Democritus

Find the best quotes, maxims and aphorisms of Democritus

Biography : Greek philosopher.
Born: -460 - Died: -370
Period:
4th century BC
5th century BC
Place of birth: Greece
Greece

Greece

Democritus - Quotes

The self-control of the father is the greatest example for the children.
Democritus - Fragments /

child

It is proper, since we are human beings, not to laugh at the misfortunes of others, but to mourn.
Democritus - Fragments /

Men should strive to think much and know little.
Democritus - Fragments /

Cheerfulness is created for men through moderation of enjoyment and harmoniousness of life. Things that are in excess or lacking are apt to change and cause great disturbance in the soul.
Democritus - Fragments /

It is better to deliberate before action than to repent afterwards.
Democritus - Fragments /

Immoderate desire is the mark of a child, not a man.
Democritus - Fragments /

For the foolish, not reason but advantage is the teacher.
Democritus - Fragments /

It is greed to do all the talking and not be willing to listen.
Democritus - Fragments /

to listen

The word is the shadow of the deed.
Democritus - Fragments /

Magnanimity consists in enduring tactlessness with mildness.
Democritus - Fragments /

Happiness resides not in possessions, and not in gold, happiness dwells in the soul.
Democritus - Fragments /

Many who have not learnt Reason, nevertheless live according to reason.
Democritus - Fragments /

Do not try to understand everything, lest you become ignorant of everything.
Democritus - Fragments /

He who contradicts and chatters much is ill-fitted for learning what he ought.
Democritus - Fragments /

One should be good, or else imitate the one who is good.
Democritus - Fragments /

good

It is better to examine one's own faults than those of others.
Democritus - Fragments /

Courage minimises difficulties.
Democritus - Fragments /

courage

It is the mark of the divine intellect to be always calculating something noble.
Democritus - Fragments /

Be not suspicious towards all, but be cautious and firm.
Democritus - Fragments /

The great pleasures come from the contemplation of noble works.
Democritus - Fragments /

joy

The criterion of the advantageous and disadvantageous is enjoyment and lack of enjoyment.
Democritus - Fragments /

pleasure

It is right that men should value the soul rather than the body; for perfection of soul corrects the inferiority of the body, but physical strength without intelligence does nothing to improve the mind.
Democritus - Fragments /

The envious man torments himself like an enemy.
Democritus - Fragments /

enemy

Those same things from which we get good can also be for us a source of hurt, or else we can avoid the hurt. For instance, deep water is useful for many purposes, and yet again harmful; for there is danger of being drowned. A technique has therefore been invented: instruction in swimming.
Democritus - Fragments /

One must be on one's guard against the bad man, lest he seize his opportunity.
Democritus - Fragments /

opportunity

To a wise man, the whole earth is open; for the native land of a good soul is the whole earth.
Democritus - Fragments /

sage

In old age, a man is agreeable if his manner is pleasant and his speech serious.
Democritus - Fragments /

The right-minded man is he who is not grieved by what he has not, but enjoys what he has.
Democritus - Fragments /

One should emulate the deeds and actions of virtue, not the words.
Democritus - Fragments /

When inferior men censure, the good man pays no heed.
Democritus - Fragments /