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Quotes from Source Book in Ancient Philosophy — Democritus

460 BC–370 BC Greece

← All quotes by Democritus

47 quotes

One should emulate works and deeds of virtue, not arguments about it.

Source Book in Ancient Philosophy (1907)

Not from fear but from a sense of duty refrain from your sins.

Source Book in Ancient Philosophy (1907)

Neither art nor wisdom may be attained without learning.

Source Book in Ancient Philosophy (1907)

Fame and wealth without wisdom are unsafe possessions.

Source Book in Ancient Philosophy (1907)

Now, that we do not really know of what sort each thing is, or is not, has often been shown.

Source Book in Ancient Philosophy (1907)

And yet it will be obvious that it is difficult to really know of what sort each thing is.

Source Book in Ancient Philosophy (1907)

'Tis well to restrain the wicked, and in any case not to join him in his wrong-doing.

Source Book in Ancient Philosophy (1907)

Throw moderation to the winds, and the greatest pleasures bring the greatest pains.

Source Book in Ancient Philosophy (1907)

The hopes of the right-minded may be realized, those of fools are impossible.

Source Book in Ancient Philosophy (1907)

The enmity of one's kindred is far more bitter than the enmity of strangers.

Source Book in Ancient Philosophy (1907)

The pleasures that give most joy are the ones that most rarely come.

Source Book in Ancient Philosophy (1907)

It is better to correct your own faults than those of another.

Source Book in Ancient Philosophy (1907)

He who does wrong is more unhappy than he who suffers wrong.

Source Book in Ancient Philosophy (1907)

'Tis a grievous thing to be subject to an inferior.

Source Book in Ancient Philosophy (1907)

My enemy is not the man who wrongs me, but the man who means to wrong me.

Source Book in Ancient Philosophy (1907)

Men have made an idol of luck as an excuse for their own thoughtlessness. Luck seldom measures swords with wisdom. Most things in life quick wit and sharp vision can set right.

Source Book in Ancient Philosophy (1907)

For a man petticoat government is the limit of insolence.

Source Book in Ancient Philosophy (1907)

If any one hearken with understanding to these sayings of mine many a deed worthy of a good man shall he perform and many a foolish deed be spared.

Source Book in Ancient Philosophy (1907)

(Democritus said he would rather discover a single demonstration than win the throne of Persia.)

Source Book in Ancient Philosophy (1907)

Of all things the worst to teach the young is dalliance, for it is this that is the parent of those pleasures from which wickedness springs.

Source Book in Ancient Philosophy (1907)

Attribution

Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: Democritus (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.