Pythagoras Quotations

Friends are as companions on a journey, who ought to aid each other to persevere in the road to a happier life.

As soon as laws are necessary for men, they are no longer fit for freedom.

No one is free who has not obtained the empire of himself.

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.

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.

Do not say a little in many words but a great deal in a few.

There is geometry in the humming of the strings, there is music in the spacing of the spheres.

Choose rather to be strong of soul than strong of body.

Concern should drive us into action and not into a depression. No man is free who cannot control himself.

Rest satisfied with doing well, and leave others to talk of you as they will

There is a good principle which created order, light, and man, and an evil principle which created chaos, darkness, and woman.

The oldest, shortest words - 'yes' and 'no' - are those which require the most thought.

Do not talk a little on many subjects, but much on a few.

Above the cloud with its shadow is the star with its light. Above all things reverence thyself.

Strength of mind rests in sobriety; for this keeps your reason unclouded by passion.

The most momentous thing in human life is the art of winning the soul to good or evil.

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.

Consider before acting, to avoid foolishness: It is the worthless man who speaks and acts thoughtlessly.

Without Justice, no realm may prosper.

Evolution is the Law of Life Number is the Law of the Universe Unity is the Law of God

Ability and necessity dwell near each other.

He buries gold who hides the truth.

Music is the harmonization of opposites; the conciliation of warring elements

We ought not to quit our post without the permission of Him who commands; the post of man is life.

Let exercise alternate with rest.

As the sea-crab swimmeth always against the stream, so doth wit always against wisdom.

So tutor youth that the sins of age be not imputed to thee.

Assist a man in raising a burden; but do not assist him in laying it down.

Step not beyond the beam of the balance.

Know that death comes to everyone, and that wealth will sometimes be acquired, sometimes lost. Whatever griefs mortals suffer by divine chance, whatever destiny you have, endure it and do not complain. But it is right to improve it as much as you can, and remember this: Fate does not give very many of these griefs to good people.

Meditate upon my counsels; love them; follow them; To the divine virtues will they know how to lead thee. I swear it by the One who in our hearts engraved The sacred Tetrad , symbol immense and pure, Source of Nature and model of the Gods.

Wind indeed increases fire, but custom love.

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

None can be free who is a slave to, and ruled by, his passions.

One must choose in all things a mean just and good.

Instruct thyself for time and patience favor all.

In this theater of man's life, it is reserved only for God and angels to be lookers-on.

It is difficult to walk at one and the same time many paths of life.

Let no one persuade you by word or deed to do or say whatever is not best for you.

But respect yourself most of all.

Better be mute, than dispute with the Ignorant.

Every man has been made by God in order to acquire knowledge and contemplate.

Don't eat your heart.

Numbers rule the universe.

If men with fleshly mortals must be fed, and chew with bleeding teeth the breathing bread; what else is this but to devour our guests, and barbarously renew Cyclopean feasts? While Earth not only can your needs supply, but, lavish of her store, provides for luxury; a guiltless feast administers with ease, and without blood is prodigal to please.

Friends share all things.

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?

Golden Verses So-called because they are "good as gold." They are by some attributed to Epicarmos, and by others to Empedocles, but always go under the name of Pythagoras, and seem quite in accordance with the excellent precepts of that philosopher. They are as follows: Ne'er suffer sleep thine eyes to close Before thy mind hath run O'er every act, and thought, and word, From dawn to set of sun; For wrong take shame, but grateful feel If just thy course hath been; Such effort day by day renewed Will ward thy soul from sin. E. C. B.

To cognize the Divine Essence - this is the highest purpose of soul, sent by the Creator to the Earth!

You will know that wretched men are the cause of their own suffering, who neither see nor hear the good that is near them, and few are the ones who know how to secure release from their troubles.

He is not rich, that enjoyeth not his own goods.

Above all things, reverence yourself.

Number was the substance of all things.

Power is the near neighbour of necessity.

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.

Number is the within of all things.

Before all, be real. Only the truth gives to the word the Orpheus' Lyre power.

Respect gods before demigods, heroes before men, and first among men your parents; but respect yourself most of all.

As soon as you awake, in order Lay the actions to be done the coming day.

Friendship is one soul in two bodies.

Government exists only for the good of the governed.

The earth affords a lavish supply of richess of innocent foods, and offers you banquets that involve no bloodshed or slaughter; only beasts satisfy their hunger with flesh, and not even all of those, because horses, cattle, and sheep live on grass.

Truth is to be sought with a mind purified from the passions of the body. Having overcome evil things, thou shalt experience the union of the union mortal divinity with the mortal man.

Wealth is a weak anchor, and glory cannot support a man; this is the law of God, that virtue only is firm, and cannot be shaken by a tempest.

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

A stone is frozen music

Practice justice in word and deed, and do not get in the habit of acting thoughtlessly about anything.

Govern your tongue before all other things, following the gods.

It is requisite to defend those who are unjustly accused of having acted injuriously, but to praise those who excel in a certain good.

Neither will the horse be adjudged to be generous, that is sumptuously adorned, but the horse whose nature is illustrious; nor is the man worthy who possesses great wealth, but he whose soul is generous.

The stars in the heavens sing a music, if only we had ears to hear

Thou shalt likewise know that according to Law, the nature of this universe is in all things a like.

Allow not sleep to close your eyes before three times reflecting on Your actions of the day. What deeds Done well, what not, what left undone?

Thought is an Idea in transit, which when once released, never can be lured back, nor the spoken word recalled.

A stranger, if just, is not only to be preferred before a countryman, but a kinsman.

Despise all those things which when liberated from the body you will not want; invoke the Gods to become your helpers.

Remind yourself that all men assert that wisdom is the greatest good, but that there are few who strenuously seek out that greatest good.

Having departed from your house, turn not back; for the furies will be your attendants.

Know thyself and thou wilt know the universe.

Do not spend in excess like one who is careless of what is good, nor be miserly; the mean is best in every case.

Dear youths, I warn you cherish peace divine, And in your hearts lay deep these words of mine.

Let a man use great reverence and manners to himself.

So in life, some enter the services of fame and others money, but the best choice is that of those few who spend their time in the contemplation of nature, and as lovers of wisdom.

Some are slaves of ambition or money, but others are interested in understanding life itself. These give themselves the name of philosophers , and they value the contemplation and discovery of nature beyond all other pursuits.

Many words befall men, mean and noble alike; do not be astonished by them, nor allow yourself to be constrained.

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.

Write in the sand the flaws of your friend.

Reason is immortal, all else mortal.

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.

Number rules the universe.

Above all things, respect yourself.

Geometry is knowledge of the eternally existent.

None but God is wise.

When going to the temple to adore Divinity neither say nor do any thing in the interim pertaining to the common affairs of life.

The octave formed a circle and gave our noble earth its form.

Above all have respect for yourself.

The soul of man is divided into three parts, intelligence, reason, and passion. Intelligence and passion are possessed by other animals, but reason by man alone.

God built the universe on numbers.

A blow from your friend is better than a kiss from your enemy.

Don't disarrange my circles!