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Ethiopians say that their gods are snubnosed and black
Thracians that they are pale and red-haired.

Αἰθίοπές τε σιμοὺς μέλανάς τε
Θρῇκἐς τε γλαυκοὺς καὶ πυρρούς .

Original text (Ancient Greek)

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Notes from Wikiquote

Fragment 16 (D-K)

More quotes by Xenophanes

There is one god, greatest among gods and men, similar to mortals neither in shape nor in thought.

Pure truth no man has seen, nor ever shall know.

Mortals deem that the gods are begotten as they are,
and have clothes like theirs, and voice and form.

For all things are from the earth and to the earth all things come in the end.

For neither if there were a good boxer among the people, nor if there were a pentathlete or wrestling, nor again if there were someone swift of foot - which is most honoured of all men's deed of strength - would for this reason a city be better governed.

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Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Xenophanes (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.