Anaximander

Cosmology Ancient Greek -610 – -546 401 quotes

He proposed an infinite, undefined substance called the 'apeiron' as the origin of the cosmos and a geocentric model.

Quotes by Anaximander

Rain is produced by the vapor rising from the earth and then condensing.

Fragment A24 (Aetius III 4.1) -580

The first living creatures were generated in the moist element, enclosed in a kind of membrane.

Fragment A30 (Censorinus, De die natali 4.7) -580

The boundless is without beginning and without end.

Fragment A15 (Simplicius, Physics 24.13) -580

The boundless is the principle of all things.

Fragment A9 (Theophrastus, Phys. Op. fr. 2) -580

The earth is in the center of the universe.

Fragment A11 (Aristotle, On the Heavens II 13, 295b10) -580

The stars are fiery bodies.

Fragment A20 (Aetius II 13.7) -580

The sun is the largest of the heavenly bodies.

Fragment A21 (Aetius II 20.1) -580

The moon is smaller than the sun.

Fragment A21 (Aetius II 25.1) -580

The sea is gradually drying up.

Fragment A27 (Aetius III 16.1) -580

The boundless is the cause of the generation and destruction of all things.

Fragment A15 (Simplicius, Physics 24.13) -580

The boundless is the governing principle of the universe.

Fragment A15 (Simplicius, Physics 24.13) -580

The boundless is the ultimate reality.

Fragment A9 (Theophrastus, Phys. Op. fr. 2) -580

The earth is a flat disk.

Fragment A10 (Hippolytus, Ref. I 6.3) -580

The stars are holes in the celestial spheres.

Fragment A20 (Aetius II 13.7) -580

The sun is a fiery body that revolves around the earth.

Fragment A21 (Aetius II 20.1) -580

The moon is a fiery body that revolves around the earth.

Fragment A21 (Aetius II 25.1) -580

The sea was once fresh water.

Fragment A27 (Aetius III 16.1) -580

The boundless is the source of all motion.

Fragment A15 (Simplicius, Physics 24.13) -580

The boundless is the ultimate substance.

Fragment A9 (Theophrastus, Phys. Op. fr. 2) -580

The earth is a body of finite size.

Fragment A10 (Hippolytus, Ref. I 6.3) -580