Heraclitus Quotes

You cannot step twice into the same river.

The fairest order in the world is a heap of random sweepings.

A dry soul is wisest and best.

You can never step in the same river twice.

This world... ever was, and is, and shall be, ever-living Fire, in measures being kindled and in measures going out.

Knowledge of divine things for the most part is lost to us by incredulity.

Men that love wisdom must be acquainted with very many things indeed.

Hide our ignorance as we will, an evening of wine soon reveals it.

Change alone is unchanging.

The phases of fire are craving and satiety.

Even sleepers are workers and collaborators on what goes on in the universe.

He who does not expect will not find out the unexpected, for it is trackless and unexplored

If one does not expect the unexpected, one will not find it out, since it is not to be searched out, and difficut to compass.

There is a stability in the Universe because of the orderly and balanced process of change, the same measure coming out as going in, as if reality were a huge fire that inhaled and exhaled equal amounts.

Those unmindful when they hear, for all they make of their intelligence, may be regarded as the walking dead.

It is wise to agree that all things are one.

It is difficult to fight against anger; for a man will buy revenge with his soul.

Even what those with the greatest reputation for knowing it all claim to understand and defend are but opinions.

The sun is new each day.

All things flow, nothing abides.

Religion is a disease, but it is a noble disease.

If you went in search of it, you would not find the boundaries of the soul, though you traveled every road-so deep is its measure [logos].

Time is a game played beautifully by children.

People ought to fight to keep their law as to defend the city s walls.

The only thing that is constant is change.

What we have caught and what we have killed we have left behind, but what has escaped us we bring with us.

Eyes and ears are poor witnesses to people if they have uncultured souls.

A hidden connection is stronger than an obvious one.

To God all things are fair and good and right, but men hold some things wrong and some right.

Abundance of knowledge does not teach men to be wise.

Good character is not formed in a week or a month. It is created little by little, day by day. Protracted and patient effort is needed to develop good character.

If you do not hope, you will not win that which is not hoped for, since it is unattainable and inaccessible.

For when is death not within our selves? And as Heracleitus says: “Living and dead are the same, and so are awake and asleep, young and old. The former when shifted are the latter, and again the latter when shifted are the former."

If we do not expect the unexpected, we will never find it.

Learning many things does not teach understanding

Those who love wisdom must investigate many things

Deliberate violence is more to be quenched than a fire

It is better to hide ignorance, but it is hard to do this when we relax over wine.

It is hard to contend against one's heart's desire; for whatever it wishes to have it buys at the cost of soul.

Nature is accustomed to hide itself.

It is better to conceal ignorance than to expose it.

Many who have learned from Hesiod the countless names of gods and monsters never understand that night and day are one

It is in changing that things find purpose.

You won't discover the limits of the soul, however far you go.

To get everything you want is not a good thing. Disease makes health seem sweet. Hunger leads to the appreciation of being full-fed. Tiredness creates the enjoyment of resting

Nothing is constant except change

Everything changes but change itself. Everything flows and nothing remains the same... You cannot step twice into the same river, for other waters and yet others go flowing ever on.

All things come into being through opposition and all are in flux like a river