Quotations From HERACLITUS

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• 1.

  The best people renounce all for one goal, the eternal fame of mortals; but most people stuff themselves like cattle.

  Heraclitus (c. 535-475 B.C.), Greek philosopher. Diels-Kranz, Fragmente der Vorsokratiker, 22B29. Heraclitus, one of the two or three most influential philosophers before Socrates, was known as "the riddler" or "the obscure."
  
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• 2.

  Eyes and ears are poor witnesses to people if they have the uncultured souls.

  Heraclitus (c. 535-475 B.C.), Greek philosopher. Diels-Kranz, Fragmente der Vorsokratiker, 22B107. Heraclitus, one of the two or three most influential philosophers before Socrates, was known as "the riddler" or "the obscure."
  
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• 3.

  It is impossible to step into the same river twice.

  Heraclitus (c. 535-475 B.C.), Greek philosopher. Diels-Kranz, fr. 91 (from Plutarch). Heraclitus, one of the two or three most influential philosophers before Socrates, was known as "the riddler" or "the obscure."
  
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• 4.

  Wisdom is one thing, to know how to make true judgment, how all things are steered through all things.

  Heraclitus (c. 535-475 B.C.), Greek philosopher. Diels-Kranz, Fragmente der Vorsokratiker, 22B41. Heraclitus, one of the two or three most influential philosophers before Socrates, was known as "the riddler" or "the obscure."
• 5.

  Immortal mortals, mortal immortals, one living the others' death and dying the others' life.

  Heraclitus (c. 535-475 B.C.), Greek philosopher. The Cosmic Fragments, no. 67 (c. 480 B.C.).
  
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• 6.

  Justice will overtake fabricators of lies and false witnesses.

  Heraclitus (c. 535-475 B.C.), Greek philosopher. The Presocratics, p. 74, ed. Philip Wheelwright, The Bobbs-Merrill Co., Inc. (1960).
  
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• 7.

  Corpses are more fit to be thrown out than is dung.

  Heraclitus (c. 535 B.C.-c. 475 B.C.), Greek philosopher. The Cosmic Fragments, no. 85 (written c. 480 B.C.).
• 8.

  You could not step twice into the same rivers; for other waters are ever flowing on to you.

  Heraclitus (c. 535-475 B.C.), Greek philosopher. quoted in Hippocrates, On The Universe, aph. 41.
• 9.

  A lifetime [or, eternity] is a child playing, playing checkers; the kingdom belongs to a child.

  Heraclitus (c. 535-475 B.C.), Greek philosopher. quoted in Hippolytus [early third century A.D.], Refutation 9.9.4, Readings in Ancient Greek Philosophy, trans. by R.D. McKirahan, Jr., eds. S. Marc Cohen, Patricia Curd, and C.D.C. Reeve, Hackett Publishing Co. (1995).
  
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• 10.

  Uncomprehending when they have heard, they are like the deaf. The saying describes them: though present they are absent.

  Heraclitus (c. 535-475 B.C.), Greek philosopher. quoted in Clement [second century A.D.], Miscellanies 5.115.3, Readings in Ancient Greek Philosophy, trans. by R.D. McKirahan, Jr., eds. S. Marc Cohen, Patricia Curd, and C.D.C. Reeve, Hackett Publishing Co. (1995).