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The Ethiopians say that their gods are snub-nosed and black the Thracians that theirs have light blue eyes and red hair.
Xenophanes
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Xenophanes
Elegist
Epigrammatist
Philosopher
Poet
Xenophanes of Colophon
Blue
Hair
Eyes
Eye
Snub
Black
Nosed
Light
Gods
Red
Atheism
More quotes by Xenophanes
God is one, greatest of gods and men, not like mortals in body or thought.
Xenophanes
If oxen and lions had hands and could paint with their hands and produce works of art, as men do, horses would paint the forms of the gods likes horses and oxen like oxen. Each would represent them with bodies according to the bodies of each. So the Ethiopians make their gods black and snub-nosed the Thracians give theirs red hair and blue eyes.
Xenophanes
But without effort [God] sets in motion all things by mind and thought.
Xenophanes
Ethiopians imagine their gods as black and snub-nosed Thracians blue-eyed and red-haired. But if horses or lions had hands, or could draw and fashion works as men do, horses would draw the gods shaped like horses and lions like lions, making the gods resemble themselves.
Xenophanes
No man knows distinctly anything, and no man ever will.
Xenophanes
Pure truth no man has seen, nor ever shall know.
Xenophanes
If cows and horses had hands and could draw, cows would draw gods that look like cows and horses would draw gods that look like horses.
Xenophanes
It isn't right to judge strength as better than good wisdom.
Xenophanes
If cattle and horses, or lions, had hands...
Xenophanes
All men begin their learning with Homer.
Xenophanes
All things that come into being and grow are earth and water.
Xenophanes
The clear and perfect truth no man has seen, nor will there be anyone who knows about the gods and what I say about all things... for, however perfect what he says may be, yet he does not know it all things are matters of opinion.
Xenophanes
The sun comes into being each day from little pieces of fire that are collected.
Xenophanes
No human being will ever know the truth, for even if they happen to say it by chance, they would not even know they had done so.
Xenophanes
...for our wisdom is better than the strength of men or of horses. ... nor is it right to prefer strength to excellent wisdom. For if there should be in the city [any athlete whose skill] is honoured more than strength ... the city would not on that account be any better governed.
Xenophanes
If God had not made brown honey, men would think figs much sweeter than they do.
Xenophanes
For we are all sprung from earth and water
Xenophanes
Truly the gods have not from the beginning revealed all things to mortals, but by long seeking, mortals discover what is better.
Xenophanes
It takes a wise man to recognize a wise man.
Xenophanes
Homer and Hesiod attributed to the gods all things which are disreputable and worthy of blame when done by men and they told of them many lawless deeds, stealing, adultery, and deception of each other.
Xenophanes