Democritus
Pre-Socratic Greek philosopher.
No power and no treasure can outweigh the extension of our knowledge.
In a shared fish, there are no bones.
We know nothing accurately in reality, but [only] as it changes according to the bodily condition, and the constitution of those things that flow upon [the body] and impinge upon it.
Strength and beauty are the blessings of youth; temperance, however, is the flower of old age.
Disease of the home and of the life comes about in the same way as that of the body.
Sweet exists by convention, bitter by convention, colour by convention; atoms and Void [alone] exist in reality.
Man is a universe in little [Microcosm].
[I would] rather discover one cause than gain the kingdom of Persia.
Good breeding in cattle depends on physical health, but in men on a well-formed character.
Medicine heals diseases of the body, wisdom frees the soul from passions.
The brave man is not only he who overcomes the enemy, but he who is stronger than pleasures. Some men are masters of cities, but are enslaved to women.
Immoderate desire is the mark of a child, not a man.
Beautiful objects are wrought by study through effort, but ugly things are reaped automatically without toil.
The first principles of the universe are atoms and empty space; everything else is merely thought to exist.
Education is an ornament for the prosperous, a refuge for the unfortunate.
The laws would not prevent each man from living according to his inclination, unless individuals harmed each other; for envy creates the beginning of strife.
The man who is fortunate in his choice of son-in-law gains a son; the man unfortunate in his choice loses his daughter also.
Men have fashioned an image of Chance as an excuse for their own stupidity. For Chance rarely conflicts with intelligence, and most things in life can be set in order by an intelligent sharpsightedness.
Moderation multiplies pleasures, and increases pleasure.
Coition is a slight attack of apoplexy. For man gushes forth from man, and is separated by being torn apart with a kind of blow.