Proclus Quotes
Proclus Lycius was a Greek Neoplatonist philosopher and the last great head of the Platonic Academy at Athens. He systematized the Neoplatonic tradition inherited from Plotinus and Iamblichus, producing detailed commentaries on Plato's dialogues and a metaphysical treatise, the Elements of Theology, that proceeds in the manner of geometric proof. The quotes below are attributed to Proclus, organized by topic.
Browse Proclus by topic
Proclus on God
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Attributed to Proclus:
“Every multiplicity in some way participates of the One.”
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Attributed to Proclus:
“All that exists proceeds from a single first cause.”
Proclus on Justice
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“For this, to draw a right line from every point, to every point , follows the definition, which says, that a line is the flux of a point , and a right line an indeclinable and inflexible flow .”
The Philosophical and Mathematical Commentaries of Proclus on the First Book of Euclid's ElementsVol. 2 (1789) | Book III. Concerning Petitions and Axioms.
Proclus on Knowledge
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Attributed to Proclus:
“Mathematics prepares the soul for the contemplation of being.”
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“Not much younger than these (sc. Hermotimus of Colophon and Philippus of Mende ) is Euclid , who put together the Elements, collecting many of Eudoxus ' theorems, perfecting many of Theaetetus ', and also bringing to irrefragable demonstration the things which were only somewhat loosely proved by his predecessors. This man lived in the time of the first Ptolemy . For Archimedes , who came immediat”
As quoted by Sir Thomas Little Heath , The Thirteen Books of Euclid's Elements (1908) Vol.1 Introduction and Books I, II p.1, citing Proclus ed. Friedlein, p. 68, 6-20. -
“The fifth century mathematician Proclus quoted in (Morrow 1970: 337). Morrow, Glenn R. Proclus, A Commentary on the First Book of Euclid's Elements: Translated, with Introduction and Notes. Princeton University Press, 1970.”
If we listen to those who like to record antiquities, we shall find them attributing this theorem to Pythagoras and saying that he sacrificed an ox on its discovery. For my part, though I marvel at those who first noted the truth of this theorem, I admire more the author of the Elements for the very lucid proof by which he made it fast. -
“A Dissertation on the Doctrine of Ideas, &c." Footnote: see second book of Aristotle's Metaphysics.”
The Platonic doctrine of Ideas has been, in all ages, the derision of the vulgar, and the admiration of the wife. Indeed, if we consider that ideas are the most sublime objects of speculation, and that their nature is no less bright in itself, than difficult to investigate, this opposition in the conduct of mankind will be natural and necessary; for, from our connection with a material nature, our
Proclus on Life
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“It is told that those who first brought out the irrationals from concealment into the open perished in shipwreck, to a man. For the unutterable and the formless must needs be concealed. And those who uncovered and touched this image of life were instantaneously destroyed and shall remain forever exposed to the play of the eternal waves.”
As quoted by Tobias Dantzig , Number: The Language of Science (1930) also see Proclus, scholium to Book X of Euclid's Elements , vol. V.
Proclus on Mind
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Attributed to Proclus:
“The soul is the mean between the divisible and the indivisible, the eternal and that which is in time.”
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“This, therefore, is mathematics: she reminds you of the invisible form of the soul; she gives life to her own discoveries; she awakens the mind and purifies the intellect; she brings light to our intrinsic ideas; she abolishes oblivion and ignorance which are ours by birth.”
As quoted by Morris Kline , Mathematical Thought from Ancient to Modern Times (1972)
Proclus on Nature
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Attributed to Proclus:
“All that proceeds from any cause reverts in respect of its being upon that from which it proceeds.”
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Attributed to Proclus:
“Wherever there is procession there is also reversion.”
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“The Platonic doctrine of Ideas has been, in all ages, the derision of the vulgar, and the admiration of the wife. Indeed, if we consider that ideas are the most sublime objects of speculation, and that their nature is no less bright in itself, than difficult to investigate, this opposition in the conduct of mankind will be natural and necessary; for, from our connection with a material nature, our intellectual eye, previous to the irradiations of science, is as ill adapted to objects the most splendid of all, "as the eyes of bats to the light of day.”
A Dissertation on the Doctrine of Ideas, &c." Footnote: see second book of Aristotle's Metaphysics.
Proclus on Truth
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“If we listen to those who like to record antiquities, we shall find them attributing this theorem to Pythagoras and saying that he sacrificed an ox on its discovery. For my part, though I marvel at those who first noted the truth of this theorem, I admire more the author of the Elements for the very lucid proof by which he made it fast.”
The fifth century mathematician Proclus quoted in (Morrow 1970: 337). Morrow, Glenn R. Proclus, A Commentary on the First Book of Euclid's Elements: Translated, with Introduction and Notes. Princeton University Press, 1970. | Variant: ‘When we listen to those who want to tell old stories, we find that they trace this theorem back to Pythagoras.’ in : Hermann Hankel (1839-1873) Hankel 1874: 97-98)