Portrait of Pythagoras

Pythagoras

Pythagorean theorem, mathematics

Ancient influential 148 sayings

Sayings by Pythagoras

Pythagoras once claimed he had been reincarnated multiple times and was the son of Hermes, who gifted him the power of remembering who he was in all of his past lives.

c. 570-495 BCE (reported later) — A legend surrounding Pythagoras, reported by later biographers, reflecting his belief in metempsycho…
Power & Leadership Unverifiable

Pythagoras once claimed he had been reincarnated multiple times and was the son of Hermes, who gifted him the power of remembering who he was in all of his past lives.

c. 570-495 BCE (reported later) — A legend surrounding Pythagoras, reported by later biographers, reflecting his belief in metempsycho…
Power & Leadership Disputed

The strangest (and sexiest) of the legends surrounding the aura of Pythagoras is that he had a golden thigh that he would show to impress people he wanted to join his cult.

c. 570-495 BCE (reported later) — A legend surrounding Pythagoras, reported by later biographers, to demonstrate his divine or unusual…
Wisdom Unverifiable

The strangest (and sexiest) of the legends surrounding the aura of Pythagoras is that he had a golden thigh that he would show to impress people he wanted to join his cult.

c. 570-495 BCE (reported later) — A legend surrounding Pythagoras, reported by later biographers, to demonstrate his divine or unusual…
Wisdom Disputed

A chewed bean placed in the sun smells of human semen or of murderously spilt human blood.

c. 570-495 BCE (attributed later) — One of the bizarre reasons attributed to Pythagoras for his prohibition against eating beans, report…
Nature & World Unverifiable

A chewed bean placed in the sun smells of human semen or of murderously spilt human blood.

c. 570-495 BCE (attributed later) — One of the bizarre reasons attributed to Pythagoras for his prohibition against eating beans, report…
Nature & World Disputed

Eating beans is the same as eating the heads of one's parents.

c. 570-495 BCE (attributed later) — Another extreme reason attributed for the bean prohibition.
Wisdom Unverifiable

Eating beans is the same as eating the heads of one's parents.

c. 570-495 BCE (attributed later) — Another extreme reason attributed for the bean prohibition.
Wisdom Disputed

Beans look like the gates of Hades.

c. 570-495 BCE (attributed later) — Another symbolic reason attributed for the bean prohibition.
Wisdom Unverifiable

Beans look like the gates of Hades.

c. 570-495 BCE (attributed later) — Another symbolic reason attributed for the bean prohibition.
Wisdom Disputed

Sacrifice an odd number to the celestial gods, and to the infernal an even.

c. 570-495 BCE (attributed later) — Pythagorean ritualistic advice, reflecting their numerological beliefs about harmony and discord.
Wisdom Unverifiable

Sacrifice an odd number to the celestial gods, and to the infernal an even.

c. 570-495 BCE (attributed later) — Pythagorean ritualistic advice, reflecting their numerological beliefs about harmony and discord.
Wisdom Disputed

Eat not the matrix of animals.

c. 570-495 BCE (interpreted later) — A Pythagorean dietary rule, interpreted as not indulging in sex solely for physical gratification.
Nature & World Unverifiable

Eat not the matrix of animals.

c. 570-495 BCE (interpreted later) — A Pythagorean dietary rule, interpreted as not indulging in sex solely for physical gratification.
Nature & World Disputed

Abstain from the flesh of beasts that die of themselves.

c. 570-495 BCE (attributed later) — A Pythagorean dietary rule, part of their broader vegetarian practices.
Life & Death Unverifiable

Abstain from the flesh of beasts that die of themselves.

c. 570-495 BCE (attributed later) — A Pythagorean dietary rule, part of their broader vegetarian practices.
Life & Death Disputed

Eat not fish whose tails are black.

c. 570-495 BCE (attributed later) — A specific and unusual Pythagorean dietary rule, likely symbolic.
Wisdom Unverifiable

Eat not fish whose tails are black.

c. 570-495 BCE (attributed later) — A specific and unusual Pythagorean dietary rule, likely symbolic.
Wisdom Disputed

Spit upon the parings of your nails, and the clippings of your hair.

c. 570-495 BCE (interpreted later) — A Pythagorean 'Symbol', interpreted as leaving one's 'old, dead life' behind or having an occult mea…
Wisdom Unverifiable

Spit upon the parings of your nails, and the clippings of your hair.

c. 570-495 BCE (interpreted later) — A Pythagorean 'Symbol', interpreted as leaving one's 'old, dead life' behind or having an occult mea…
Wisdom Disputed
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