174 NOTES TO PYTHAGORAS.
to the arrangement of their household affairs; after which they spent the remaining time before retiring to bed in conversation, bathing, and devotional exercises.
Note D, page 166.
To honest aims let all thy actions tend,—
Truth, Justice, Peace, their purpose and their end.
Of all the ancient philosophers there was, perhaps, none who more earnestly inculcated the moral and social virtues than Pythagoras. His method of training pupils to virtuous practices was in itself peculiar;--he stopped short at no difficulty in carrying out his views with respect to the acquisition by his pupils of any good quality. He placed great value on silence; and in order to accustom his scholars to the observance of it, he compelled such of them as displayed a loquacious disposition, to remain silent, at all times, except when spoken to; and this both in and out of school. This discipline he would continue for one, two, or even five years, according as the nature of the case required it. He was also very particular in the admission of pupils to his school; he would inquire into their previous mode of life, especially with regard to the manner in which they had been accustomed to behave towards their parents; he would then closely examine their features, and the particular expression of the countenance; he would endeavour to ascertain what their predilections were, what afforded them the greatest degree of pleasure, and what caused them the greatest amount of uneasiness or pain. In short, he would give admission to no boy who was not gentle and docile, and who did not possess what might be called the germs of goodness and virtue.
