Heraclitus
Heraclitus
Heraclitus of Ephesuswas a pre-Socratic Greek philosopher, a native of the Greek city Ephesus, Ionia, on the coast of Asia Minor. He was of distinguished parentage. Little is known about his early life and education, but he regarded himself as self-taught and a pioneer of wisdom. From the lonely life he led, and still more from the apparently riddled and allegedly paradoxical nature of his philosophy and his stress upon the needless unconsciousness of humankind, he was called "The Obscure"...
NationalityGreek
ProfessionPhilosopher
opposites conflict all-things
All things come into being by conflict of opposites.
opposites strife born
The opposite is beneficial; from things that differ comes the fairest attunement; all things are born through strife.
communication opposites bows
There is harmony in the tension of opposites, as in the case of the bow and lyre.
opposites together sound
All things are in flux; the flux is subject to a unifying measure or rational principle. This principle (logos, the hidden harmony behind all change) bound opposites together in a unified tension, which is like that of a lyre, where a stable harmonious sound emerges from the tension of the opposing forces that arise from the bow bound together by the string.
goes greek-philosopher workers
Even sleepers are workers and collaborators in what goes on in the Universe.
flowing greek-philosopher waters
You could not step twice into the same rivers; for other waters are ever flowing on to you.
reached
If you do not expect the unexpected you will not find it, for it is not to be reached by search or trail.
eyes greek-philosopher witnesses
The eyes are more exact witnesses than the ears.
carry chain greek-philosopher takes
The chain of wedlock is so heavy that it takes two to carry it - and sometimes three.
beautiful all-things
To God all things are beautiful and good and just.
men knowing acting
All men have the capacity of knowing themselves and acting with moderation.
night impossible distinction
Could you tell night from day? No, I regard all such distinctions as logically impossible.
death fit burial
Corpses are more fit to be thrown out than is dung.
character destiny our-destiny
Character is our destiny.