Wisdom of Democritus

Democritus ( 460 – 370 BC) was an Ancient Greek philosopher from Abdera. He is famous for an atomic theory of the universe. Democritus wrote extensively on many subjects including poetry, military tactics, harmony, and Babylonian theology. His original work didn’t survive, but many second-hand references come from Aristotle, who saw him as an important figure in natural philosophy. He was known as the ‘laughing philosopher’ because of his emphasis on the importance of cheerfulness.

Below we list some words of wisdom from Democritus.

"Nothing exists except atoms and empty space; everything else is opinion."

"Many much-learned men have no intelligence."

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

"Everywhere man blames nature and fate yet his fate is mostly but the echo of his character and passion, his mistakes and his weaknesses."

"My enemy is not the man who wrongs me, but the man who means to wrong me."

"The wise man belongs to all countries, for the home of a great soul is the whole world."

"Life unexamined, is not worth living."

"The brave man is not only he who overcomes the enemy, but he who is stronger than pleasures."

"We know nothing in reality; for truth lies in an abyss."

"The sweetest things become the most bitter by excess."

"It is better to destroy one's own errors than those of others."

"The person who can laugh with life has developed deep roots with confidence and faith-faith in oneself, in people and in the world, as contrasted to negative ideas with distrust and discouragement."

"Reason is often a more powerful persuader than gold."

"Raising children is an uncertain thing; success is reached only after a life of battle and worry."

"I would rather discover one true cause than gain the kingdom of Persia."

"One great difference between a wise man and a fool is, the former only wishes for what he may possibly obtain; the latter desires impossibilities."

"Magnanimity consists in enduring tactlessness with mildness."

"One should practice much sense, not much learning."

"Education is an ornament for the prosperous, a refuge for the unfortunate."

"There are innumerable worlds of different sizes. In some there is neither sun not moon, in others they are larger than in ours and others have more than one. These worlds are at irregular distances, more in one direction and less in another, and some are flourishing, others declining. Here they come into being, there they die, and they are destroyed by collision with one another. Some of the worlds have no animal or vegetable life nor any water."

"It is hard to fight against anger: to master it is the mark of a rational man."

"The pride of youth is in strength and beauty, the pride of old age is in discretion."

"All things happen by virtue of necessity."

"It is hard to fight desire; but to control it is the sign of a reasonable man."

"Men find happiness neither by means of the body nor through possessions, but through uprightness and wisdom."

"Medicine heals diseases of the body, wisdom frees the soul from passions."

"More men have become great through practice than by nature."

"If your desires are not great, a little will seem much to you; for small appetite makes poverty equivalent to wealth."

"Everything existing in the universe is the fruit of chance and necessity."

"Envy creates the beginning of strife."

"Men will cease to be fools only when they cease to be men."

"The animal needing something knows how much it needs, the man does not."

"Good means not [merely] not to do wrong, but rather not to desire to do wrong."

"Happiness does not reside in strength or money; it lies in rightness and many-sidedness."

"Some men are masters of cities, but are enslaved to women."

"The wrongdoer is more unfortunate than the man wronged."

"Immoderate desire is the mark of a child, not a man."

"It is greed to do all the talking but not to want to listen at all."

"We think there is color, we think there is sweet, we think there is bitter, but in reality there are atoms and a void."

"You can tell the man who rings true from the man who rings false, not by his deeds alone, but also by his desires."

"Throw moderation to the winds, and the greatest pleasures bring the greatest pains."

"Sexual intercourse is a slight attack of apoplexy."

"Our sins are more easily remembered than our good deeds."

"The man enslaved to wealth can never be honest."

Copyright Stephen Petullo, Scott Petullo