Heraclitus

10 quotes

Pre-Socratic Greek philosopher known for his doctrine of change and flux, summarized in the phrase 'everything flows'. He believed fire was the fundamental substance of the universe.

“From Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers by Diogenes Laërtius, Book IX, section 8”

“τὴν μεταβολὴν ὁδὸν ἄνω κάτω, τόν τε κόσμον γίνεσθαι κατ' αὐτήν. Change he called a pathway up and down, and this determines the birth of the world.”

“As quoted by Aristotle in Nicomachean Ethics , Book II”

“χαλεπώτερον ἡδονῇ μάχεσθαι ἢ θυμῷ It is harder to fight against pleasure than against anger.”

“As quoted in Plato, Cratylus , 402a”

“δὶς ἐς τὸν αὐτὸν ποταμὸν οὐκ ἂν ἐμβαίης. You could not step twice into the same river.”

“As quoted by Plato in Cratylus , 402a”

“πάντα χωρεῖ καὶ οὐδὲν μένει Everything changes and nothing stands still.”

“As quoted by Plato in Cratylus , 401d”

“τὰ ὄντα ἰέναι τε πάντα καὶ μένειν οὐδέν All entities move and nothing remains still.”