Anaxagoras
He introduced the concept of 'Nous' (mind or intellect) as the ordering principle of the universe.
Most quoted
"When mind began to set things in motion, separation occurred from everything that was in motion, and however much mind set in motion, all this was dissociated; and as things were moving and dissociating, the revolution caused them to dissociate much more."
— from Fragments
"And mind set in order all things that were to be, and all things that were and are not now and that are, and this revolution in which now revolve the stars and the sun and the moon, and the air and the aether that are separated off."
— from Fragments
"And when mind began to move things, separating off took place from all that was moved, and all that mind moved was separated. And as things were moving and separating off, the revolution greatly increased this separating off."
— from Fragments
All quotes by Anaxagoras (149)
The Milky Way is the reflection of the sun's light on the earth.
The rainbow is a reflection of the sun's rays on the clouds.
Mind is the cause of all motion.
Mind is the principle of order and beauty.
Mind is the finest and purest of all things.
Mind is not mixed with anything, but is alone by itself.
Mind has power over all things that have life.
Mind is the cause of the rotation of the heavens.
The air is full of seeds of all sorts of things.
The seeds are infinite in number and infinitely small.
From these seeds, all things are formed by mixture and separation.
There is a portion of everything in everything.
The sun and moon are not gods, but incandescent stones.
The stars are not fixed, but move in circles.
The earth is supported by the air.
The sea is formed from the evaporation of water.
The winds are caused by the rarefaction of the air.
Thunder and lightning are caused by the collision of clouds.
Earthquakes are caused by the shaking of the earth by the wind.
The Nile floods are caused by the melting of snow in Ethiopia.
Contemporaries of Anaxagoras
Other Philosophys born within 50 years of Anaxagoras (-500–-428).