Theophrastus Quotes on Knowledge
Theophrastus of Eresus was an ancient Greek philosopher and the immediate successor of Aristotle as head of the Peripatetic School at the Lyceum in Athens. This page collects quotes attributed to Theophrastus on the topic of knowledge, drawn from across the philosopher's works.
Quotes
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Attributed to Theophrastus:
“Plants, like animals, have their own kinds and their own characters.”
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“Συνεχές τε … πολυτελὲς ἀνάλωμα εἶναι τὸν χρόνον.”
Time is the most valuable thing a man can spend. | Diogenes Laërtius , Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers , Book 5. -
“Diogenes Laërtius , Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers , Book 5.”
Συνεχές τε … πολυτελὲς ἀνάλωμα εἶναι τὸν χρόνον. -
“The Unseasonable man is one who will go up to a busy person, and open his heart to him. He will serenade his mistress when she has a fever. He will address himself to a man who has been cast in a surety-suit, and request him to become his security. He will come to give evidence when the trial is over.”
Characters , ch. 9 (12); translation from R. C. Jebb and J. E. Sandys (trans.), The Characters of Theophrastus (London: Macmillan, 1909), p. 75. -
“Characters , ch. 9 (12); translation from R. C. Jebb and J. E. Sandys (trans.), The Characters of Theophrastus (London: Macmillan, 1909), p. 75.”
The Unseasonable man is one who will go up to a busy person, and open his heart to him. He will serenade his mistress when she has a fever. He will address himself to a man who has been cast in a surety-suit, and request him to become his security. He will come to give evidence when the trial is over. -
“Superstition would seem to be simply cowardice in regard to the supernatural.”
Characters , ch. 28 (16); translation from R. C. Jebb and J. E. Sandys (trans.), The Characters of Theophrastus (London: Macmillan, 1909), p. 139. -
“Characters , ch. 28 (16); translation from R. C. Jebb and J. E. Sandys (trans.), The Characters of Theophrastus (London: Macmillan, 1909), p. 139.”
Superstition would seem to be simply cowardice in regard to the supernatural. -
“Εἰ μὲν ἀμαθὴς εἶ, φρονίμως ποιεῖς, εἰ δὲ πεπαίδευσαι, ἀφρόνως.”
If you are an ignorant man, you are acting wisely; but if you have had any education, you are behaving like a fool. | Quoted by Diogenes Laërtius ; translation from C. D. Yonge (trans.), The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (London: H. G. Bohn, 1853), p. 196. | Said "when a man preserved a strict silence during the whole of a banquet". -
“If you are an ignorant man, you are acting wisely; but if you have had any education, you are behaving like a fool.”
Εἰ μὲν ἀμαθὴς εἶ, φρονίμως ποιεῖς, εἰ δὲ πεπαίδευσαι, ἀφρόνως. -
“Quoted by Diogenes Laërtius ; translation from C. D. Yonge (trans.), The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (London: H. G. Bohn, 1853), p. 196.”
Εἰ μὲν ἀμαθὴς εἶ, φρονίμως ποιεῖς, εἰ δὲ πεπαίδευσαι, ἀφρόνως. -
“Said "when a man preserved a strict silence during the whole of a banquet".”
Εἰ μὲν ἀμαθὴς εἶ, φρονίμως ποιεῖς, εἰ δὲ πεπαίδευσαι, ἀφρόνως.