Démokritosz idézet

oldal 3

„A gonosz, értelmetlen, szégyentelen, alacsonyrendű élet nem rossz élet, hanem hosszadalmas meghalás.”

„Akinek egyetlen derék barátja sincs, nem érdemli meg, hogy éljen.”

„Az értelemből három dolog fakad: a helyes gondolkodás, a helyes beszéd, és a helyes cselekvés.”

„Sok ember, aki barátnak látszik, nem az; sok ember, aki nem látszik barátnak, mégis az.”

„A kapzsi ember a méh sorsát viseli: dolgozik, mintha örökké élne.”

„Az emberek, akik a halál elől menekülnek, utána szaladnak.”

„Önfegyelemre vall, ha az ember a feljebbvaló, a törvény, és az okosabb előtt meghajol. Nehéz az alacsonyabb rendűnek engedelmeskedni.”

„A jó ember az, aki nemcsak hogy nem követ el bűnt, hanem aki nem is akar bűnt elkövetni.”

„Ember, akinek minden nap friss gondolata van.”

„Az ember erényes tettekre törekedjék, ne pedig erényes szavakra.”

„Aki lelki javakra törekszik, isteni élet felé halad, aki testi javakra, földi élet felé.”

„Aki senkit sem szeret, azt senki sem szeretheti. Valóságban semmit sem tudunk, mert az igazság a mélyben van.”

„Aki megfeledkezik szenvedéseiről, szemtelenné lesz.”

„Démokritosz azt mondta, inkább szeretne egyetlen bizonyítékot találni, mint a perzsa trónt elnyerni.”

„A bolond iskolája nem a szó, hanem a baj.”

„Aki az igazságtalanságot cselekszi, szerencsétlenebb, mint az, aki elszenvedi.”

„Előkelő lélekre vall, ha valaki az illetlenséget elviseli.”

„A vétkeket ne félelemből, hanem kötelességtudásból kerüld.”

„Ha lelked belsejét megnyitod, a gonosz szenvedélyek valóságos kincstárát fogod megtalálni.”

„Az orvostudomány az embert megszabadítja a test betegségeitől, a filozófia megszabadítja a lelket a szenvedélyektől.”

„Az embernek vagy jónak kell lennie, vagy a jót kell utánoznia.”

„Ne igyekezz mindent megtudni, mert akkor nem tanulsz semmit.”

„Akinek jelleme rendezett, élete is az.”

“In fact we do not know anything infallibly, but only that which changes according to the condition of our body and of the [influences] that reach and impinge upon it.”

“It is better to correct your own faults than those of another.”

“Now, that we do not really know of what sort each thing is, or is not, has often been shown.”

“And yet it will be obvious that it is difficult to really know of what sort each thing is.”

“Of practical wisdom these are the three fruits: to deliberate well, to speak to the point, to do what is right.”

“Many much-learned men have no intelligence.”

“Now his principal doctrines were these. That atoms and the vacuum were the beginning of the universe; and that everything else existed only in opinion. (trans. Yonge 1853)”

“There are two forms of knowledge, one genuine, one obscure. To the obscure belong all of the following: sight, hearing, smell, taste, feeling. The other form is the genuine, and is quite distinct from this. [And then distinguishing the genuine from the obscure, he continues:] Whenever the obscure [way of knowing] has reached the minimum sensibile of hearing, smell, taste, and touch, and when the investigation must be carried farther into that which is still finer, then arises the genuine way of knowing, which has a finer organ of thought.”

“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.”

“Fortune is lavish with her favors, but not to be depended on. Nature on the other hand is self-sufficing, and therefore with her feebler but trustworthy [resources] she wins the greater [meed] of hope.”

“We know nothing accurately in reality, but [only] as it changes according to the bodily condition, and the constitution of those things that flow upon [the body] and impinge upon it.”

“Tis not in strength of body nor in gold that men find happiness, but in uprightness and in fulness of understanding.”

“We ought to regard the interests of the state as of far greater moment than all else, in order that they may be administered well; and we ought not to engage in eager rivalry in despite of equity, nor arrogate to ourselves any power contrary to the common welfare. For a state well administered is our greatest safeguard. In this all is summed up: When the state is in a healthy condition all things prosper; when it is corrupt, all things go to ruin.”

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

“The enmity of one's kindred is far more bitter than the enmity of strangers.”

“One should emulate works and deeds of virtue, not arguments about it.”

“Men have made an idol of luck as an excuse for their own thoughtlessness. Luck seldom measures swords with wisdom. Most things in life quick wit and sharp vision can set right.”

“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.”

“Happiness resides not in possessions, and not in gold, happiness dwells in the soul.”

“Nothing exists except atoms and empty space; everything else is just opinion.”