“Nothing exists except atoms and empty space; everything else is just opinion.”
Democritus Ancient Greek philosopher, pupil of Leucippus, founder of the atomic theory
The first principles of the universe are atoms and empty space; everything else is merely thought to exist. (trans. by Robert Drew Hicks 1925)
“Nothing exists except atoms and empty space; everything else is just opinion.”
Democritus Ancient Greek philosopher, pupil of Leucippus, founder of the atomic theory
Democritus Ancient Greek philosopher, pupil of Leucippus, founder of the atomic theory
By convention sweet is sweet, bitter is bitter, hot is hot, cold is cold, color is color; but in truth there are only atoms and the void. (trans. Durant 1939), Ch. XVI, §II, p. 353; citing C. Bakewell, Sourcebook in Ancient Philosophy, New York, 1909, "Fragment O" (Diels), p. 60
Margaret J. Wheatley (1941) American writer
Source: Turning to one another (2002), p. 19
“Life exists in the universe only because the carbon atom possesses certain exceptional properties.”
James Jeans book The Mysterious Universe
Source: The Mysterious Universe (1930), p. 19, Pelican Books 1938 reprint of 1931 2nd ed.
Wallace Stevens (1879–1955) American poet
Letter (19 December 1935) as published in Letters of Wallace Stevens (1966) edited by Holly Stevens, (No. 336)
Max Scheler (1874–1928) German philosopher
Source: Das Ressentiment im Aufbau der Moralen (1912), L. Coser, trans. (1961), p. 94
Thich Nhat Hanh (1926) Religious leader and peace activist
Old Path White Clouds : Walking in the Footsteps of the Buddha (1991)
Charles Lyell book Principles of Geology
Chpt.2, p. 8
Principles of Geology (1832), Vol. 1
Context: The marks of former convulsions on every part of the surface of our planet are obvious and striking. The remains of marine animals imbedded in the solid strata are so abundant, that they may be expected to force themselves on the observation of every people who have made some progress in refinement; and especially where one class of men are expressly set apart from the rest for study and contemplation.... Those modern writers, who are disposed to disparage the former intellectual advancement and civilization of eastern nations, might concede some foundation of observed facts for the curious theories now under consideration, without indulging in exaggerated opinions of the progress of science; especially as universal catastrophes of the world, and exterminations of organic beings, in the sense in which they were understood by the Brahmin, are untenable doctrines.
“We only have now! Everything else is either imagination or memory.”
Steve Maraboli (1975)
Source: Life, the Truth, and Being Free (2010), p. 131