Leucippus Quotes
Leucippus was an ancient Greek pre-Socratic philosopher and the founder, with his pupil Democritus, of the atomist tradition. Almost nothing survives of his biography or writings, and his very existence was doubted by Epicurus, but Aristotle and Theophrastus credit him with first formulating the view that the world consists of indivisible particles, atoms, moving in an empty void. The quotes below are attributed to Leucippus, organized by topic.
Leucippus on Nature
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Attributed to Leucippus:
“Nothing happens at random; everything occurs for a reason and by necessity.”
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Attributed to Leucippus:
“The world is composed of atoms moving in the void.”
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Attributed to Leucippus:
“Bodies arise from the meeting and parting of atoms.”
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Attributed to Leucippus:
“Necessity, not chance, governs the cosmos.”
Leucippus on Truth
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Attributed to Leucippus:
“The void is no less real than that which fills it.”