Attributed to Pythagoras
«Educate the children and it will not be necessary to punish the men.»
Misattributed
Verdict
It is not in Pythagoras's work
It circulates online and in quotation books attributed to Pythagoras with no reference to any ancient text. It does not appear in Diogenes Laertius, Porphyry, Iamblichus or the collections of Pythagorean sayings in Stobaeus.
What they did say
Verified words of Pythagoras
«Stop, do not beat it: it is the soul of a friend; I recognised it when I heard its voice.»
Jenófanes, fragmento DK 21 B 7, transmitido por Diógenes Laercio VIII 36. Son palabras que Jenófanes, contemporáneo de Pitágoras, le atribuye en tono satírico; traducciones propias.
«He was the first, according to Timaeus, to say that the possessions of friends are common and that friendship is equality.»
Diógenes Laercio VIII 10, citando al historiador Timeo de Tauromenio (s. IV–III a. C.). Atribución tradicional; traducciones propias.
«What is wisest? Number; and second, the one who gave things their names.»
Acúsma pitagórico transmitido por Jámblico, Vida pitagórica 82 (y Cicerón, Tusculanas I 25.62). Sentencia de la tradición oral pitagórica; no puede asegurarse que sea del propio Pitágoras. Traducciones propias.