The following famous verse of the ancient philosopher Epicharmus, proves that the ancients in general recognized the intellectual nature of perception: Νοῦς ὁρῇ καὶ νοῦς ἀκούει· τἆλλα κωφὰ καὶ τυφλά. (_Mens videt, mens audit; cætera surda et cœca._)[86] Plutarch in quoting this verse, adds:[87] ὡς τοῦ περὶ τὰ ὄμματα καὶ ὦτα πάθους, ἂν μὴ παρῇ τὸ φρονοῦν, αἴσθησιν οὐ ποιοῦντος (_quia affectio oculorum et aurium nullum affert sensum, intelligentia absente_). Shortly before too he says: Στράτωνος τοῦ φυσικοῦ λόγος ἐστίν, ἀποδεικνύων ὡς οὐδ' αἰσθάνεσθαι τοπαράπαν ἄνευ τοῦ νοεῖν ὑπάρχει. (_Stratonis physici exstat ratiocinatio, qua "sine intelligentia sentiri omnino nihil posse" demonstrat._)[88] Again shortly after he says: ὅθεν ἀνάγκη, πᾶσιν, οἷς τὸ αἰσθάνεσθαι, καὶ τὸ νοεῖν ὑπάρχειν, εἰ τῷ νοεῖν αἰσθάνεσθαι πεφύκαμεν (_quare necesse est, omnia, quæ sentiunt, etiam intelligere, siquidem intelligendo demum sentiamus_).[89] A second verse of Epicharmus might be connected with this, which is quoted by Diogenes Laertes (iii. 16): Εὔμαιε, τὸ σοφόν ἐστιν οὐ καθ' ἓν μόνον, ἀλλ' ὅσα περ ζῇ, πάντα καὶ γνώμαν ἔχει. [86] "It is the mind that sees and hears; all besides is deaf and blind." (Tr. Ad.) [87] Plutarch, "De solert. animal." c. 3. "For the affection of our eyes and ears does not produce any perception, unless it be accompanied by thought." (Tr. Ad.) [88] "Straton, the physicist, has proved that 'without thinking it is quite impossible to perceive.'" (Tr. Ad.) [89] "Therefore it is necessary that all who perceive should also think, since we are so constituted as to perceive by means of thinking." (Tr. Ad.) (_Eumaee, sapientia non uni tantum competit, sed quæcunque vivunt etiam intellectum habent._) Porphyry likewise endeavours to show at length that all animals have understanding.[90] [90] Porph. "De abstinentia," iii. 21.