1001Philosophers

Porphyry Quotes on Virtue

Porphyry of Tyre was a Greek Neoplatonist philosopher and the most important pupil of Plotinus. This page collects quotes attributed to Porphyry on the topic of virtue, drawn from across the philosopher's works.

Quotes

  • Attributed to Porphyry:

    “The body is the cause of the most numerous and most pernicious distractions.”

  • Attributed to Porphyry:

    “We must, therefore, separate ourselves from everything that we ourselves have added.”

  • Attributed to Porphyry:

    “Empty are the words of that philosopher which heal no human suffering.”

  • “Every good thing is gentle and consistent, progressing in good order and not going beyond what is right.”

    2, 39, 4