Democritus
89 quotes
Biography
Democritus was an Ancient Greek pre-Socratic philosopher from Abdera, primarily remembered today for his formulation of an atomic theory of the universe. Democritus wrote extensively on a wide variety of topics.
"Raising children is an uncertain thing; success is reached only after a life of battle and worry."
"Many much-learned men have no intelligence."
"Happiness resides not in possessions, and not in gold, happiness dwells in the soul."
"Everything existing in the universe is the fruit of chance and necessity."
"No power and no treasure can outweigh the extension of our knowledge."
"We know nothing accurately in reality, but [only] as it changes according to the bodily condition, and the constitution of those things that flow upon [the body] and impinge upon it."
"Coition is a slight attack of apoplexy. For man gushes forth from man, and is separated by being torn apart with a kind of blow."
"Man is a universe in little [Microcosm]."
"Πολλοὶ πολυμαθέες νοῦν οὐκ ἔχουσιν."
"Immoderate desire is the mark of a child, not a man."
"[I would] rather discover one cause than gain the kingdom of Persia."
"Men have fashioned an image of Chance as an excuse for their own stupidity. For Chance rarely conflicts with intelligence, and most things in life can be set in order by an intelligent sharpsightedness."
"In a shared fish, there are no bones."
"Education is an ornament for the prosperous, a refuge for the unfortunate."
"The animal needing something knows how much it needs, the man does not."
"Moderation multiplies pleasures, and increases pleasure."
"The brave man is not only he who overcomes the enemy, but he who is stronger than pleasures. Some men are masters of cities, but are enslaved to women."
"It is hard to fight desire; but to control it is the sign of a reasonable man."
"The laws would not prevent each man from living according to his inclination, unless individuals harmed each other; for envy creates the beginning of strife."
"To a wise man, the whole earth is open; for the native land of a good soul is the whole earth."
"The man who is fortunate in his choice of son-in-law gains a son; the man unfortunate in his choice loses his daughter also."
"If your desires are not great, a little will seem much to you; for small appetite makes poverty equivalent to wealth."
"Disease of the home and of the life comes about in the same way as that of the body."
"Strength and beauty are the blessings of youth; temperance, however, is the flower of old age."
"<!--6. -->Man should know from this rule that he is cut off from truth."