Pythagoras: 121 quotes47 likes
Pythagoras Quotes
“If thy fellows hurt thee in small things, suffer it! and be as bold with them!”
The Sayings of the Wise (1555)
“Write in the sand the flaws of your friend.”
As quoted in Geary's Guide to the World's Great Aphorists (2007) by James Geary
"Pythagorean Ethical Sentences From Stobæus" (1904)
Florilegium
As reported by Alexander Polyhistor, and Diogenes Laërtius in Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers, "Pythagoras", Sect. 30, in the translation of C. D. Yonge (1853)
“A blow from your friend is better than a kiss from your enemy.”
As quoted in Geary's Guide to the World's Great Aphorists (2007) by James Geary, p. 118
“He is worst of all, that is malicious against his friends.”
The Sayings of the Wise (1555)
“Do not even think of doing what ought not to be done.”
"Pythagorean Ethical Sentences From Stobæus" (1904)
Florilegium
"Pythagorean Ethical Sentences From Stobæus" (1904)
Florilegium
"Pythagorean Ethical Sentences From Stobæus" (1904)
Florilegium
“None can be free who is a slave to, and ruled by, his passions.”
As quoted in Florilegium, XVIII, 23, as translated in Dictionary of Quotations (1906) by Thomas Benfield Harbottle, p. 368
No one is free who has not obtained the empire of himself.
As translated by Nicholas Rowe(1732)
No man is free who cannot command himself.
As quoted in Moral Encyclopaedia, Or, Varlé's Self-instructor, No. 3 (1831) by by Charles Varle
No man is free who cannot control himself.
As quoted in 25 Days to Better Thinking and Better Living: A Guide for Improving Every Aspect of Your Life (2006) by Linda Elder and Richard Paul
Florilegium
“Wind indeed increases fire, but custom love.”
"Pythagorean Ethical Sentences From Stobæus" (1904)
Florilegium
“There is nothing so easy but that it becomes difficult when you do it reluctantly.”
Terence, in Heauton Timoroumenos [The Self-Tormentor]
Misattributed
As quoted in Gems of Thought: Being a Collection of More Than a Thousand Choice Selections, Or Aphorisms, from Nearly Four Hundred and Fifty Different Authors, and on One Hundred and Forty Different Subjects (1888). p. 97 by Charles Northend
As quoted in Divine Harmony: The Life and Teachings of Pythagoras by John Strohmeier and Peter Westbrook. (1999)
The Golden Verses
“Use examples; that such as thou teachest may understand thee the better!”
The Sayings of the Wise (1555)
“Tell not abroad what thou intendest to do; for if thou speed not, thou shalt be mocked!”
The Sayings of the Wise (1555)
“Order thyself so, that thy Soul may always be in good estate; whatsoever become of thy body.”
The Sayings of the Wise (1555)
“Concern should drive us into action and not into a depression.”
The Collected Works of Karen Horney (1957) by Karen Horney, p. 154: "We may feel genuinely concerned about world conditions, though such a concern should drive us into action and not into a depression."
Misattributed
As reported by Heraclides Ponticus (c. 360 BC), and Diogenes Laërtius, in Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers, "Pythagoras", Sect. 6, in the translation of C. D. Yonge (1853)
“True and perfect Friendship is, to make one heart and mind of many hearts and bodies.”
The Sayings of the Wise (1555)
“The best and greatest winning is a true friend; and the greatest loss is the loss of time.”
The Sayings of the Wise (1555)
“Above and before all things, worship GOD!”
As quoted in The Sayings of the Wise: Or, Food for Thought: A Book of Moral Wisdom, Gathered from the Ancient Philosophers (1555) by William Baldwin [1908 edition]
Variant translation: Honor first the immortal gods, in the manner prescribed, and respect the oath.
Next, honor the reverent heroes and the spirits of the dead by making the traditional sacrifices.
Honor your parents and your relatives. As for others, befriend whoever excels in virtue.
Yield to kind words and helpful deeds, and do not hate your friend for a trifling fault as you are able. For ability is near to necessity.
As quoted in Divine Harmony: The Life and Teachings of Pythagoras by John Strohmeier and Peter Westbrook. (1999) ISBN 0-9653774-5-8
The Golden Verses
Symbol 9
Variant translation: Poke not the fire with a sword.
As quoted in Short Sayings of Great Men: With Historical and Explanatory Notes (1882) by Samuel Arthur Bent, p. 455
The Symbols
As quoted in the translation of Thomas Taylor (1818)
Florilegium
“The most momentous thing in human life is the art of winning the soul to good or to evil.”
As quoted in Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers, as translated by Robert Drew Hicks (1925)
Variant translation: The most momentous thing in human life is the art of winning the soul to good or evil.
As quoted in Ionia, a Quest (1954) by Freya Stark, p. 94
“Not frequently man from man.”
As quoted in the translation of Thomas Taylor (1818); This has been interpreted as being an exhortation to moderation in homosexual liaisons.
Florilegium
“Assist a man in raising a burden; but do not assist him in laying it down.”
Symbol 11
The Symbols
Symbol 37; This was long thought by many to be simply a dietary proscription, and often ridiculed, but many consider it to have originally been intended as advice against getting involved in politics, for voting on issues in his time was often done by using differently colored beans. Others have stated that it might signify a more general admonition against relying on the votes of people to determine truths of reality. The explanation provided in the translation used here states: "This Symbol admonishes us to beware of everything which is corruptive of our converse with the gods and divine prophecy."
The Symbols
Variant: Abstain from animals.
Symbol 30; explained in the edition used here: "This Symbol signifies that it is not proper to divulse the union and consent of the universe. And still further it signifies this, Be not envious, but philanthropic and communicative; and from this it exhorts us to philosophize. For philosophy alone among the sciences and arts is neither pained with the goods of others, nor rejoices in evils of neighbours, these being allied and familiar by nature, subject to the like passions, and exposed to one common fortune; and evinces that all men are equally incapable of foreseeing future events. Hence it exhorts us to sympathy and mutual love, and to be truly communicative, as it becomes rational animals.
Variant translation: Do not eat your heart.
The Symbols
Attribution to Pythagoras by Ovid, as quoted in The Extended Circle: A Dictionary of Humane Thought (1985) by Jon Wynne-Tyson, p. 260; also in Vegetarian Times, No. 168 (August 1991), p. 4
Symbol 39; explained in the edition used here: "This Symbol exhorts to justice, to all the honour of kindred, to the reception of similar life, and to many other things of a like kind."
The Symbols
