Pythagoras Quotes

Pythagoras of Samos[a] (c. 570 – c. 495 BC) was an Ionian Greek philosopher and the eponymous founder of the Pythagoreanism movement. His political and religious teachings were well known in Magna Graecia and influenced the philosophies of Plato, Aristotle, and, through them, Western philosophy. Knowledge of his life is clouded by legend, but he appears to have been the son of Mnesarchus, a seal engraver on the island of Samos.

Souls never die, but always on quitting one abode pass to another. All things change, nothing perishes. The soul passes hither and thither, occupying now this body, now that... As a wax is stamped with certain figures, then melted, then stamped anew with others, yet it is always the same wax. So, the Soul being always the same, yet wears at different times different forms.

Pythagoras
- Die
- Never
- Souls
Practice restraint over the following: appetite, first, as well as sleep, lust, and anger.

Pythagoras

He who knoweth not what he ought to know, is a brute beast among men; he that knoweth no more than he hath need of, is a man among brute beasts; and he that knoweth all that may be known, is as a God among men.

Pythagoras
- Men
- Beast
- Brute
You should help a man to take up a burden, but you should not help him put it back down.

Pythagoras
- Help
- Man
- Burden
Repect yourself... The rest will follow.

Pythagoras
- Respect
- Yourself
Abstain from animals.

Pythagoras
- Animals
- Abstain
Practice justice in word and deed, and do not get in the habit of acting thoughtlessly about anything.

Pythagoras
- Justice
- Practice
- Word
But respect yourself most of all.

Pythagoras
- Respect
- Yourself

Don't eat your heart.

Pythagoras
- Heart
- Eat
Number rules the universe.

Pythagoras
- Universe
- Rules
- Number
Many words befall men, mean and noble alike; do not be astonished by them, nor allow yourself to be constrained.

Pythagoras
- Men
- Words
- Befall
Number was the substance of all things.

Pythagoras
- Things
- Number
- Substance
A blow from your friend is better than a kiss from your enemy.

Pythagoras
- Friend
- Enemy
- Blow
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.

Pythagoras
- Death
- Everyone
- Comes

Some are slaves of ambition or money, but others are interested in understanding life itself. These give themselves the name of philosophers , and they value the contemplation and discovery of nature beyond all other pursuits.

Pythagoras
- Money
- Ambition
- Slaves
Govern your tongue before all other things, following the gods.

Pythagoras
- Things
- Tongue
- Govern
None but God is wise.

Pythagoras
- God
- Wise
Do not even think of doing what ought not to be done.

Pythagoras
- Think
Lust weakens both body and mind.

Pythagoras
- Mind
- Body
- Lust