Heraclitus Biography

Known asThe Obscure
Occup.Philosopher
FromGreece
Born544 BC
Ephesus, Ionia, Greece
Died483 BC
Ephesus, Ionia, Greece
CauseNatural Causes
Heraclitus was an old Greek philosopher, born around 544 BC in Ephesus, an important city in the Ionian region, as well as passed away around 483 BC. Commonly referred to as the "dark philosopher" or the "weeping philosopher", Heraclitus was known for his puzzling and enigmatic statements which highlighted the ever-changing nature of deep space. His thoughtful suggestions, which highlighted the essential duty of adjustment and change, have actually continued to have a long-term influence on Western thought and the growth of modern clinical query.

Heraclitus was born into a polished and well-off family, however chose to leave behind his privileges to devote his life to thoughtful idea. Little is recognized of his personal life, although it is documented that he was disdainful of humankind in general, expressing a preference for seclusion. This quality was shown in his writings, which commonly provided a downhearted and misanthropic outlook. The age in which Heraclitus lived as well as functioned was noted by a number of crucial advancements in very early Greek ideology, with prominent figures such as Pythagoras likewise energetic during this time.

Heraclitus' most famous as well as enduring principle is that of the "Unity of Opposites", which recommended that the globe is a continuously changing location, characterized by the interaction of opposing pressures. He created the famous phrase "πάντα ῥεῖ", which translates to "whatever streams" or "whatever is in a state of change". This idea was exemplified through his observations of items worldwide, such as the concept of a river, which is always altering as water is moving via it, yet remains the very same in virtue of the wide idea.

Another substantial aspect of Heraclitus' approach is the principle of the "Logos". The Logos is an all-encompassing principle of divine factor and also order that underlies the universes, working as a device that creates and overviews the ever-changing cosmos. The Logos characterized the value of comprehending the world through logical thought.

Heraclitus likewise played a critical duty in the advancement of Western values. Via his substantial writings on humanity, he was frequently crucial of human behavior and also ignorance. He believed that the lack of self-awareness and also unwillingness to transform was the main root cause of suffering as well as anguish. He asserted that via knowledge, people might accomplish harmony with the magnificent order.

While Heraclitus' ideas were often obscure and also hard to analyze, they deeply affected numerous later theorists, such as Socrates, Plato, and also Aristotle. His concepts laid the structure for the extensive belief in the underlying logical structure of the universe in ancient Greek ideology. Basilides, a Gnostic theologian, was likewise influenced by Heraclitus as well as integrated his principles of opposites and also Logos right into his work.

Heraclitus' writings have not endured in their whole, yet much of his sayings have actually been maintained through the jobs of later thinkers and historians. Regardless of the minimal understanding of his life and functions, Heraclitus remains among the most crucial numbers in ancient Greek ideology as well as remains to be commemorated for his useful payments to the growth of human thought.

Our collection contains 34 quotes who is written / told by Heraclitus.

Related authors: Aristotle (Philosopher), Pythagoras (Mathematician), Philo (Philosopher), Socrates (Philosopher), Xenophanes (Philosopher), Ice T (Musician), Lawrence Taylor (Athlete)

Heraclitus Famous Works:
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34 Famous quotes by Heraclitus

Small: The eyes are more exact witnesses than the ears
"The eyes are more exact witnesses than the ears"
Small: Nothing endures but change
"Nothing endures but change"
Small: Eyes and ears are poor witnesses to people if they have uncultured souls
"Eyes and ears are poor witnesses to people if they have uncultured souls"
Small: Hide our ignorance as we will, an evening of wine soon reveals it
"Hide our ignorance as we will, an evening of wine soon reveals it"
Small: A mans character is his fate
"A man's character is his fate"
Small: Good character is not formed in a week or a month. It is created little by little, day by day.
"Good character is not formed in a week or a month. It is created little by little, day by day. Protracted and patient effort is needed to develop good character"
Small: God is day and night, winter and summer, war and peace, surfeit and hunger
"God is day and night, winter and summer, war and peace, surfeit and hunger"
Small: Even sleepers are workers and collaborators in what goes on in the Universe
"Even sleepers are workers and collaborators in what goes on in the Universe"
Small: Deliberate violence is more to be quenched than a fire
"Deliberate violence is more to be quenched than a fire"
Small: Couples are wholes and not wholes, what agrees disagrees, the concordant is discordant. From all things
"Couples are wholes and not wholes, what agrees disagrees, the concordant is discordant. From all things one and from one all things"
Small: Corpses are more fit to be thrown out than is dung
"Corpses are more fit to be thrown out than is dung"
Small: Character is destiny
"Character is destiny"
Small: Change alone is unchanging
"Change alone is unchanging"
Small: Bigotry is the sacred disease
"Bigotry is the sacred disease"
Small: Big results require big ambitions
"Big results require big ambitions"
Small: A mans character is his guardian divinity
"A man's character is his guardian divinity"
Small: No one that encounters prosperity does not also encounter danger
"No one that encounters prosperity does not also encounter danger"
Small: No man ever steps in the same river twice, for its not the same river and hes not the same man
"No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man"
Small: Nature is wont to hide herself
"Nature is wont to hide herself"
Small: Much learning does not teach understanding
"Much learning does not teach understanding"
Small: Men who wish to know about the world must learn about it in its particular details
"Men who wish to know about the world must learn about it in its particular details"
Small: Man is most nearly himself when he achieves the seriousness of a child at play
"Man is most nearly himself when he achieves the seriousness of a child at play"
Small: Justice will overtake fabricators of lies and false witnesses
"Justice will overtake fabricators of lies and false witnesses"
Small: It is hard to contend against ones hearts desire for whatever it wishes to have it buys at the cost of
"It is hard to contend against one's heart's desire; for whatever it wishes to have it buys at the cost of soul"
Small: If you do not expect the unexpected you will not find it, for it is not to be reached by search or trai
"If you do not expect the unexpected you will not find it, for it is not to be reached by search or trail"
Small: I am what libraries and librarians have made me, with little assistance from a professor of Greek and p
"I am what libraries and librarians have made me, with little assistance from a professor of Greek and poets"
Small: The chain of wedlock is so heavy that it takes two to carry it - and sometimes three
"The chain of wedlock is so heavy that it takes two to carry it - and sometimes three"
Small: The best people renounce all for one goal, the eternal fame of mortals but most people stuff themselves
"The best people renounce all for one goal, the eternal fame of mortals; but most people stuff themselves like cattle"
Small: Our envy always lasts longer than the happiness of those we envy
"Our envy always lasts longer than the happiness of those we envy"
Small: Opposition brings concord. Out of discord comes the fairest harmony
"Opposition brings concord. Out of discord comes the fairest harmony"
Small: The way up and the way down are one and the same
"The way up and the way down are one and the same"
Small: The sun is new each day
"The sun is new each day"
Small: To God everything is beautiful, good, and just humans, however, think some things are unjust and others
"To God everything is beautiful, good, and just; humans, however, think some things are unjust and others just"
Small: There is nothing permanent except change
"There is nothing permanent except change"