Editing Democritus (section)

===Classical antiquity===
Diogenes Laertius claims that Plato disliked Democritus so much that he wished to have all of his [[Book burning|books burned]].{{efn|[[Diogenes Laërtius]], ''[[Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers]]'', ix. 40: "[[Aristoxenus]] in his ''Historical Notes'' affirms that Plato wished to burn all the writings of Democritus that he could collect."}} He was nevertheless well known to his fellow northern-born philosopher [[Aristotle]], and was the teacher of [[Protagoras]].{{efn|[[Diogenes Laertius]], ''Lives of Eminent Philosophers'' Book IX, Chapter 8, Section 50.}} The importance which was attached to the researches of Democritus is evident from the fact, that Aristotle is reported to have written a work in two books on the problems of Democritus.<ref>D. L. 5.26.</ref> His works were composed in the Ionic dialect, though not without some admixture of the local peculiarities of Abdera. <ref>(Philopon. in Aristot. de gener. et corrupt. fol. 7, a.; Simplic. ad Aristot. de Coelo, fol. 150, a.; Suid. s. v. ρνσμός.)</ref> They are nevertheless much praised by Cicero on account of the poetical beauties and the liveliness of their style, and are in this respect compared even with the works of Plato. <ref>(Groen van Prinsterer, l.c.; Cic. de Div. 2.64, de Orat. 1.11, Orat. 20; Dionys. de Compos. verb. 24; Plut. Sympos. 5.7, p. 683.)</ref> [[Pyrrho]] is said to have imitated his style,<ref>(Euseb. Praep. Evang. 14.6)</ref> and even Timon praises it, and calls it περίφρονα καὶ ἀμφίνοον λέσχην. <ref>(D. L. 9.40.)</ref><ref>{{cite DGRBM|title=Democritus|url = https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0104%3Aentry%3Ddemocritus-bio-2}}</ref><!--- Epicurus badly needs to be added --->