Zeno of Citium: Quotes about space

Zeno of Citium was ancient Greek philosopher. Explore interesting quotes on universe.

Zeno of Citium: 18 quotes29 likes

“If melodiously piping flutes sprang from the olive, would you doubt that a knowledge of flute-playing resided in the olive? And what if plane trees bore harps which gave forth rhythmical sounds? Clearly you would think in the same way that the art of music was possessed by plane trees. Why, then, seeing that the universe gives birth to beings that are animate and wise, should it not be considered animate and wise itself?”

As quoted in De Natura Deorum by Cicero, ii. 8.

“The end may be defined as life in accordance with nature or, in other words, in accordance with our own human nature as well as that of the universe.”

As quoted by Diogenes Laërtius, in Lives of Eminent Philosophers: 'Zeno', 7.87.
The "end" here means “the goal of life.”

“That which exercises reason is more excellent than that which does not exercise reason; there is nothing more excellent than the universe, therefore the universe exercises reason.”

As quoted in De Natura Deorum by Cicero, ii. 8.; iii. 9.