Arrian Quotes (89-160)

Philosopher

About Arrian

Lucius Flavius Arrianus 'Xenophon' (c. 86/89–c. after 146/160 CE), known in English as Arrian, was a Greek historian and philosopher.

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β€œNo Indian ever went outside his own country on a warlike expedition, so righteous were they.”
β€œYour ancestors invaded Macedonia and the rest of Greece and did us great harm, though we had done them no prior injury; … [and] I have been appointed leader of the Greeks …”
Arrian
β€œThey (Indians) are remarkably brave, and superior in war to all Asiatics; they are remarkable for integrity; they are so reasonable as seldom to have recourse to law suits, and so honest as to require neither locks to their doors nor writings to bind their agreements. They are in the highest degree truthful.”
β€œThis also is remarkable in India, that all Indians are free, and no Indian at all is a slave. In this the Indians agree with the Lacedaemonians. Yet the Lacedaemonians have Helots for slaves, who perform the duties of slaves; but the Indians have no slaves at all, much less is any Indian a slave.”
β€œFrom the time of Dionysus to Sandrocottus the Indians counted 153 kings and a period of 6042 years, but among these a republic was thrice established... and another to 300 years, and another to 120 years. The Indians also tell us that Dionysus was earlier than Heracles by fifteen generations, and that except him no one made a hostile invasion of India but that Alexander indeed came and overthrew in war all whom he attacked... The Indians also tell us that Dionysus was earlier than Heracles by fifteen generations.”
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Arrian Quotes by Topic

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Arrian on Military history of India 2 quotes

β€œIn war the Indians were by far the bravest of all the races inhabiting Asia at that time.”
Arrian
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Arrian on Slavery in India

β€œThis also is remarkable in India, that all Indians are free, and no Indian at all is a slave. In this the Indians agree with the Lacedaemonians. Yet the Lacedaemonians have Helots for slaves, who perform the duties of slaves; but the Indians have no slaves at all, much less is any Indian a slave.”
Arrian

Arrian on Libation

β€œAlexander sacrificed to the gods to whom it was his custom to sacrifice, and gave a public banquet, seated all the Persians, and then any persons from the other peoples who took precedence for rank or any other high quality, and he himself and those around him drank from the same bowl and poured the same libations, with the Greek soothsayers and Magi initiating the ceremony. Alexander prayed for various blessings and especially that the Macedonians and Persians should enjoy harmony as partners in government. The story prevails that those who shared the banquet were nine thousand and that they all poured the same libation and gave the one victory cry as they did.”
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What Arrian Said About Others

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Arrian on Indian people 2 quotes

β€œNo Indian ever went outside his own country on a warlike expedition, so righteous were they.”
Arrian
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Arrian on Alexander the Great

β€œAlexander sacrificed to the gods to whom it was his custom to sacrifice, and gave a public banquet, seated all the Persians, and then any persons from the other peoples who took precedence for rank or any other high quality, and he himself and those around him drank from the same bowl and poured the same libations, with the Greek soothsayers and Magi initiating the ceremony. Alexander prayed for various blessings and especially that the Macedonians and Persians should enjoy harmony as partners in government. The story prevails that those who shared the banquet were nine thousand and that they all poured the same libation and gave the one victory cry as they did.”
Arrian

Quotes About Arrian

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The History of India on Arrian

β€œArrian mentions with admiration that every Indian is free. With them, as with the Lacedemonians, he says, no native can be a slave; but unlike the Lacedemonians, they keep no other people in servitude.”

About Arrian

Lucius Flavius Arrianus 'Xenophon' (c. 86/89–c. after 146/160 CE), known in English as Arrian, was a Greek historian and philosopher.