Archive · In History

November 26 in History

Classical Antiquity: Rome, Greece, and the foundations of Western and Eastern thought.

8thinkers in the spotlight
10featured quotes
Classical Antiquity

Thinkers of the Classical Antiquity

Aristotle

Aristotle

384 BCE – 322 BCE

Philosophy
175

quotes

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.

Menander

Menander

340 BCE – 290 BCE

Literature
13

quotes

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

Aeschines

389 BCE – 314 BCE

Politics
8

quotes

Aeschines was a Greek statesman and one of the ten Attic orators.

E

Epicurus

341 BCE – 269 BCE

Philosophy
37

quotes

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

Xun Zi

313 BCE – 238 BCE

Philosophy
13

quotes

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

Aristarchus of Samos

309 BCE – 229 BCE

Mathematics
3

quotes

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.

Z

Zhuangzi

369 BCE – 286 BCE

Philosophy
18

quotes

Of a person who has limited life experience and hence world view; see 井底之蛙.

Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great

356 BCE – 323 BCE

Military
33

quotes

Alexander III of Macedon, most commonly known as Alexander the Great, was king of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon. He succeeded his father Philip II to the throne in 336 BC at the age of 20, and spent most of his reign conducting a lengthy military campaign throughout Asia and Egypt. By the age of 30, he had created one of the largest empires in history, stretching from Greece to northwestern India.

How great are the dangers I face to win a good name in Athens.