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Truly the gods have not from the beginning revealed all things to mortals, but by long seeking, mortals discover what is better.
Xenophanes
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Xenophanes
Elegist
Epigrammatist
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Xenophanes of Colophon
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More quotes by Xenophanes
In the beginning the gods did not at all reveal all things clearly to mortals, but by searching men in the course of time find them out better.
Xenophanes
Pure truth no man has seen, nor ever shall know.
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
God is one, supreme among gods and men, and not like mortals in body or in mind.The whole [of god] sees, the whole perceives, the whole hears. But without effort he sets in motion all things by mind and thought.
Xenophanes
The sea is the source of water and the source of wind for neither would blasts of wind arise in the clouds and blow out from within them, except for the great sea, nor would the streams of rivers nor the rain-water in the sky exist but for the sea but the great sea is the begetter of clouds and winds and rivers.
Xenophanes
Even if a man should chance to speak the most complete truth, yet he himself does not know it all things are wrapped in appearances
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
For we are all sprung from earth and water
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
All things that come into being and grow are earth and water.
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 oxen and horses and lions could draw and paint, they would delineate the gods in their own image.
Xenophanes
If cattle and horses, or lions, had hands...
Xenophanes
All men begin their learning with Homer.
Xenophanes
The sun comes into being each day from little pieces of fire that are collected.
Xenophanes
It isn't right to judge strength as better than good wisdom.
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
But without effort [God] sets in motion all things by mind and thought.
Xenophanes
This upper limit, of earth at our feet is visible and touches the air, but below it reaches to infinity
Xenophanes
