1001Philosophers

Democritus Quotes on Virtue

Democritus of Abdera was a Pre-Socratic Greek philosopher of the fifth and early fourth centuries BC, regarded with his teacher Leucippus as a co-founder of the atomist tradition in Greek thought. This page collects quotes attributed to Democritus on the topic of virtue, drawn from across the philosopher's works.

Quotes

  • Attributed to Democritus:

    “The brave man is he who overcomes not only his enemies but his pleasures.”

  • Attributed to Democritus:

    “Happiness resides not in possessions, and not in gold; happiness dwells in the soul.”

  • Attributed to Democritus:

    “He who joyfully does not many things in private and in public is at peace.”

  • Attributed to Democritus:

    “The best way to bring up children is by gentleness and persuasion, not by anger and threats.”

  • Attributed to Democritus:

    “Beautiful objects are wrought by study through effort, but ugly things are reaped automatically without toil.”

  • Attributed to Democritus:

    “It is greed to do all the talking but not to want to listen at all.”