TIMON the Sceptic, who is not to be confounded with Timon the Misanthrope, was a Philistine, a disciple of Pyrro, and lived in the time of Ptolemy Philadelphus. He took so little pains to invite disciples to his school, that it has been said of him, that as the Scythians shot flying, Timon gained pupils by running from them. He was fond of rural retirement; and was so much addicted to wine, that he held a successful contest with several celebrated champions in drinking. Like Lucian, he wrote with sarcastic humour against the whole body of philosophers. The fragments of his satirical poem Silli, often quoted by the ancients, have been carefully collected by Henry Stephens in his Poeta Philosophica. Timon lived to the age of 90 years.

Timon, surnamed Misanthropos, or the Man-hater, a famous Athenian, who lived about 420 B.C. He was once asked, why he loved the young Alcibiades while he detested all the rest of the human race? on which he replied, "It is because I foresee that he will be the ruin of the Athenians."