Pythagore citations

Pythagore est un réformateur religieux et philosophe présocratique qui serait né aux environs de 580 av. J.-C. à Samos, une île de la mer Égée au sud-est de la ville d'Athènes ; on établit sa mort vers 495 av. J.-C., à l'âge de 85 ans. Il aurait été également mathématicien et scientifique selon une tradition tardive. Le nom de Pythagore , découle de l'annonce de sa naissance faite à son père lors d'un voyage à Delphes.

La vie énigmatique de Pythagore permet difficilement d'éclaircir l'histoire de ce réformateur religieux, mathématicien, philosophe et thaumaturge. Il n’a jamais rien écrit, et les soixante et onze lignes des Vers d’Or qu'on lui attribue sont apocryphes et sont le signe de l'immense développement de la légende formée autour de son nom.

Le néopythagorisme est néanmoins empreint d'une mystique des nombres, déjà présente dans la pensée de Pythagore. Hérodote le mentionne comme « l'un des plus grands esprits de la Grèce, le sage Pythagore ». Il conserve un grand prestige ; Hegel disait qu'il était « le premier maître universel ».

D'après un écho marquant d’Héraclide du Pont, Pythagore serait le premier penseur grec à s’être qualifié lui-même de « philosophe ». Cicéron évoque l'anecdote célèbre sur la création du mot φιλόσοφος : « amoureux de la sagesse », par Pythagore :



« Par la même raison, sans doute, tous ceux qui se sont attachés depuis aux sciences contemplatives, ont été tenus pour Sages, et ont été nommés tels, jusques au temps de Pythagore, qui mit le premier en vogue le nom de philosophes. Héraclide de Pont, disciple de Platon, et très habile homme lui-même, en raconte ainsi l'histoire. Un jour, dit-il, Léon, roi des Phliasiens, entendit Pythagore discourir sur certains points avec tant de savoir et d'éloquence, que ce prince, saisi d'admiration, lui demanda quel était donc l'art dont il faisait profession. À quoi Pythagore répondit, qu'il n'en savait aucun ; mais qu'il était philosophe. Et sur ce, le roi, surpris de la nouveauté de ce nom, le pria de lui dire qui étaient donc les philosophes, et en quoi ils différaient des autres hommes. »



— Cicéron, Tusculanes, V, 3, § 8



Wikipedia  

✵ 585 av. J.-C. – 495 av. J.-C.   •   Autres noms Ze Samu Pýthagorás
Pythagore: 121   citations 0   J'aime

Pythagore: Citations en anglais

“Educate the children and it won't be necessary to punish the men.”

As quoted in Geary's Guide to the World's Great Aphorists‎ (2007) by James Geary

“As long as men massacre animals, they will kill each other. Indeed, he who sows the seeds of murder and pain cannot reap the joy of love.”

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
Contexte: As long as Man continues to be the ruthless destroyer of lower living beings, he will never know health or peace. For as long as men massacre animals, they will kill each other. Indeed, he who sows the seed of murder and pain cannot reap joy and love.

“Number is the ruler of forms and ideas, and the cause of gods and daemons.”

As quoted in Life of Pythagoras (c. 300) by Iamblichus of Chalcis, as translated by Thomas Taylor (1818)
Variants:
Number rules the universe.
As quoted in The Story of a Number‎ (1905) by E. Maor; also in Comic Sections (1993) by Desmond MacHale

“It is better wither to be silent, or to say things of more value than silence.”

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. 525
Contexte: It is better wither to be silent, or to say things of more value than silence. Sooner throw a pearl at hazard than an idle or useless word; and do not say a little in many words, but a great deal in a few.

“There is no word or action but has its echo in Eternity.”

As quoted in Pythagoron: The Religious, Moral, and Ethical Teachings of Pythagoras (1947) by Hobart Huson, p. 99
Contexte: There is no word or action but has its echo in Eternity.
Thought is an Idea in transit, which when once released, never can be lured back, nor the spoken word recalled. Nor ever can the overt act be erased All that thou thinkest, sayest, or doest bears perpetual record of itself, enduring for Eternity.

“It is requisite to choose the most excellent life; for custom will make it pleasant.”

"Pythagorean Ethical Sentences From Stobæus" (1904)
Florilegium
Contexte: It is requisite to choose the most excellent life; for custom will make it pleasant. Wealth is an infirm anchor, glory is still more infirm; and in a similar manner, the body, dominion, and honour. For all these are imbecile and powerless. What then are powerful anchors. Prudence, magnanimity, fortitude. These no tempest can shake. This is the Law of God, that virtue is the only thing that is strong; and that every thing else is a trifle.

“If there be light, then there is darkness; if cold, heat; if height, depth; if solid, fluid; if hard, soft; if rough, smooth; if calm, tempest; if prosperity, adversity; if life, death.”

As quoted in Bibliotheca Sacra and Theological Review by ? Vol. IV, No. 8 (1847) by Dallas Theological Seminary, p. 107

“In anger we should refrain both from speech and action.”

As quoted in Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers, "Pythagoras", Sect. 23–24, as translated in Dictionary of Quotations (1906) by Thomas Benfield Harbottle, p. 370

“It is only necessary to make war with five things; with the maladies of the body, the ignorances of the mind, with the passions of the body, with the seditions of the city and the discords of families.”

As quoted in The Biblical Museum: A Collection of Notes Explanatory, Homiletic, and Illustrative on the Holy Scriptures, Especially Designed for the Use of Ministers, Bible-students, and Sunday-school Teachers (1873) http://books.google.com/books?id=aJ8CAAAAQAAJ&pg=RA1-PA331&dq=%22only+necessary+to+make+war+with+five+things%22&ei=8jG1SZKiIIGklQTL0KHHDg by James Comper Gray, Vol. V

“Man know thyself; then thou shalt know the Universe and God.”

As quoted in Fragments of Reality: Daily Entries of Lived Life (2006) by Peter Cajander, p. 109

“Without Justice, no realm may prosper.”

The Sayings of the Wise (1555)

“Those alone are dear to Divinity who are hostile to injustice.”

"Pythagorean Ethical Sentences From Stobæus" (1904)
Florilegium

“Power is the near neighbour of necessity.”

As quoted in Aurea Carmina (8) by Hierocles of Alexandria, as translated in Dictionary of Quotations (1906) by Thomas Benfield Harbottle, p. 356

“A solitary man is a God, or a beast.”

The Sayings of the Wise (1555)

“Virtue is harmony.”

This is often published as a direct quote of Pythagoras, but seems to be derived from the account of Diogenes Laertius of Pythagorean doctrines, where he simply describes the statement as a precept of his followers. In the translation of C. D. Yonge (1853) it is rendered, in regard to Pythagoreans:
: They also say, that the most important privilege in man is, the being able to persuade his soul to either good or bad. And that men are happy when they have a good soul; yet, that they are never quiet, and that they never retain the same mind long. Also, that an oath is justice; and that on that account, Jupiter is called Jupiter of Oaths. Also, that virtue is harmony, and health, and universal good, and God; on which account everything owes its existence and consistency to harmony. Also, that friendship is a harmonious equality.
Disputed

“Let not sleep fall upon thy eyes till thou has thrice reviewed the transactions of the past day.”

As translated in The Rambler No. 8 http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/etcbin/toccer-new2?id=Joh1Ram.sgm&images=images/modeng&data=/texts/english/modeng/parsed&tag=public&part=8&division=div1 (14 April 1750) by Samuel Johnson
Let not sleep e'er close thy eyes
Without thou ask thyself: What have I omitted and what done?
Abstain thou if 'tis evil; persevere if good.
As translated by Fabre d'Olivet
Do not let sleep close your tired eyes until you have three times gone over the events of the day. 'What did I do wrong? What did I accomplish? What did I fail to do that I should have done?' Starting from the beginning, go through to the end. Then, reproach yourself for the things you did wrong, and take pleasure in the good things you did.
As quoted in Divine Harmony: The Life and Teachings of Pythagoras by John Strohmeier and Peter Westbrook. (1999)
The Golden Verses
Contexte: Let not sleep fall upon thy eyes till thou has thrice reviewed the transactions of the past day. Where have I turned aside from rectitude? What have I been doing? What have I left undone, which I ought to have done? Begin thus from the first act, and proceed; and, in conclusion, at the ill which thou hast done, be troubled, and rejoice for the good.

“Envy has been, is, and shall be, the destruction of many.”

The Sayings of the Wise (1555)
Contexte: Envy has been, is, and shall be, the destruction of many. What is there, that Envy hath not defamed, or Malice left undefiled? Truly, no good thing.

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