The Philosopher
Democritus
The face
The background
- Nationality:
- Ancient Greek
- Schools:
- Atomism, Pre-Socratic philosophy
- Branchs:
- Philosophy, Nature, Ethics, Physics, Mathematics, Geometry, Astronomy, Grammar, Music, Poetry, Harmony, Military tactics, Babylonian theology, Natural history, Aesthetics
- Period:
- Pre-Socratic philosophy
The synopsis
Democritus was an Ancient Greek pre-Socratic philosopher from Abdera, primarily remembered today for his formulation of an atomic theory of the universe. He wrote extensively on a wide variety of topics. None of Democritus' original work has survived, except through second-hand references. Many of these references come from Aristotle, who viewed him as an important rival in the field of natural philosophy. He was known in antiquity as the ‘laughing philosopher’ because of his emphasis on the value of cheerfulness.
The works
Pythagoras
On the Disposition of the Wise Man
On the Things in Hades
Tritogenia
On Manliness or On Virtue
The Horn of Amaltheia
On Contentment
Ethical Commentaries
The Great World-System
Cosmography
On the Planets
On Nature
On the Nature of Man Or On Flesh
On the Mind
On the Senses
On Flavours
On Colours
On Different Shapes
On Changing Shape
Buttresses
On Images
On Logic
Heavenly Causes
Atmospheric Causes
Terrestrial Causes
Causes Concerned with Fire and Things in Fire
Causes Concerned with Sounds
Causes Concerned with Seeds and Plants and Fruits
Causes Concerned with Animals
Miscellaneous Causes
On Magnets
On Different Angles or On contact of Circles and Spheres
On Geometry
Geometry
Numbers
On Irrational Lines and Solids
Planispheres
On the Great Year or Astronomy
Contest of the Waterclock
Description of the Heavens
Geography
Description of the Poles
Description of Rays of Light
On the Rhythms and Harmony
On poetry
On the Beauty of Verses
On Euphonious and Harsh-sounding Letters
On Homer
On Song
On Verbs
Names
Prognosis
On Diet
Medical Judgment
Causes Concerning Appropriate and Inappropriate Occasions
On Farming
On Painting
Tactics
Fighting in Armor
On the Sacred Writings of Babylon
On Those in Meroe
Circumnavigation of the Ocean
On History
Chaldaean Account
Phrygian Account
On Fever and Coughing Sicknesses
Legal Causes
Problems
The quotes
Happiness resides not in possessions, and not in gold, happiness dwells in the soul.
It is greed to do all the talking but not to want to listen at all.
By desiring little, a poor man makes himself rich.
The wrongdoer is more unfortunate than the man wronged.
Men should strive to think much and know little.
Now as of old the gods give men all good things, excepting only those that are baneful and injurious and useless. These, now as of old, are not gifts of the gods: men stumble into them themselves because of their own blindness and folly.
It is godlike ever to think on something beautiful and on something new.
If thou suffer injustice, console thyself; the true unhappiness is in doing it.
Throw moderation to the winds, and the greatest pleasures bring the greatest pains.
Raising children is an uncertain thing; success is reached only after a life of battle and worry.
Do not trust all men, but trust men of worth; the former course is silly, the latter a mark of prudence.
Nothing exists except atoms and empty space; everything else is opinion.
Hope of ill gain is the beginning of loss.
Everything existing in the universe is the fruit of chance and necessity.
Our sins are more easily remembered than our good deeds.
I would rather discover one true cause than gain the kingdom of Persia.
Good means not merely not to do wrong, but rather not to desire to do wrong.
It is better to destroy one's own errors than those of others.