"The first publication of the Pythagorean doctrines is pretty uniformly attributed to Philolaus. He composed a work on the Pythagorean philosophy in three books, which Plato is said to have procured at the cost of 100 minae through , who purchased it from Philolaus, who was at the time in deep poverty. ...Out of the materials which he derived from these books Plato is said to have composed the Timaeus. But in the age of Plato the leading features of the Pythagorean doctrines had long ceased to be secret; and if Philolaus taught the Pythagorean doctrines at Thebes, he was hardly likely to feel much reluctance in publishing them... little more can be regarded as trustworthy, except that Philolaus was the first who published a book on the Pythagorean doctrines, and that Plato read and made use of it."