Demokrit Zitate

seite 3

„Das Weib soll sich nicht im Reden üben. Denn das wäre arg.“

„Es werden mehr Menschen durch Übung tüchtig als durch Naturanlage.“

„Ruhm und Reichtum ohne Verstand sind ein unsicherer Besitz.“

„[Die Worte sind] redende Bilder.“

„Kraft und Schönheit sind der Jugend Güter, des Alters Blüte aber ist Besonnenheit.“

„Ständige Arbeit wird leichter durch Gewöhnung.“

„Gesundheit fordern die Menschen in ihren Gebeten von den Göttern. Sie wissen aber nicht, dass sie selbst Macht darüber haben.“

„Armut mit Anstand zu tragen, ist ein Zeichen von Selbstbeherrschung.“

„Bürgerkrieg ist für beide Parteien ein Unglück. Denn das Verderben trifft Sieger und Besiegte in gleicher Weise.“

„Ein Weib ist viel mehr als der Mann darauf erpicht, Bosheiten auszuhecken.“

„In Wirklichkeit erkennen wir nichts; denn die Wahrheit liegt in der Tiefe.“

„Schmuck des Weibes, wenig zu reden; aber auch Einfachheit im Schmuck steht ihr wohl an.“

„Was ein Dichter, des Gottes voll, in heiliger Begeisterung niederschreibt, das ist sicherlich schön.“

„Vaters Selbstbeherrschung ist für die Kinder die wirksamste Ermahnung.“

„Das unbotmässige Leid einer schmerzerstarrten Seele banne durch Vernunft.“

„Das Sittliche setzt das Natürliche voraus.“

“In fact we do not know anything infallibly, but only that which changes according to the condition of our body and of the [influences] that reach and impinge upon it.”

“It is better to correct your own faults than those of another.”

“Now, that we do not really know of what sort each thing is, or is not, has often been shown.”

“And yet it will be obvious that it is difficult to really know of what sort each thing is.”

“Of practical wisdom these are the three fruits: to deliberate well, to speak to the point, to do what is right.”

“Many much-learned men have no intelligence.”

“Now his principal doctrines were these. That atoms and the vacuum were the beginning of the universe; and that everything else existed only in opinion. (trans. Yonge 1853)”

“There are two forms of knowledge, one genuine, one obscure. To the obscure belong all of the following: sight, hearing, smell, taste, feeling. The other form is the genuine, and is quite distinct from this. [And then distinguishing the genuine from the obscure, he continues:] Whenever the obscure [way of knowing] has reached the minimum sensibile of hearing, smell, taste, and touch, and when the investigation must be carried farther into that which is still finer, then arises the genuine way of knowing, which has a finer organ of thought.”

“Coition is a slight attack of apoplexy. For man gushes forth from man, and is separated by being torn apart with a kind of blow.”

“Fortune is lavish with her favors, but not to be depended on. Nature on the other hand is self-sufficing, and therefore with her feebler but trustworthy [resources] she wins the greater [meed] of hope.”

“We know nothing accurately in reality, but [only] as it changes according to the bodily condition, and the constitution of those things that flow upon [the body] and impinge upon it.”

“Tis not in strength of body nor in gold that men find happiness, but in uprightness and in fulness of understanding.”

“We ought to regard the interests of the state as of far greater moment than all else, in order that they may be administered well; and we ought not to engage in eager rivalry in despite of equity, nor arrogate to ourselves any power contrary to the common welfare. For a state well administered is our greatest safeguard. In this all is summed up: When the state is in a healthy condition all things prosper; when it is corrupt, all things go to ruin.”

“Man should know from this rule that he is cut off from truth.”

“The enmity of one's kindred is far more bitter than the enmity of strangers.”

“One should emulate works and deeds of virtue, not arguments about it.”

“Men have made an idol of luck as an excuse for their own thoughtlessness. Luck seldom measures swords with wisdom. Most things in life quick wit and sharp vision can set right.”

“The man who is fortunate in his choice of son-in-law gains a son; the man unfortunate in his choice loses his daughter also.”

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

“Nothing exists except atoms and empty space; everything else is just opinion.”