# Cleanthes — Discourses character guide

> Cleanthes in Discourses by Epictetus.

**Role:** minor

**First appearance:** 0004-i-of-the-things-which-are-in-our-power-and-not-in-our-power

## Who they are

Stoic philosopher, successor to Zeno, known for his hymn to Zeus.

## In the story

### [That the Logical Art Is Necessary](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_se/chapters/xvii-that-the-logical-art-is-necessary)

Listed as one of the Stoic teachers who support the importance of logic.

### [XIX: Against Those Who Embrace Philosophical Opinions Only in Words](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_se/chapters/xix-against-those-who-embrace-philosophical-opinions-only-in-words)

Mentioned as a philosopher who wrote on possibilities and the ruling argument, part of the academic debate Epictetus dismisses as irrelevant without practice.

### [To Those Who Read and Discuss for the Sake of Ostentation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_se/chapters/xxiii-to-those-who-read-and-discuss-for-the-sake-of-ostentation)

Mentioned alongside Socrates and Zeno as a philosopher who avoided display and focused on genuine teaching.

### [To Those Who Fear Want](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_se/chapters/xxvi-to-those-who-fear-want)

Referenced as a philosopher who attended school and drew water, embodying humble self-sufficiency.

### [Book IV: On Freedom and Familiar Intimacy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_se/chapters/book-iv)

Quoted as saying that philosophers utter paradoxes, but not words contrary to reason, supporting the argument about true freedom.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_se/characters/cleanthes
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_se/characters