Democritus: Man

Democritus is Ancient Greek philosopher, pupil of Leucippus, founder of the atomic theory. Explore interesting quotes on man.
Democritus: 162 quotes11 likes

“Immoderate desire is the mark of a child, not a man.”

Democritus

Freeman (1948), p. 152
Variant: It is childish, not manly, to have immoderate desires.

“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.”

Democritus

Freeman (1948), p. 163
Variant: The brave man is he who overcomes not only his enemies but his pleasures. There are some men who are masters of cities but slaves to women.

“If any one hearken with understanding to these sayings of mine many a deed worthy of a good man shall he perform and many a foolish deed be spared.”

Democritus

Source Book in Ancient Philosophy (1907), The Golden Sayings of Democritus

“No one deserves to live who has not at least one good-man-and-true for a friend.”

Democritus

Source Book in Ancient Philosophy (1907), The Golden Sayings of Democritus

“A sensible man takes pleasure in what he has instead of pining for what he has not.”

Democritus

Source Book in Ancient Philosophy (1907), The Golden Sayings of Democritus

“The friendship of one wise man is better than the friendship of a host of fools.”

Democritus

Source Book in Ancient Philosophy (1907), The Golden Sayings of Democritus

“The right-minded man, ever inclined to righteous and lawful deeds, is joyous day and night, and strong, and free from care. But if a man take no heed of the right, and leave undone the things he ought to do, then will the recollection of no one of all his transgressions bring him any joy, but only anxiety and self-reproaching.”

Democritus

Source Book in Ancient Philosophy (1907), The Golden Sayings of Democritus

“My enemy is not the man who wrongs me, but the man who means to wrong me.”

Democritus

Source Book in Ancient Philosophy (1907), The Golden Sayings of 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.”

Democritus

Source Book in Ancient Philosophy (1907), The Golden Sayings of Democritus

“The laws would not prevent each man from living according to his inclination, unless individuals harmed each other; for envy creates the beginning of strife.”

Democritus

Freeman (1948), p. 166
Variant: Envy is the cause of political division.

“This argument too shows that in truth we know nothing about anything, but every man shares the generally prevailing opinion.”

Democritus

Source Book in Ancient Philosophy (1907), The Fragments

“Man is a universe in little [Microcosm].”

Democritus

Freeman (1948)

“It is hard to fight desire; but to control it is the sign of a reasonable man.”

Democritus

Freeman (1948), p. 165
Variant: It is hard to fight with desire; but to overcome it is the mark of a rational man.

“The animal needing something knows how much it needs, the man does not.”

Democritus

Freeman (1948), p. 162
Variant: The needy animal knows how much it needs, but the needy man does not.

“For a man petticoat government is the limit of insolence.”

Democritus

Source Book in Ancient Philosophy (1907), The Golden Sayings of Democritus

“To a wise man, the whole earth is open; for the native land of a good soul is the whole earth.”

Democritus

Freeman (1948), p. 166
Durant (1939), Ch. XVI, §II, p. 352 (footnote); citing F. Uberweg, History of Philosophy, New York, 1871, vol. 1, p. 71.
Variant: To a wise and good man the whole earth is his fatherland.

“Coition is a slight attack of apoplexy. For man gushes forth from man, and is separated by being torn apart with a kind of blow.”

Democritus

Freeman (1948), p. 150

“Man should know from this rule that he is cut off from truth.”

Democritus

Source Book in Ancient Philosophy (1907), The Fragments

“The man who is fortunate in his choice of son-in-law gains a son; the man unfortunate in his choice loses his daughter also.”

Democritus

Freeman (1948), p. 169