Thinkers of the Classical Antiquity
Aristotle
384 BCE – 322 BCE
Philosophyquotes
Greek philosopher, student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. His writings span philosophy, science, and rhetoric.
In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous.
Ashoka
303 BCE – 231 BCE
Economicsquotes
Ashoka, also known as Asoka or Aśoka, most commonly known as Ashoka the Great, was Emperor of Magadha from c. 268 BCE until his death, and the third ruler of the Maurya Empire. His empire covered a large part of the Indian subcontinent, stretching from present-day Afghanistan in the west to present-day Bangladesh in the east, with its capital at Pataliputra. A patron of Buddhism, he is credited with an important role in the spread of Buddhism across ancient Asia.
Menander
340 BCE – 290 BCE
Literaturequotes
Menander was a Greek playwright and the best-known representative of Athenian New Comedy. He wrote 108 comedies and took the prize at the Lenaia festival eight times. His record at the City Dionysia is unknown.
The truth sometimes not sought for comes forth to the light.
Aeschines
389 BCE – 314 BCE
Politicsquotes
Aeschines was a Greek statesman and one of the ten Attic orators.
An evil nature wielding great authority brings misfortune upon the community.
Epicurus
341 BCE – 269 BCE
Philosophyquotes
Epicurus was an ancient Greek philosopher who founded the philosophical school of Epicureanism, which teaches that management of one's desires, removal of unnecessary fears, friendship, and virtuous living lead to a pleasant life and constant happiness, the highest good.
He who is not satisfied with a little, is satisfied with nothing.
Xun Zi
313 BCE – 238 BCE
Philosophyquotes
Xunzi, born Xun Kuang, was a late Warring States period Confucian Chinese philosopher, often ranked as the third great Confucian philosopher of antiquity after his predecessors Confucius and Mencius. By his time, Confucianism had suffered considerable criticism from Taoist and Mohist thinkers, and Xunzi is traditionally regarded as a synthesizer of these traditions with earlier Confucian thought. The result was a thorough and cohesive revision of Confucianism, which was crucial to the philosophy's ability to flourish in the Han dynasty and throughout the later history of East Asia.
The person attempting to travel two roads at once will get nowhere.
Aristarchus of Samos
309 BCE – 229 BCE
Mathematicsquotes
Aristarchus of Samos was an ancient Greek astronomer and mathematician who presented the first known heliocentric model that placed the Sun at the center of the universe, with the Earth revolving around the Sun once a year and rotating about its axis once a day. He also supported the theory of Anaxagoras that the Sun was just another star.
John Louis Emil Dreyer, History of the planetary systems from Thales to Kepler
Zhuangzi
369 BCE – 286 BCE
Philosophyquotes
Of a person who has limited life experience and hence world view; see 井底之蛙.
Words from May 15
"In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous."
Aristotle
384 BCE
"The roots of education ... are bitter, but the fruit is sweet."
Aristotle
384 BCE
"The truth sometimes not sought for comes forth to the light."
Menander
340 BCE
"Marriage, if one will face the truth, is an evil, but a necessary evil."
Menander
340 BCE
"An evil nature wielding great authority brings misfortune upon the community."
Aeschines
389 BCE
"He who is not satisfied with a little, is satisfied with nothing."
Epicurus
341 BCE