Democritus

Physics Greek -460 – -370 181 quotes

First to propose that matter consists of indivisible atoms

Quotes by Democritus

The wise man is content with his lot.

Fragments

The greatest gift is wisdom.

Fragments

The wise man is a lover of truth.

Fragments

The most important thing is to be virtuous.

Fragments

The wise man is a master of his passions.

Fragments

The greatest good is to live in harmony with nature.

Fragments

Nothing is real but atoms and empty space; everything else is opinion.

Fragment B9 (attributed)

The sweet exists by convention, the bitter by convention, the hot by convention, the cold by convention, color by convention; in truth there exist only atoms and the void.

Fragment B9 (attributed)

A life without a feast is a long road without an inn.

Fragment B230 (attributed)

The man who is fortunate in his children, but unfortunate in his friends, is not truly fortunate.

Fragment B231 (attributed)

Do not trust all men, but trust those who are worthy; and be cautious in your trust.

Fragment B232 (attributed)

The cause of error is ignorance of the better.

Fragment B233 (attributed)

Many words do not signify much wisdom.

Fragment B234 (attributed)

The best way to live is to be cheerful and to have as little sorrow as possible.

Fragment B235 (attributed)

The sweet exists by convention, the bitter by convention, the hot by convention, the cold by convention, color by convention; but in reality atoms and the void alone exist.

Fragments (Diels-Kranz B9)

By convention color, by convention sweet, by convention bitter, but in reality atoms and void.

Fragments (Diels-Kranz B9)

Many words do not mean much.

Fragments (Diels-Kranz B145)

The cause of error is the ignorance of the better.

Fragments (Diels-Kranz B182)

The man who is fortunate in his children, is fortunate in his life.

Fragments (Diels-Kranz B209)

The whole earth is a tomb for men of worth.

Fragments (Diels-Kranz B183)