Oenomaus of Gadara Quotes
Oenomaus of Gadara was a Greek Cynic philosopher of the second century AD, the author of a celebrated polemic against Greek and Roman oracles called The Charlatans Unmasked, of which substantial fragments are preserved in the early Christian apologist Eusebius's Preparation for the Gospel. Eusebius, who quoted Oenomaus extensively in his polemic against pagan religion, has thereby preserved one of the most sustained ancient critiques of oracular religion as exploitation of human credulity by political and priestly interests. The quotes below are attributed to Oenomaus of Gadara, organized by topic.
Oenomaus of Gadara on Freedom
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Attributed to Oenomaus of Gadara:
“Free will is the gift no priest may sell back to its owner.”
Oenomaus of Gadara on God
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Attributed to Oenomaus of Gadara:
“An oracle is a charlatan with a temple.”
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Attributed to Oenomaus of Gadara:
“The gods, if they speak, do not speak in riddles only the priests can solve.”
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Attributed to Oenomaus of Gadara:
“What the believer takes for revelation, the philosopher recognizes as the echo of his own question.”
Oenomaus of Gadara on Truth
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Attributed to Oenomaus of Gadara:
“Cynic laughter is the proper philosophical response to manufactured awe.”