a famous Greek philosopher, was born at Abdera. In his youth, his poverty obliged him to submit to the servile office of frequently carrying logs of wood from the neighbouring fields to Abdera. It happened that as he was one day going on briskly towards the city under one of these loads, he was met by Democritus, who was particularly struck with the neatness and regularity of the bundle. Defying him to stop and rest himself, Democritus examined more closely the structure of the load, and found that it was put together with mathematical exactness; upon which he asked the youth whether he himself had made it up. Protagoras assured him that he had; and immediately taking it to pieces, with great ease replaced every log in the same exact order as before. Democritus expressed much admiration of his ingenuity; and said to him, "Young man, follow me, and your talents shall be employed upon greater and better things." The youth consented, and Democritus took him home, maintained him at his own expense, and taught him philosophy, which qualified him for the office of legislator of the Thurians. He was more subtle than solid in his reasonings; however he taught at Athens with great reputation, but was at length banished from thence for the impiety of his doctrines. He then travelled, and visited the islands in the Mediterranean, where it is said that he was the first philosopher who taught for money. He died in a voyage to Sicily, in a very advanced age. He commonly reasoned by dilemmas, and left the mind in suspense with respect to all the questions he proposed. His moral principles were adopted by Hobbes. (See MORAL PHILOSOPHY). Plato wrote a dialogue against him. He flourished 400 years B.C.