Pythagoras Quotes
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Power is the near neighbour of necessity.
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Wind indeed increases fire, but custom love.
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The oldest, shortest words - 'yes' and 'no' - are those which require the most thought.
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There is a good principle which created order, light, and man, and an evil principle which created chaos, darkness, and woman.
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There are in woman's eyes two sorts of tears,--the one of grief, the other of deceit.
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He is not rich, that enjoyeth not his own goods.
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Truth is to be sought with a mind purified from the passions of the body. Having overcome evil things, thou shalt experience the union of the union mortal divinity with the mortal man.
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We ought not to quit our post without the permission of Him who commands; the post of man is life.
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Do not talk a little on many subjects, but much on a few.
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Hate and fear breed a poison in the blood, which if continued, affects eyes, ears, nose and the organs of digestion. Therefore, it is not wise to hear and remember the unkind things others might say about you.
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Above the cloud with its shadow is the star with its light. Above all things reverence thyself.
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It is requisite to defend those who are unjustly accused of having acted injuriously, but to praise those who excel in a certain good.
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Having departed from your house, turn not back; for the furies will be your attendants.
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Step not beyond the beam of the balance.
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Know thyself and thou wilt know the universe.
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A fool is known by his speech; and a wise man by silence.
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Friends are as companions on a journey, who ought to aid each other to persevere in the road to a happier life.
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Virtue is harmony.
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The animals share with us the privilege of having a soul Alas, what wickedness to swallow flesh into our own flesh, to fatten our greedy bodies by cramming in other bodies, to have one living creature fed by the death of another! In the midst of such wealth as earth, the best of mothers, provides, yet nothing satisfies you, but to behave like the Cyclopes, inflicting sorry wounds with cruel teeth! You cannot appease the hungry cravings of your wicked, gluttonous stomachs except by destroying some other life.
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Despise all those things which when liberated from the body you will not want; invoke the Gods to become your helpers.
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Choose rather to be strong of soul than strong of body.
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Ability and necessity dwell near each other.
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Golden Verses So-called because they are "good as gold." They are by some attributed to Epicarmos, and by others to Empedocles, but always go under the name of Pythagoras, and seem quite in accordance with the excellent precepts of that philosopher. They are as follows: Ne'er suffer sleep thine eyes to close Before thy mind hath run O'er every act, and thought, and word, From dawn to set of sun; For wrong take shame, but grateful feel If just thy course hath been; Such effort day by day renewed Will ward thy soul from sin. E. C. B.
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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?