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)
Animals sense through portions of mind within.
The universe expands through vortex motion.
Gold and silver are separated from earth by art.
Life is the arrangement of infinite seeds.
Nous controls without being controlled.
Winds arise from rarefied air.
The mind perceives the whole through its parts.
All changes are mixtures and separations.
Earthquakes result from air trapped in the ground.
The soul moves the body as mind moves the cosmos.
Fruits contain seeds of their kind eternally.
Infinity in smallness mirrors infinity in greatness.
The sun's path defines the seasons' cycle.
Understanding comes from discerning the opposites in unity.
Bodies form from the coming together of homogeneous parts.
The eternal swirl separates earth, water, air, and fire.
No creation from nothing; all from prior mixtures.
Mind is unmixed, knowing all things.
Rainbow is the reflection of sunlight in clouds.
The wise see the unity in diversity.
Contemporaries of Anaxagoras
Other Philosophys born within 50 years of Anaxagoras (-500–-428).