member of the Megarean school of ancient Greek philosophy. He was not
only celebrated for his eloquence and skill in dialectics, but for the
success with which he applied to moral precepts of philosophy to the
correction of his natural propensities. Though in his youth he had
been much addicted to intemperance and licentious pleasures, after he
had ranked himself among philosophers he was never known to violate
the laws of sobriety or chastity. With respect to riches he exercised
a virtuous moderation. When Ptolemy Soter, at the taking of Megara,
presented him with a large sum of money, and requested him to
accompany him to Egypt, he returned the greater part of the present,
and chose to retire, during Ptolemy's stay at Megara, to the island of
Aegina. Afterward, when Megara was again taken by Demetrius, son of
Antigonus, the conqueror ordered the soldiers to spare the house of
Stilpo; and, if anything should be taken from him in the hurry of the
plunder, to restore it. So great was the fame of Stilpo, that when he
visited Athens, the people ran out of their shops to see him, and even
the most eminent philosophers of Athens took pleasure in attending his
discourses.
On moral topics Stilpo is said to have taught that the highest
happiness consists in a mind free from the dominion of passion, a
doctrine similar to that of the Stoics. (Diog. Laert. ii. 113-118;
Sen. Epist. 9).
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