Theophrastus

Biology Ancient Greek -371 – -287 297 quotes

Considered the 'father of botany' for his detailed descriptions and classifications of plants in his works 'Enquiry into Plants' and 'On the Causes of Plants'.

Quotes by Theophrastus

The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.

Characters

Death is not the opposite of life, but a part of it.

Characters

The soul is the form of the body.

De Sensibus

Man is the measure of all things.

Characters

The only constant in life is change.

Characters

The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.

Characters

The beautiful is difficult.

Characters

The truth is rarely pure and never simple.

Characters

Life is a dream for the wise, a game for the fool, a comedy for the rich, a tragedy for the poor.

Characters

The fear of death is more to be dreaded than death itself.

Characters

The soul is the seat of the emotions.

De Sensibus

The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter.

Characters

The greatest good is to live in accordance with nature.

Enquiry into Plants

The plant is a living thing, but it is not an animal.

Enquiry into Plants

There are some plants which have no root, but grow on other plants.

Enquiry into Plants

The differences in plants are due to their habitat, their nourishment, and their cultivation.

Enquiry into Plants

Plants have a kind of soul, though not the same as animals.

Enquiry into Plants

The seed is the most important part of the plant, for it contains the whole plant in miniature.

Enquiry into Plants

Some plants are male and some are female, and some are both.

Enquiry into Plants

The growth of plants is not continuous, but proceeds by fits and starts.

Enquiry into Plants