Simplicius Quotes on Knowledge
Simplicius of Cilicia (c.490–c.560) — the late Athenian Neoplatonist whose monumental commentaries on Aristotle’s Categories, Physics, and De Caelo are the most extensive surviving works of the school — gave late ancient Aristotelian commentary tradition its most learned and historically valuable contributions. The central methodological commitment, characteristic of the broader late Neoplatonist commentary tradition, is the harmonization of Aristotelian and Platonic philosophy under the unifying authority of the Plotinian-Iamblichean synthesis — and the corresponding philological practice of preserving the views and arguments of the prior tradition through extensive citation has made Simplicius’s commentaries the principal surviving source for our knowledge of much Pre-Socratic, Stoic, and Middle Platonic philosophy. The framework, produced in part during Simplicius’s exile from the closure of the Athenian Academy under Justinian in 529, shaped the medieval Arabic and Latin reception of Aristotle and remains the indispensable secondary source for the historian of ancient philosophy.
Quotes
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Attributed to Simplicius:
“True philosophy preserves what was best in earlier philosophy.”
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Attributed to Simplicius:
“Aristotle's words must always be understood in their philosophical context.”
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Attributed to Simplicius:
“Plato and Aristotle, rightly read, do not contradict each other.”
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Attributed to Simplicius:
“It is the task of the commentator to set out the philosopher's meaning, not his own.”
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“Simplicity is the most deceitful mistress that ever betrayed man.”
Henry Adams , The Education of Henry Adams (1907). -
“Henry Adams , The Education of Henry Adams (1907).”
Simplicity is the most deceitful mistress that ever betrayed man. -
“Simplicity is very complicated .”
Armen Agop , quoted by Eltorie, Aida, (2009) Undercurrent, Contemporary Egyptian Art . Art Sawa. Dubai. pg. 32 -
“Armen Agop , quoted by Eltorie, Aida, (2009) Undercurrent, Contemporary Egyptian Art . Art Sawa. Dubai. pg. 32”
Simplicity is very complicated . -
“Marcus Aurelius Antonius , Meditations , Book 4 (c. AD 121–180)”
Do nothing but what is necessary . ... By this rule a man has the double pleasure of making his actions good and few into the bargain. For the greater part of what we say and do, being unnecessary, if this were but taken away, we should have both more leisure and less disturbance. And therefore before a man sets forward, he should ask himself this question, "Am I not upon the verge of something un -
“Simplicity — the art of maximizing the amount of work not done — is essential.”
Mike Beedle, Arie van Bennekum, Alistair Cockburn, Ward Cunningham, Martin Fowler, Jim Highsmith, Andrew Hunt, Ron Jeffries, Jon Kern, Brian Marick, Robert C. Martin, Ken Schwaber, Jeff Sutherland, Dave Thomas, Principles behind the Agile Manifesto (2001). -
“Mike Beedle, Arie van Bennekum, Alistair Cockburn, Ward Cunningham, Martin Fowler, Jim Highsmith, Andrew Hunt, Ron Jeffries, Jon Kern, Brian Marick, Robert C. Martin, Ken Schwaber, Jeff Sutherland, Dave Thomas, Principles behind the Agile Manifesto (2001).”
Simplicity — the art of maximizing the amount of work not done — is essential.