The first principles of the universe are atoms and empty space; everything else is merely thought to exist.
DemocritusNature and education are somewhat similar. The latter transforms man, and in so doing creates a second nature.
DemocritusGood breeding in cattle depends on physical health, but in men on a well-formed character.
DemocritusThe person who can laugh with life has developed deep roots with confidence and faith-faith in oneself, in people and in the world, as contrasted to negative ideas with distrust and discouragement.
DemocritusThere are innumerable worlds of different sizes. In some there is neither sun not moon, in others they are larger than in ours and others have more than one. These worlds are at irregular distances, more in one direction and less in another, and some are flourishing, others declining. Here they come into being, there they die, and they are distroyed by collision with one another. Some of the worlds have no animal or vegetable life nor any water.
DemocritusMen find happiness neither by means of the body nor through possessions, but through uprightness and wisdom.
DemocritusOne great difference between a wise man and a fool is, the former only wishes for what he may possibly obtain; the latter desires impossibilities.
DemocritusBy convention sweet is sweet, by convention bitter is bitter, by convention hot is hot, by convention cold is cold, by convention color is color. But in reality there are atoms and the void. That is, the objects of sense are supposed to be real and it is customary to regard them as such, but in truth they are not. Only the atoms and the void are real.
DemocritusMoving in space, the atoms originally were individual units, but inevitable they began to collide with each other, and in cases where their shapes were such as to permit them to interlock, they began to form clusters. Water, air, fire, and earth, these are simply different clusters of the changeless atoms.
Democritus