The first philosophers of Greece : $b An edition and translation of the remaining fragments of the pre-Sokratic philosophers, together with a translation of the more important accounts of their opinions contained in the early epitomes of their works — John Shaqi
The first philosophers of Greece : $b An edition and translation of the remaining fragments of the pre-Sokratic philosophers, together with a translation of the more important accounts of their opinions contained in the early epitomes of their worksFairbanks, Arthur
Philosophy
The first philosophers of Greece : $b An edition and translation of the remaining fragments of the pre-Sokratic philosophers, together with a translation of the more important accounts of their opinions contained in the early epitomes of their works
Fairbanks, Arthur
Philosophy, Ancient
81. In the same rivers we step and we do not step; we are and we are not.
Cf. Fr. 41.
82. It is weariness to toil at the same things, and to be subject to them.
83. Changing it finds rest.
84. Even a potion separates into its ingredients when it is not stirred.
85. Corpses are more fit to be thrown away than dung.
86. Being born they wish to live and to meet death, [or rather to find
rest,] and they leave behind children to die.
87. Thirty years make a generation, according to Herakleitos.
88. Not without reason does Herakleitos call a month a
generation. 89. A man may become a grandfather in thirty years.
90. The sleeping are workmen (and fellow-workers) in what happens in the
world.
91. Understanding is common to all. It is necessary for those who speak
with intelligence to hold fast to the common element of all, as a city
holds fast to law, and much more strongly. For all human laws are
nourished by one which is divine, and it has power so much as it will;
and it suffices for all things and more than suffices.
92. And though reason is common, most people live as though they had an
understanding peculiar to themselves.
93. With what they most constantly associate, with this they are at
variance.
94. It is not meet to act and speak like men asleep.
Cf. Fr. 2 and 90.
95. They that are awake have one world in common, but of the sleeping
each turns aside into a world of his own.
96. For human nature has not wisdom, but divine nature has.
97. Man is called a baby by god, even as a child is by man.
The translation is Burnett’s, following the suggestion of
Petersen in _Hermes_ xiv. 1879, p. 304.
Fr. 98. And does not Herakleitos, whom you bring forward, say
this very thing, that the wisest of men will appear as an ape
before God, both in wisdom and in beauty and in all other
respects? Fr. 99. You are ignorant, sir, of that fine saying
of Herakleitos, that the most beautiful of apes is ugly in
comparison with beings of another kind, and the most beautiful
of earthen pots is ugly in comparison with maidenkind, as
Hippias the wise man says.
100. The people ought to fight for their law as for a wall.
101. Greater deaths gain greater portions.
102. Gods and men honour those slain in battle.
103. Wantonness must be quenched more than a conflagration.
104. It is not good for men to have whatever they want. Disease makes
health sweet and good; hunger, satiety; toil, rest.
105. It is hard to contend with passion; for whatever it desires to get
it buys at the cost of soul.
106. It is the part of all men to know themselves and to be
temperate. 107. To be temperate is the greatest virtue; and it
is wisdom to speak the truth and to act according to nature
with understanding.
108. It is better to conceal stupidity, but it is an effort in time of
relaxation and over the wine.
109. It is better to conceal ignorance than to put it forth into the
midst.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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