholars to be ignorant of them. It is surprising that a philosopher of so much merit should have been so ill treated by the Athenians, as to be sold because he could not pay the poll-tax laid on foreigners. Demetrius Phalereus bought Xenocrates, set him immediately at liberty, and paid the Athenians the debt. Xenocrates died 314 B. C. at about 90 years of age, by accidentally striking his forehead against a kettle in the night. He composed, at Alexander's
Xenophanes ander's desire, a Treatise on the Art of Reigning; six books on Nature; six books on Philosophy; one on Riches, &c. but none of these works have been handed down to us. Our philosopher's theology was but poor stuff: Cicero refutes him in the first book of the Nature of the Gods.