Melissus of Samos Quotes
Melissus of Samos was a Greek pre-Socratic philosopher and the last great representative of the Eleatic school founded by Parmenides. Active in the mid-fifth century BC, he commanded the Samian fleet that defeated the Athenians under Pericles in 441 BC. The quotes below are attributed to Melissus of Samos, organized by topic.
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Melissus of Samos on Knowledge
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“Καὶ Μέλισσος δὲ τὸ ἀγένητον τοῦ ὄντος ἔδειξε τῶι κοινῶι τούτωι χρησάμενος ἀξιώματι· γράφει δὲ οὕτως· ᾿ἀεὶ ἦν ὅ τι ἦν καὶ ἀεὶ ἔσται. Εἰ γὰρ ἐγένετο, ἀναγκαῖόν ἐστι πρὶν γενέσθαι εἶναι μηδέν· εἰ τοίνυν μηδὲν ἦν, οὐδαμὰ ἂν γένοιτο οὐδὲν ἐκ μηδενός᾿.”
What was was ever, and ever shall be. For, if it had come into being , it needs must have been nothing before it came into being. Now, if it were nothing, in no wise could anything have arisen out of nothing. -
“What was was ever, and ever shall be. For, if it had come into being , it needs must have been nothing before it came into being. Now, if it were nothing, in no wise could anything have arisen out of nothing.”
Καὶ Μέλισσος δὲ τὸ ἀγένητον τοῦ ὄντος ἔδειξε τῶι κοινῶι τούτωι χρησάμενος ἀξιώματι· γράφει δὲ οὕτως· ᾿ἀεὶ ἦν ὅ τι ἦν καὶ ἀεὶ ἔσται. Εἰ γὰρ ἐγένετο, ἀναγκαῖόν ἐστι πρὶν γενέσθαι εἶναι μηδέν· εἰ τοίνυν μηδὲν ἦν, οὐδαμὰ ἂν γένοιτο οὐδὲν ἐκ μηδενός᾿. -
“Οὕτως οὖν ἀίδιόν ἐστι καὶ ἄπειρον καὶ ἓν καὶ ὅμοιον πᾶν.”
So then it is eternal and infinite and one and all alike. -
“Οὐδ᾿ ἂν τὸ ὑγιὲς ἀλγῆσαι δύναιτο· ἀπὸ γὰρ ἂν ὄλοιτο τὸ ὑγιὲς καὶ τὸ ἐόν, τὸ δὲ οὐκ ἐὸν γένοιτο. Καὶ περὶ τοῦ ἀνιᾶσθαι ὡυτὸς λόγος τῶι ἀλγέοντι. Οὐδὲ κενεόν ἐστιν οὐδέν· τὸ γὰρ κενεὸν οὐδέν ἐστιν· οὐκ ἂν οὖν εἴη τό γε μηδέν. Οὐδὲ κινεῖται· ὑποχωρῆσαι γὰρ οὐκ ἔχει οὐδαμῆι, ἀλλὰ πλέων ἐστίν. Εἰ μὲν γὰρ κενεὸν ἦν, ὑπεχώρει ἂν εἰς τὸ κενόν· κενοῦ δὲ μὴ ἐόντος οὐκ ἔχει ὅκηι ὑποχωρήσει.”
Nor is anything empty : For what is empty is nothing . What is nothing cannot be. Nor does it move ; for it has nowhere to betake itself to, but is full . For if there were aught empty, it would betake itself to the empty. But, since there is naught empty, it has nowhere to betake itself to. -
“Nor is anything empty : For what is empty is nothing . What is nothing cannot be. Nor does it move ; for it has nowhere to betake itself to, but is full . For if there were aught empty, it would betake itself to the empty. But, since there is naught empty, it has nowhere to betake itself to.”
Οὐδ᾿ ἂν τὸ ὑγιὲς ἀλγῆσαι δύναιτο· ἀπὸ γὰρ ἂν ὄλοιτο τὸ ὑγιὲς καὶ τὸ ἐόν, τὸ δὲ οὐκ ἐὸν γένοιτο. Καὶ περὶ τοῦ ἀνιᾶσθαι ὡυτὸς λόγος τῶι ἀλγέοντι. Οὐδὲ κενεόν ἐστιν οὐδέν· τὸ γὰρ κενεὸν οὐδέν ἐστιν· οὐκ ἂν οὖν εἴη τό γε μηδέν. Οὐδὲ κινεῖται· ὑποχωρῆσαι γὰρ οὐκ ἔχει οὐδαμῆι, ἀλλὰ πλέων ἐστίν. Εἰ μὲν γὰρ κενεὸν ἦν, ὑπεχώρει ἂν εἰς τὸ κενόν· κενοῦ δὲ μὴ ἐόντος οὐκ ἔχει ὅκηι ὑποχωρήσει. -
“Τοῦ γὰρ ἐόντος ἀληθινοῦ κρεῖσσον οὐδέν.”
…nothing is stronger than true reality .
Melissus of Samos on Nature
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Attributed to Melissus of Samos:
“Nothing can come from what is not.”
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Attributed to Melissus of Samos:
“Being is unlimited; it has neither beginning nor end.”
Melissus of Samos on Time
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“So then it is eternal and infinite and one and all alike.”
Οὕτως οὖν ἀίδιόν ἐστι καὶ ἄπειρον καὶ ἓν καὶ ὅμοιον πᾶν.
Melissus of Samos on Truth
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Attributed to Melissus of Samos:
“What is, has always been and will always be.”
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Attributed to Melissus of Samos:
“What is is one and the same throughout.”
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Attributed to Melissus of Samos:
“If there were many things, each would have to be such as I say the one is.”
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“…nothing is stronger than true reality .”
Τοῦ γὰρ ἐόντος ἀληθινοῦ κρεῖσσον οὐδέν.