Thales of Miletus Quotes on Knowledge
Thales of Miletus was an ancient Greek Pre-Socratic philosopher of the 7th and 6th centuries BC, traditionally regarded as the first philosopher of the Western tradition and a founder of Greek natural philosophy and mathematics. This page collects quotes attributed to Thales of Miletus on the topic of knowledge, drawn from across the philosopher's works.
Quotes
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“Water is the first principle of all things.”
As quoted in Aristotle , Metaphysics , 983b -
Attributed to Thales of Miletus:
“Know thyself.”
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“The most difficult thing in life is to know yourself.”
Γνῶθι σαυτόν -
“παντα πληρη θεων ειναι”
Panta plêrê theôn einai. | All things are full of gods. | As quoted in Aristotle , De Anima , 411a -
“Panta plêrê theôn einai.”
παντα πληρη θεων ειναι -
“As quoted in Aristotle , De Anima , 411a”
παντα πληρη θεων ειναι -
“As quoted in Aristotle , Metaphysics , 983b”
Water is the first principle of everything. -
“Σοφώτατον χρόνος· ἀνευρίσκει γὰρ πάντα.”
Time is the wisest of all things that are; for it brings everything to light. | As quoted in Diogenes Laërtius , The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers , I, 35 -
“As quoted in Diogenes Laërtius , The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers , I, 35”
Σοφώτατον χρόνος· ἀνευρίσκει γὰρ πάντα. -
“Οὔ τι τὰ πολλὰ ἔπη φρονίμην ἀπεφήνατο δόξαν”
A multitude of words is no proof of a prudent mind. | As quoted in Diogenes Laërtius , The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers , I, 35; as translated in Dictionary of Quotations (Classical) edited by Thomas Benfield Harbottle, p. 455 | Also translated as: "Many words do not declare an understanding heart. -
“As quoted in Diogenes Laërtius , The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers , I, 35; as translated in Dictionary of Quotations (Classical) edited by Thomas Benfield Harbottle, p. 455”
Οὔ τι τὰ πολλὰ ἔπη φρονίμην ἀπεφήνατο δόξαν