-
The wrongdoer is more unfortunate than the man wronged.
Democritus -
Happiness resides not in possessions, and not in gold, happiness dwells in the soul.
Democritus
-
If thou suffer injustice, console thyself; the true unhappiness is in doing it.
Democritus -
Good breeding in cattle depends on physical health, but in men on a well-formed character.
Democritus -
Beautiful objects are wrought by study through effort, but ugly things are reaped automatically without toil.
Democritus -
Men should strive to think much and know little.
Democritus -
Of all things the worst to teach the young is dalliance, for it is this that is the parent of those pleasures from which wickedness springs.
Democritus -
The pleasures that give most joy are the ones that most rarely come.
Democritus
-
Nothing exists except atoms and empty space; everything else is opinion.
Democritus -
Everything existing in the universe is the fruit of chance and necessity.
Democritus -
Raising children is an uncertain thing; success is reached only after a life of battle and worry.
Democritus -
This argument too shows that in truth we know nothing about anything, but every man shares the generally prevailing opinion.
Democritus -
δοκεῖ δὲ αὐτῶι τάδε· ἀρχὰς εἶναι τῶν ὅλων ἀτόμους καὶ κενόν, τὰ δ'ἀλλα πάντα νενομίσθαι δοξάζεσθαι. (Diogenes Laërtius, Democritus, Vol. IX, 44)
Democritus -
Making money is not without its value, but nothing is baser than to make it by wrong-doing.
Democritus
-
The brave man is not only he who overcomes the enemy, but he who is stronger than pleasures. Some men are masters of cities, but are enslaved to women.
Democritus -
'Tis not in strength of body nor in gold that men find happiness, but in uprightness and in fulness of understanding.
Democritus -
By desiring little, a poor man makes himself rich.
Democritus -
Verily we know nothing. Truth is buried deep. (Another translation: 'Of truth we know nothing, for truth is in a well.' Diogenes Laertius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers R.D. Hicks, Ed.)
Democritus -
Those who have a well-ordered character lead also a well-ordered life.
Democritus -
'Tis a grievous thing to be subject to an inferior.
Democritus
-
It is godlike ever to think on something beautiful and on something new.
Democritus -
It is greed to do all the talking but not to want to listen at all.
Democritus -
The right-minded man, ever inclined to righteous and lawful deeds, is joyous day and night, and strong, and free from care. But if a man take no heed of the right, and leave undone the things he ought to do, then will the recollection of no one of all his transgressions bring him any joy, but only anxiety and self-reproaching.
Democritus -
Seek after the good, and with much toil shall ye find it; the evil turns up of itself without your seeking it.
Democritus