Democritus quotes

Democritus was an ancient Greek philosopher, most famous for formulating an atomic theory of the universe. His teachings introduced the concept that everything is composed of indivisible particles called atoms. He is regarded as one of the founders of atomic science and greatly influenced later philosophical thought. Here are 97 of his quotes:

Happiness resides not in possessions, and not in gold, happiness dwells in the soul. (Democritus)
Education is an ornament for the prosperous, a refuge for the unfortunate. View quote
Democritus
Whoever got a good son-in-law gained a son, and whoever got a bad son-in-law also lost his daughter. View quote
Democritus
Good means not merely not to do wrong, but rather not to desire to do wrong. View quote
Democritus
Repentance for one's evil deeds is the safeguard of life. View quote
Democritus
Throw moderation to the winds, and the greatest pleasures bring the greatest pains. View quote
Democritus
A life without a holiday is like a long journey without an inn to rest at. View quote
Democritus
Word is a shadow of a deed. View quote
Democritus
To a wise man, the whole earth is open; for the native land of a good soul is the whole earth. View quote
Democritus
Strength and beauty are the blessings of youth; temperance, however, is the flower of old age. View quote
Democritus
[I would] rather discover one cause than gain the kingdom of Persia. (Democritus)
Nothing exists except atoms and empty space; everything else is just opinion. View quote
Democritus
By convention sweet is sweet, by convention bitter is bitter, by convention hot is hot, by convention cold is cold, by convention color is color. But in reality there are atoms and the void. That is, the objects of sense are supposed to be real and it is customary to regard them as such, but in truth they are not. Only the atoms and the void are real. View quote
Democritus
My enemy is not the man who wrongs me, but the man who means to wrong me. View quote
Democritus
Man is a universe in little [Microcosm]. View quote
Democritus
Medicine heals diseases of the body, wisdom frees the soul from passions. View quote
Democritus
If your desires are not great, a little will seem much to you; for small appetite makes poverty equivalent to wealth. View quote
Democritus
You can tell the man who rings true from the man who rings false, not by his deeds alone, but also by his desires. View quote
Democritus
It is hard to fight desire; but to control it is the sign of a reasonable man. View quote
Democritus
The animal needing something knows how much it needs, the man does not. View quote
Democritus
Hope of ill gain is the beginning of loss. (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. View quote
Democritus
Immoderate desire is the mark of a child, not a man. View quote
Democritus
Men have fashioned an image of Chance as an excuse for their own stupidity. For Chance rarely conflicts with intelligence, and most things in life can be set in order by an intelligent sharpsightedness. View quote
Democritus
Good breeding in cattle depends on physical health, but in men on a well-formed character. View quote
Democritus

Democritus

Democritus - Image
Photo: Original uploader was Odysses, CC BY-SA 3.0
Occupation: Greek Philosopher
Quotes count: 97
Wikipedia: Democritus

Related authors

John Dalton - thumbnail
John Dalton  9 
British Chemist
Aristotle - thumbnail
Aristotle  462 
Greek Philosopher
Empedocles - thumbnail
Empedocles  22 
Greek Philosopher
J. J. Thomson - thumbnail
J. J. Thomson  7 
British Physicist
Heraclitus - thumbnail
Heraclitus  84 
Greek Philosopher
Anaxagoras - thumbnail
Anaxagoras  13 
Greek Philosopher
Parmenides - thumbnail
Parmenides  12 
Greek Philosopher
Epicurus - thumbnail
Epicurus  71 
Greek Philosopher
Ernest Rutherford - thumbnail
Ernest Rutherford  21 
British Physicist
Thales - thumbnail
Thales  15 
Greek Philosopher