Heraclitus Quotes

# Lifetime is a child at play, moving pieces in a game. Kingship belongs to the child.

#:* Proclus in Alcib. p. 255 Creuzer, = 525 ed. Cous. ii.

The awake share a common world, but the asleep turn aside into private worlds.

Whoever cannot seek the unforeseen sees nothing, for the known way is an impasse.

Immortals are mortal, mortals are immortal, living the others' death, being dead in the others' life.

It would not be better if things happened to people just as they wish.

Dogs bark at what they cannot understand.

It is better to conceal ignorance.

Βίος ανεόρταστος μακρά οδός απανδόκευτος
(Uncelebrated life is like a long innless road)

The road up and the road down is one and the same

Give me one man
from among ten thousand
if he is the best

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.

κύνες γὰρ καὶ βαΰζουσινὃν, ἂν μὴ γινώσκωσι.

Allow yourself to think only those thoughts that match your principles and can bear the bright light of day. Day by day, your choices, your thoughts, your actions fashion the person you become. Your integrity determines your destiny.

Τίς γὰρ αὐτῶν νόος ἢ φρήν; [δήμων] ἀοιδοῖσι ἕπονται καὶ διδασκάλῳ χρέωνται ὁμίλῳ, οὐκ εἰδότες ὅτι πολλοὶ κακοὶ ὀλίγοι δὲ ἀγαθοί. αἱρεῦνται γὰρ ἓν ἀντία πάντων οἱ ἄριστοι, κλέος ἀέναον θνητῶν, οἱ δὲ πολλοὶ κεκόρηνται ὅκωσπερ κτήνεα.