1001Philosophers

Anaximander Quotes

Anaximander was a Greek philosopher of Miletus, a pupil and successor of Thales, born around 610 BC. He is the first known thinker to have written a work of natural philosophy in prose and the first to propose a non-mythological account of the origin of the cosmos. The quotes below are attributed to Anaximander, organized by topic.

Anaximander on God

  • Attributed to Anaximander:

    “There are innumerable worlds, which are gods.”

Anaximander on Nature

  • Attributed to Anaximander:

    “The first principle of things that are is the boundless.”

  • Attributed to Anaximander:

    “Whence things have their origin, thence also their destruction happens, according to necessity; for they give to each other justice and recompense for their injustice in conformity with the ordinance of Time.”

  • Attributed to Anaximander:

    “The earth is cylindrical in shape, and its depth is a third of its breadth.”

  • Attributed to Anaximander:

    “The first living creatures were born in moisture, enclosed in thorny barks; and as their age increased, they came forth upon the drier part.”

Read all Anaximander quotes on Nature