Pythagoras: Quotes about the soul

“Work at these things, practice them, these are the things you ought to desire; they are what will put you on the path of divine virtue — yes, by the one who entrusted our soul with the tetraktys, source of ever-flowing nature. Pray to the gods for success and get to work.”

Pythagoras

As quoted in Divine Harmony: The Life and Teachings of Pythagoras by John Strohmeier and Peter Westbrook. (1999)
The Golden Verses

God , Soul , Nature , Success

“Neither will the horse be adjudged to be generous, that is sumptuously adorned, but the horse whose nature is illustrious; nor is the man worthy who possesses great wealth, but he whose soul is generous.”

Pythagoras

"Pythagorean Ethical Sentences From Stobæus" (1904)
Florilegium

Soul , Nature , Horse , Wealth

“Choose rather to be strong in soul than in body.”

Pythagoras

"Pythagorean Ethical Sentences From Stobæus" (1904)
Choose rather to be strong of soul than strong of body.
As quoted in Florilegium, I.22, as translated in Dictionary of Quotations (1906) by Thomas Benfield Harbottle, p. 396
Florilegium

Powerful , Soul , Strong

“Truth is so great a perfection, that if God would render himself visible to men, he would choose light for his body and truth for his soul.”

Pythagoras

As quoted in A Dictionary of Thoughts: Being a Cyclopedia of Laconic Quotations from the Best Authors of the World, both Ancient and Modern (1908) by Tyron Edwards, p. 592

Men , God , Truth , Soul

“The soul of man is divided into three parts, intelligence, reason, and passion. Intelligence and passion are possessed by other animals, but reason by man alone.”

Pythagoras

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)

Soul , Intelligence , Passion , Animals

“When a reasonable Soul forsaketh his divine nature, and becometh beast-like, it dieth. For though the substance of the Soul be incorruptible: yet, lacking the use of Reason, it is reputed dead; for it loseth the Intellective Life.”

Pythagoras

The Sayings of the Wise (1555)

Life , Soul , Nature , Dead

“Sobriety is the strength of the soul, for it preserves its reason unclouded by passion.”

Pythagoras

As quoted in The History of Philosophy: From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Present Century (1819) by William Enfield
Sobriety is the strength of the mind; for it preserves reason unclouded by passion.
As quoted in Bible of Reason (1831) by Benjamin F. Powell, p. 157
Strength of mind rests in sobriety; for this keeps your reason unclouded by passion.
As quoted in Dictionary of Quotations from Ancient and Modern English and Foreign Sources (1899) by James Wood

Soul , Passion

“When the wise man opens his mouth, the beauties of his soul present themselves to the view, like the statues in a temple”

Pythagoras

"Pythagorean Ethical Sentences From Stobæus" (1904)
Florilegium

Beauty , Soul

“A good Soul hath neither too great joy, nor too great sorrow: for it rejoiceth in goodness; and it sorroweth in wickedness. By the means whereof, when it beholdeth all things, and seeth the good and bad so mingled together, it can neither rejoice greatly; nor be grieved with over much sorrow.”

Pythagoras

The Sayings of the Wise (1555)

Soul , Joy

“Dispose thy Soul to all good and necessary things!”

Pythagoras

The Sayings of the Wise (1555)

Soul

“Order thyself so, that thy Soul may always be in good estate; whatsoever become of thy body.”

Pythagoras

The Sayings of the Wise (1555)

Soul

“Time is the soul of this world.”

Pythagoras

As quoted in Wisdom (2002) by Desmond MacHale

World , Soul , Time

“Patience cometh by the grace of the Soul.”

Pythagoras

The Sayings of the Wise (1555)

Soul , Patience

“The most momentous thing in human life is the art of winning the soul to good or to evil.”

Pythagoras

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

Life , Art , Soul , Evil