Pythagoras Quotes
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Wind indeed increases fire, but custom love.
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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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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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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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Let no one persuade you by word or deed to do or say whatever is not best for you.
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Having departed from your house, turn not back; for the furies will be your attendants.
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The most momentous thing in human life is the art of winning the soul to good or evil.
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Remind yourself that all men assert that wisdom is the greatest good, but that there are few who strenuously seek out that greatest good.
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Step not beyond the beam of the balance.
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It is better to be silent, than to dispute with the Ignorant.
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Power is the near neighbour of necessity.
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Ability and necessity dwell near each other.
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If you're asked: What is the silence? Respond: It is the first stone of the Wisdom's temple.
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Oh, my fellow men, do not defile your bodies with sinful foods. We have corn, we have apples bending down the branches with their weight, and grapes swelling on the vines. There are sweet-flavored herbs, and vegetables which can be cooked and softened over the fire, nor are you denied milk or thyme-scented honey. The earth affords a lavish supply of riches, of innocent foods, and offers you banquets that involve no bloodshed or slaughter; only beasts satisfy their hunger with flesh, and not even all of those, because horses, cattle, and sheep live on grass.
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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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Do not talk a little on many subjects, but much on a few.
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Know thyself and thou wilt know the universe.
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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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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?
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Choose rather to be strong of soul than strong of body.
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Those alone are dear to Divinity who are hostile to injustice.
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When going to the temple to adore Divinity neither say nor do any thing in the interim pertaining to the common affairs of life.
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Rest satisfied with doing well, and leave others to talk of you as they will.
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Learn to be silent. Let your quiet mind listen and absorb.