Democritus (/dɪˈmɒkrɪtəs/; Greek: Δημόκριτος, Dēmókritos, meaning "chosen of the people"; c. 460 – c. 370 BC) was an Ancient Greek pre-Socratic philosopher primarily remembered today for his formulation of an atomic theory of the universe.
Many consider Democritus to be the "father of modern science". None of his writings have survived; only fragments are known from his vast body of work.
Popularly known as the Laughing Philosopher (for laughing at human follies), the terms Abderitan laughter, which means scoffing, incessant laughter, and Abderite, which means a scoffer, are derived from Democritus. To his fellow citizens he was also known as "The Mocker".
Quotes:
- “Happiness resides not in possessions, and not in gold, happiness dwells in the soul.”
- “Medicine heals diseases of the body, wisdom frees the soul from passions.”
- “Men find happiness neither by means of the body nor through possessions, but through uprightness and wisdom.”
- “To a wise and good man the whole earth is his fatherland.”
- “Good means not merely not to do wrong, but rather not to desire to do wrong.”
- “One great difference between a wise man and a fool is, the former only wishes for what he may possibly obtain; the latter desires impossibilities.”
- “Many much-learned men have no intelligence.”
- “Everywhere man blames nature and fate yet his fate is mostly but the echo of his character and passion, his mistakes and his weaknesses.”
- “The first principles of the universe are atoms and empty space; everything else is merely thought to exist.”
- “Everything existing in the universe is the fruit of chance and necessity.”
- “No one regards the things before his feet, But views with care the regions of the sky.”
- “Hope of ill gain is the beginning of loss.”
- “People sometimes rationalize their greed by saying that it is all for the good of their children but this is nothing but an excuse they use to make their despicable actions appear respectable and praiseworthy.”
- “The man enslaved to wealth can never be honest.”
- “By desiring little, a poor man makes himself rich.”
- “It is hard to fight desire; but to control it is the sign of a reasonable man.”
- “More men have become great through practice than by nature.”
- “The person who can laugh with life has developed deep roots with confidence and faith-faith in oneself, in people and in the world, as contrasted to negative ideas with distrust and discouragement.”
- “Nature and education are somewhat similar. The latter transforms man, and in so doing creates a second nature.”
- “Happiness does not reside in strength or money; it lies in rightness and many-sidedness.”
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