All Quotes by Pythagoras
“The oldest, shortest words— "yes" and "no"— are those which require the most thought.”
“A blow from your friend is better than a kiss from your enemy.”
“Educate the children and it won't be necessary to punish the men.”
“When going to the temple to adore Divinity neither say nor do any thing in the interim pertaining to the common affairs of life.”
“Sacrifice and adore unshod.”
“Disbelieve nothing wonderful concerning the gods, nor concerning divine dogmas.”
“Declining from the public ways, walk in unfrequented paths.”
“As soon as laws are necessary for men, they are no longer fit for freedom.”
“Govern your tongue before all other things, following the gods.”
“The wind is blowing, adore the wind.”
“Cut not fire with a sword.”
“Assist a man in raising a burden; but do not assist him in laying it down.”
“Step not beyond the beam of the balance.”
“Having departed from your house, turn not back; for the furies will be your attendants.”
“Eat not the heart.”
“Eat not the brain.”
“Abstain from animals.”
“Above and before all things, worship GOD!”
“Above all things reverence thy Self.”
“Work at these things, practice them, these are the things you ought to desire; they are what will put you on the path of divine virtue — yes, by the one who entrusted our soul with the tetraktys, source of ever-flowing nature. Pray to the gods for success and get to work.”
“Practice justice in word and deed, and do not get in the habit of acting thoughtlessly about anything.”
“Know that death comes to everyone, and that wealth will sometimes be acquired, sometimes lost. Whatever griefs mortals suffer by divine chance, whatever destiny you have, endure it and do not complain. But it is right to improve it as much as you can, and remember this: Fate does not give very many of these griefs to good people.”
“Many words befall men, mean and noble alike; do not be astonished by them, nor allow yourself to be constrained. Let no one persuade you by word or deed to do or say whatever is not best for you.”
“Let not sleep fall upon thy eyes till thou has thrice reviewed the transactions of the past day. Where have I turned aside from rectitude? What have I been doing? What have I left undone, which I ought to have done? Begin thus from the first act, and proceed; and, in conclusion, at the ill which thou hast done, be troubled, and rejoice for the good.”
“Meditate upon my counsels; love them; follow them; Source of Nature and model of the Gods.”
“Holding fast to these things, you will know the worlds of gods and mortals which permeates and governs everything. And you will know, as is right, nature similar in all respects, so that you will neither entertain unreasonable hopes nor be neglectful of anything.”
“You will know that wretched men are the cause of their own suffering, who neither see nor hear the good that is near them, and few are the ones who know how to secure release from their troubles. Such is the fate that harms their minds; like pebbles they are tossed about from one thing to another with cares unceasing. For the dread companion Strife harms them unawares, whom one must not walk behind, but withdraw from and flee.”
“There is geometry in the humming of the strings. There is music in the spacings of the spheres.”
“Do not even think of doing what ought not to be done.”
“Choose rather to be strong in soul than in body.”
“It is difficult to walk at one and the same time many paths of life.”
“It is requisite to choose the most excellent life; for custom will make it pleasant. Wealth is an infirm anchor, glory is still more infirm; and in a similar manner, the body, dominion, and honour. For all these are imbecile and powerless. What then are powerful anchors. Prudence, magnanimity, fortitude. These no tempest can shake. This is the Law of God, that virtue is the only thing that is strong; and that every thing else is a trifle.”
“Do not say a little in many words but a great deal in a few.”
“It is requisite to defend those who are unjustly accused of having acted injuriously, but to praise those who excel in a certain good.”
“Neither will the horse be adjudged to be generous, that is sumptuously adorned, but the horse whose nature is illustrious; nor is the man worthy who possesses great wealth, but he whose soul is generous.”
“When the wise man opens his mouth, the beauties of his soul present themselves to the view, like the statues in a temple”
“Remind yourself that all men assert that wisdom is the greatest good, but that there are few who strenuously seek out that greatest good.”
“Despise all those things which when liberated from the body you will not want; invoke the Gods to become your helpers.”
“Wind indeed increases fire, but custom love.”
“Those alone are dear to Divinity who are hostile to injustice.”
“None can be free who is a slave to, and ruled by, his passions.”
“As soon as laws are necessary for men, they are no longer fit for freedom.”
“It is not proper either to have a blunt sword or to use freedom of speech ineffectually. Neither is the sun to be taken from the world, nor freedom of speech from erudition.”
“Not frequently man from man.”
“When a reasonable Soul forsaketh his divine nature, and becometh beast-like, it dieth. For though the substance of the Soul be incorruptible: yet, lacking the use of Reason, it is reputed dead; for it loseth the Intellective Life.”
“A good Soul hath neither too great joy, nor too great sorrow: for it rejoiceth in goodness; and it sorroweth in wickedness. By the means whereof, when it beholdeth all things, and seeth the good and bad so mingled together, it can neither rejoice greatly; nor be grieved with over much sorrow.”
“Order thyself so, that thy Soul may always be in good estate; whatsoever become of thy body.”
“Dispose thy Soul to all good and necessary things!”
“Patience cometh by the grace of the Soul.”
“True and perfect Friendship is, to make one heart and mind of many hearts and bodies.”
“As long as man continues to be the ruthless destroyer of lower living beings he will never know health or peace. For as long as men massacre animals, they will kill each other.”
“He is not rich, that enjoyeth not his own goods.”
“By Silence, the discretion of a man is known: and a fool, keeping Silence, seemeth to be wise.”
“A fool is known by his Speech; and a wise man by Silence.”
“The King that followeth Truth, and ruleth according to Justice, shall reign quietly: but he that doth the contrary, seeketh another to reign for him.”
“Tell not abroad what thou intendest to do; for if thou speed not, thou shalt be mocked!”
“If thy fellows hurt thee in small things, suffer it! and be as bold with them!”
“Take not thine enemy for thy friend; nor thy friend for thine enemy!”
“Rejoice not in another man's misfortune!”
“Let thy mind rule thy tongue!”
“Attempt nothing above thy strength!”
“Be not hasty to speak; nor slow to hear!”
“Wish not the thing, which thou mayest not obtain!”
“If thou intend to do any good; tarry not till to-morrow! for thou knowest not what may chance thee this night.”
“Use examples; that such as thou teachest may understand thee the better!”
“Reason not with him, that will deny the principal truths!”
“Honor Wisdom; and deny it not to them that would learn; and shew it unto them that dispraise it! Sow not the sea fields!”
“Wisdom thoroughly learned, will never be forgotten. Science is got by diligence; but Discretion and Wisdom cometh of GOD.”
“Without Justice, no realm may prosper.”
“Happy is that City that hath a wise man to govern it.”
“To use Virtue is perfect blessedness.”
“Envy has been, is, and shall be, the destruction of many. What is there, that Envy hath not defamed, or Malice left undefiled? Truly, no good thing.”
“A solitary man is a God, or a beast.”
“None but a Craftsman can judge of a craft.”
“Repentance deserveth Pardon.”
“The best and greatest winning is a true friend; and the greatest loss is the loss of time.”
“It is better to suffer, than to do, wrong.”
“He is worst of all, that is malicious against his friends.”
“Evil destroyeth itself.”
“There is a good principle which created order, light, and man, and an evil principle which created chaos, darkness, and woman.”
“Better be mute, than dispute with the Ignorant.”
“As long as man continues to be the ruthless destroyer of lower living beings he will never know health or peace. For as long as men massacre animals, they will kill each other.”
“Anger begins with folly, and ends with repentance.”
“As long as man continues to be the ruthless destroyer of lower living beings he will never know health or peace. For as long as men massacre animals, they will kill each other.”
“It is better wither to be silent, or to say things of more value than silence. Sooner throw a pearl at hazard than an idle or useless word; and do not say a little in many words, but a great deal in a few.”
“I was Euphorbus at the siege of Troy.”
“By the air which I breathe, and by the water which I drink, I will not endure to be blamed on account of this discourse.”
“Reason is immortal, all else mortal.”
“The most momentous thing in human life is the art of winning the soul to good or to evil.”
“Power is the near neighbour of necessity.”
“Number is the ruler of forms and ideas, and the cause of gods and daemons.”
“Sobriety is the strength of the soul, for it preserves its reason unclouded by passion.”
“None but God is wise.”
“Silence is better than unmeaning words.”
“Rest satisfied with doing well, and leave others to talk of you as they please.”
“As soon as laws are necessary for men, they are no longer fit for freedom.”
“Anger begins in folly, and ends in repentance.”
“Choose always the way that seems the best, however rough it may be; custom will soon render it easy and agreeable.”
“It is better wither to be silent, or to say things of more value than silence. Sooner throw a pearl at hazard than an idle or useless word; and do not say a little in many words, but a great deal in a few.”
“Truth is so great a perfection, that if God would render himself visible to men, he would choose light for his body and truth for his soul.”
“There are men and gods, and beings like Pythagoras.”
“There is no word or action but has its echo in Eternity. Thought is an Idea in transit, which when once released, never can be lured back, nor the spoken word recalled. Nor ever can the overt act be erased All that thou thinkest, sayest, or doest bears perpetual record of itself, enduring for Eternity.”
“There is geometry in the humming of the strings, there is music in the spacing of the spheres.”
“If there be light, then there is darkness; if cold, heat; if height, depth; if solid, fluid; if hard, soft; if rough, smooth; if calm, tempest; if prosperity, adversity; if life, death.”
“Time is the soul of this world.”