Top 159 Pythagoras Quotes (Updated November 2023)

Discover a wealth of wisdom and insight from Pythagoras through their most impactful and thought-provoking quotes and sayings. Expand your perspective with their inspiring words and share these beautiful Pythagoras quote pictures with your friends and followers on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or your personal blog - all free of charge. We've compiled the top 159 Pythagoras quotes for you to explore and share with others.

Oh, my fellow men, do not defile your bodies with sinful foods. We have corn, we have apples bending down the branches with their weight, and grapes swelling on the vines. There are sweet-flavored herbs, and vegetables which can be cooked and softened over the fire, nor are you denied milk or thyme-scented honey. The earth affords a lavish supply of riches, of innocent foods, and offers you banquets that involve no bloodshed or slaughter; only beasts satisfy their hunger with flesh, and not even all of those, because horses, cattle, and sheep live on grass. By Pythagoras Men Foods Fellow Defile Bodies

Most men and women, by birth or nature, lack the means to advance in wealth or power, but all have the ability to advance in knowledge. By Pythagoras Advance Women Nature Lack Power

The stars in the heavens sing a music, if only we had ears to hear By Pythagoras Music Hear Stars Heavens Sing

Respect gods before demigods, heroes before men, and first among men your parents; but respect yourself most of all. By Pythagoras Demigods Heroes Parents Respect Men

A blow from your friend is better than a kiss from your enemy. By Pythagoras Enemy Blow Friend Kiss

Some are slaves of ambition or money, but others are interested in understanding life itself. These give themselves the name of philosophers , and they value the contemplation and discovery of nature beyond all other pursuits. By Pythagoras Money Slaves Ambition Interested Understanding

As long as men massacre animals, they will kill each other. Indeed, he who sows the seeds of murder and pain cannot reap the joy of love. By Pythagoras Animals Long Men Massacre Kill

Meditate upon my counsels; love them; follow them; To the divine virtues will they know how to lead thee. I swear it by the One who in our hearts engraved The sacred Tetrad , symbol immense and pure, Source of Nature and model of the Gods. By Pythagoras Meditate Counsels Love Follow Thee

The animals share with us the privilege of having a soul Alas, what wickedness to swallow flesh into our own flesh, to fatten our greedy bodies by cramming in other bodies, to have one living creature fed by the death of another! In the midst of such wealth as earth, the best of mothers, provides, yet nothing satisfies you, but to behave like the Cyclopes, inflicting sorry wounds with cruel teeth! You cannot appease the hungry cravings of your wicked, gluttonous stomachs except by destroying some other life. By Pythagoras Alas Flesh Bodies Animals Share

Should one in boldness say, Lo, I am God!Besides the OneEternalInfinite,Then let him from the throne he has usurpedPut forth his power and form another globe,Such as we dwell in, saying, This is mine.Nor only so, but in this new domainFor ever let him dwell. if this he can,Then verily he is a god proclaimed. By Pythagoras Dwell God Boldness Oneeternalinfinitethen Throne

It is required to find the infinitely big inside what's infinitely small to feel the presence of God. By Pythagoras God Infinitely Required Find Big

A man is never as big as when he is on his knees to help a child. By Pythagoras Child Man Big Knees

Each celestial body, in fact each and every atom, produces a particular sound on account of its movement, its rhythm or vibration. All these sounds and vibrations form a universal harmony in which each element, while having it's own function and character, contributes to the whole. By Pythagoras Body Atom Produces Movement Celestial

Know that death comes to everyone, and that wealth will sometimes be acquired, sometimes lost. Whatever griefs mortals suffer by divine chance, whatever destiny you have, endure it and do not complain. But it is right to improve it as much as you can, and remember this: Fate does not give very many of these griefs to good people. By Pythagoras Acquired Lost Death Wealth Griefs

Souls never die, but always on quitting one abode pass to another. All things change, nothing perishes. The soul passes hither and thither, occupying now this body, now that ... As a wax is stamped with certain figures, then melted, then stamped anew with others, yet it is always the same wax. So, the Soul being always the same, yet wears at different times different forms. By Pythagoras Die Soul Quitting Abode Pass

If there be light, then there is darkness; if cold, heat; if height, depth; if solid, fluid; if hard, soft; if rough, smooth; if calm, tempest; if prosperity, adversity; if life, death. By Pythagoras Heat Depth Fluid Soft Smooth

We ought not to quit our post without the permission of Him who commands; the post of man is life. By Pythagoras Commands Life Post Quit Permission

A fool is known by his speech; and a wise man by silence. By Pythagoras Speech Silence Fool Wise Man

The highest goal of music is to connect one's soul to their Divine Nature, not entertainment By Pythagoras Nature Divine Entertainment Highest Goal

We ought so to behave to one another as to avoid making enemies of our friends, and at the same time to make friends of our enemies. By Pythagoras Enemies Friends Behave Avoid Making

Friends are as companions on a journey, who ought to aid each other to persevere in the road to a happier life. By Pythagoras Friends Journey Life Companions Aid

The wind is blowing. Adore the wind. By Pythagoras Blowing Wind Adore

It is requisite to defend those who are unjustly accused of having acted injuriously, but to praise those who excel in a certain good. By Pythagoras Injuriously Good Requisite Defend Unjustly

Wealth is a weak anchor, and glory cannot support a man; this is the law of God, that virtue only is firm, and cannot be shaken by a tempest. By Pythagoras God Wealth Anchor Man Firm

Dear youths, I warn you cherish peace divine, And in your hearts lay deep these words of mine. By Pythagoras Dear Youths Divine Mine Warn

Friendship is one soul in two bodies. By Pythagoras Friendship Bodies Soul

Thou shalt likewise know that according to Law, the nature of this universe is in all things a like. By Pythagoras Law Thou Shalt Likewise Nature

Man know thyself; then thou shalt know the Universe and God. By Pythagoras God Universe Man Thyself Thou

Know thyself and thou wilt know the universe. By Pythagoras Universe Thyself Thou Wilt

You should make great things, not promising great things. By Pythagoras Things Great Make Promising

Let no one persuade you by word or deed to do or say whatever is not best for you. By Pythagoras Persuade Word Deed

As soon as you awake, in order Lay the actions to be done the coming day. By Pythagoras Lay Awake Day Order Actions

Numbers have a way of taking a man by the hand and leading him down the path of reason. By Pythagoras Numbers Reason Taking Man Hand

It is difficult to walk at one and the same time many paths of life. By Pythagoras Life Difficult Walk Time Paths

Neither will the horse be adjudged to be generous, that is sumptuously adorned, but the horse whose nature is illustrious; nor is the man worthy who possesses great wealth, but he whose soul is generous. By Pythagoras Generous Horse Adorned Illustrious Wealth

The most momentous thing in human life is the art of winning the soul to good or evil. By Pythagoras Evil Momentous Thing Human Life

Consider before acting, to avoid foolishness: It is the worthless man who speaks and acts thoughtlessly. By Pythagoras Acting Foolishness Thoughtlessly Avoid Worthless

Repect yourself ... The rest will follow. By Pythagoras Repect Follow Rest

The experience of life in a finite, limited body is specifically for the purpose of discovering and manifesting supernatural existence. By Pythagoras Finite Limited Existence Experience Life

You should help a man to take up a burden, but you should not help him put it back down. By Pythagoras Burden Man Put Back

There is geometry in the humming of the strings. There is music in the spacing of the spheres. By Pythagoras Strings Geometry Humming Spheres Music

The soul of man is divided into three parts, intelligence, reason, and passion. Intelligence and passion are possessed by other animals, but reason by man alone. By Pythagoras Intelligence Parts Passion Man Reason

Truth is to be sought with a mind purified from the passions of the body. Having overcome evil things, thou shalt experience the union of the union mortal divinity with the mortal man. By Pythagoras Truth Body Sought Mind Purified

A thought is an idea in transit. By Pythagoras Transit Thought Idea

Learn to be silent. Let your quiet mind listen and absorb. By Pythagoras Learn Silent Absorb Quiet Mind

Assist a man in raising a burden; but do not assist him in laying it down. By Pythagoras Burden Assist Man Raising Laying

No one is free who has not obtained the empire of himself. No man is free who cannot command himself. By Pythagoras Free Obtained Empire Man Command

Do not spend in excess like one who is careless of what is good, nor be miserly; the mean is best in every case. By Pythagoras Good Miserly Case Spend Excess

Alas, what wickedness to swallow flesh into our own flesh, to fatten our greedy bodies by cramming in other bodies, to have one living creature fed by the death of another! By Pythagoras Alas Flesh Bodies Wickedness Swallow

Do not despise anyone: an atom shadowing. By Pythagoras Shadowing Despise Atom

Step not beyond the beam of the balance. By Pythagoras Step Balance Beam

It is better wither to be silent, or to say things of more value than silence. Sooner throw a pearl at hazard than an idle or useless word; and do not say a little in many words, but a great deal in a few. By Pythagoras Silent Silence Wither Things Word

As long as Man continues to be the ruthless destroyer of lower living beings, he will never know health or peace. For as long as men massacre animals, they will kill each other. Indeed, he who sows the seed of murder and pain cannot reap joy and love. By Pythagoras Man Long Peace Continues Ruthless

Golden Verses So-called because they are "good as gold." They are by some attributed to Epicarmos, and by others to Empedocles, but always go under the name of Pythagoras, and seem quite in accordance with the excellent precepts of that philosopher. They are as follows: Ne'er suffer sleep thine eyes to close Before thy mind hath run O'er every act, and thought, and word, From dawn to set of sun; For wrong take shame, but grateful feel If just thy course hath been; Such effort day by day renewed Will ward thy soul from sin. E. C. B. By Pythagoras Verses Socalled Golden Good Gold

Numbers rule the universe. By Pythagoras Numbers Universe Rule

Number was the substance of all things. By Pythagoras Number Things Substance

Learn silence. With the quiet serenity of a meditative mind, listen, absorb, transcribe, and transform. By Pythagoras Listen Absorb Transcribe Learn Silence

Music is the harmonization of opposites; the conciliation of warring elements By Pythagoras Music Opposites Elements Harmonization Conciliation

When going to the temple to adore Divinity neither say nor do any thing in the interim pertaining to the common affairs of life. By Pythagoras Divinity Life Temple Adore Thing

To cognize the Divine Essence - this is the highest purpose of soul, sent by the Creator to the Earth! By Pythagoras Essence Earth Divine Creator Soul

God built the universe on numbers. By Pythagoras God Numbers Built Universe

Number is the within of all things. By Pythagoras Number Things

Bless us, divine number, who generated gods and men. Number contains the root and source of eternally flowing creation. By Pythagoras Bless Divine Men Number Generated

Evolution is the Law of Life Number is the Law of the Universe Unity is the Law of God By Pythagoras Law God Life Number Universe

Don't try to cover your mistakes with false words. Rather, correct your mistakes with examination. By Pythagoras Mistakes Words Cover False Correct

None can be free who is a slave to, and ruled by, his passions. By Pythagoras Passions Free Slave Ruled

Above all things, respect yourself. By Pythagoras Things Respect

A good Soul hath neither too great joy, nor too great sorrow: for it rejoiceth in goodness; and it sorroweth in wickedness. By the means whereof, when it beholdeth all things, and seeth the good and bad so mingled together, it can neither rejoice greatly; nor be grieved with over much sorrow. By Pythagoras Great Soul Sorrow Joy Goodness

Number is the ruler of forms and ideas, and the cause of gods and demons. By Pythagoras Number Ideas Demons Ruler Forms

We come from God. As the tree from the root and the stream from the spring; that's why we should always be in contact with Him, as the trunk from the root. Because the stream dries up when it is separated from the spring and the tree dies when is uprooted. By Pythagoras God Root Tree Stream Spring

Love that shines from within cannot be darkened by obstacles of the world of consequences! By Pythagoras Love Consequences Shines Darkened Obstacles

Envy has been, is, and shall be, the destruction of many. What is there, that Envy hath not defamed, or Malice left undefiled? Truly, no good thing. By Pythagoras Envy Destruction Malice Defamed Undefiled

Write in the sand the flaws of your friend. By Pythagoras Write Friend Sand Flaws

So in life, some enter the services of fame and others money, but the best choice is that of those few who spend their time in the contemplation of nature, and as lovers of wisdom. By Pythagoras Life Money Nature Wisdom Enter

If men with fleshly mortals must be fed, and chew with bleeding teeth the breathing bread; what else is this but to devour our guests, and barbarously renew Cyclopean feasts? While Earth not only can your needs supply, but, lavish of her store, provides for luxury; a guiltless feast administers with ease, and without blood is prodigal to please. By Pythagoras Cyclopean Fed Bread Guests Men

A stranger, if just, is not only to be preferred before a countryman, but a kinsman. By Pythagoras Stranger Countryman Kinsman Preferred

There is no word or action but has its echo in Eternity. By Pythagoras Eternity Word Action Echo

Above all have respect for yourself. By Pythagoras Respect

Remind yourself that all men assert that wisdom is the greatest good, but that there are few who strenuously seek out that greatest good. By Pythagoras Good Greatest Remind Men Assert

Do not go to bed until you have gone over the day three times in your mind. What wrong did I do? What good did I accomplish? What did I forget to do? By Pythagoras Mind Bed Day Times Accomplish

Every man has been made by God in order to acquire knowledge and contemplate. By Pythagoras God Contemplate Man Made Order

Speak not nor act before thou hast reflected. By Pythagoras Speak Reflected Act Thou Hast

Wisdom, thoroughly learned, will never be forgotten. By Pythagoras Wisdom Learned Forgotten

The beginning of every government starts with the education of our youth. By Pythagoras Youth Beginning Government Starts Education

Thought is an Idea in transit, which when once released, never can be lured back, nor the spoken word recalled. Nor ever can the overt act be erased. By Pythagoras Idea Thought Transit Released Back

Wind indeed increases fire, but custom love. By Pythagoras Wind Fire Love Increases Custom

Having departed from your house, turn not back; for the furies will be your attendants. By Pythagoras House Turn Back Attendants Departed

The octave formed a circle and gave our noble earth its form. By Pythagoras Form Octave Formed Circle Gave

Without Justice, no realm may prosper. By Pythagoras Justice Prosper Realm

He who knoweth not what he ought to know, is a brute beast among men; he that knoweth no more than he hath need of, is a man among brute beasts; and he that knoweth all that may be known, is as a God among men. By Pythagoras Men Knoweth Brute God Hath

Let not sleep fall upon thy eyes till thou has thrice reviewed the transactions of the past day. Where have I turned aside from rectitude? What have I been doing? What have I left undone, which I ought to have done? By Pythagoras Day Sleep Fall Thy Eyes

It is better to be silent, than to dispute with the Ignorant. By Pythagoras Ignorant Silent Dispute

As the sea-crab swimmeth always against the stream, so doth wit always against wisdom. By Pythagoras Stream Wisdom Seacrab Swimmeth Doth

Despise all those things which when liberated from the body you will not want; invoke the Gods to become your helpers. By Pythagoras Gods Despise Invoke Helpers Things

Before all, be real. Only the truth gives to the word the Orpheus' Lyre power. By Pythagoras Real Orpheus Lyre Power Truth

Silence is better than unmeaning words. By Pythagoras Silence Words Unmeaning

Above the cloud with its shadow is the star with its light. By Pythagoras Light Cloud Shadow Star

I would have to say the probability of us dying seems extremely high. By Pythagoras High Probability Dying Extremely

He lived far from the gods, but in his mind he was at home with them. By Pythagoras Gods Lived Mind Home

Do not even think of doing what ought not to be done. By Pythagoras

There are men and gods, and beings like Pythagoras. By Pythagoras Pythagoras Gods Men

Truth is so great a perfection, that if God would render himself visible to men, he would choose light for his body and truth for his soul By Pythagoras God Perfection Men Soul Truth

Geometry is knowledge of the eternally existent. By Pythagoras Geometry Existent Knowledge Eternally

Declining from the public ways, walk in unfrequented paths. By Pythagoras Declining Walk Paths Public Unfrequented

Begin thus from the first act, and proceed; and, in conclusion, at the ill which thou hast done, be troubled, and rejoice for the good. By Pythagoras Begin Act Proceed Conclusion Troubled

None but God is wise. By Pythagoras God Wise

It is only necessary to make war with five things; with the maladies of the body, the ignorances of the mind, with the passions of the body, with the seditions of the city and the discords of families. By Pythagoras Body Things Mind Families Make

Choose rather to be strong of soul than strong of body. By Pythagoras Strong Choose Body Soul

Let exercise alternate with rest. By Pythagoras Rest Exercise Alternate

Choose always the way that seems the best, however rough it may be; custom will soon render it easy and agreeable. By Pythagoras Choose Custom Agreeable Rough Render

Beans have a soul. By Pythagoras Beans Soul

The wise man should be prepared for everything that does not lie within his control. By Pythagoras Control Wise Man Prepared Lie

You will know that wretched men are the cause of their own suffering, who neither see nor hear the good that is near them, and few are the ones who know how to secure release from their troubles. By Pythagoras Suffering Troubles Wretched Men Hear

Government exists only for the good of the governed. By Pythagoras Government Governed Exists Good

There are in woman's eyes two sorts of tears,the one of grief, the other of deceit. By Pythagoras Grief Deceit Woman Eyes Sorts

Govern your tongue before all other things, following the gods. By Pythagoras Govern Things Gods Tongue

Do not talk a little on many subjects, but much on a few. By Pythagoras Subjects Talk

Power is the near neighbour of necessity. By Pythagoras Power Necessity Neighbour

Let a man use great reverence and manners to himself. By Pythagoras Man Great Reverence Manners

Many words befall men, mean and noble alike; do not be astonished by them, nor allow yourself to be constrained. By Pythagoras Men Alike Constrained Words Befall

A stone is frozen music By Pythagoras Music Stone Frozen

Virtue is harmony. By Pythagoras Virtue Harmony

Salt is born of the purest parents: the sun and the sea. By Pythagoras Salt Parents Sea Born Purest

Ability and necessity dwell near each other. By Pythagoras Ability Necessity Dwell

Astonishing! Everything is intelligent! By Pythagoras Astonishing Intelligent

Those alone are dear to Divinity who are hostile to injustice. By Pythagoras Divinity Injustice Dear Hostile

But respect yourself most of all. By Pythagoras Respect

Allow not sleep to close your eyes before three times reflecting on Your actions of the day. What deeds Done well, what not, what left undone? By Pythagoras Day Sleep Close Eyes Times

If you're asked: What is the silence? Respond: It is the first stone of the Wisdom's temple. By Pythagoras Asked Silence Respond Wisdom Temple

Better be mute, than dispute with the Ignorant. By Pythagoras Ignorant Mute Dispute

Rest satisfied with doing well, and leave others to talk of you as they please. By Pythagoras Rest Satisfied Leave Talk

He is not rich, that enjoyeth not his own goods. By Pythagoras Rich Goods Enjoyeth

Animals share with us the privilege of having a soul. By Pythagoras Animals Soul Share Privilege

There is a good principle which created order, light, and man, and an evil principle which created chaos, darkness, and woman. By Pythagoras Light Darkness Principle Created Order

Instruct thyself for time and patience favor all. By Pythagoras Instruct Thyself Time Patience Favor

Practice justice in word and deed, and do not get in the habit of acting thoughtlessly about anything. By Pythagoras Practice Deed Justice Word Habit

He buries gold who hides the truth. By Pythagoras Truth Buries Gold Hides

No man is free who cannot control himself. By Pythagoras Man Free Control

Be silent or let thy words be worth more than silence. By Pythagoras Silence Silent Thy Words Worth

One must choose in all things a mean just and good. By Pythagoras Good Choose Things

So tutor youth that the sins of age be not imputed to thee. By Pythagoras Thee Tutor Youth Sins Age

Strength of mind rests in sobriety; for this keeps your reason unclouded by passion. By Pythagoras Strength Sobriety Passion Mind Rests

Abstain from animals. By Pythagoras Abstain Animals

In anger we should refrain both from speech and action. By Pythagoras Action Anger Refrain Speech

Educate the children and it won't be necessary to punish the men. By Pythagoras Educate Men Children Punish

Reason is immortal, all else mortal. By Pythagoras Reason Immortal Mortal

Disbelieve nothing wonderful concerning the gods, nor concerning divine dogmas. By Pythagoras Disbelieve Gods Dogmas Wonderful Divine

Do not say a little in many words, but a great deal in few! By Pythagoras Words Great Deal

As soon as laws are necessary for men, they are no longer fit for freedom. By Pythagoras Men Freedom Laws Longer Fit

Practice restraint over the following: appetite, first, as well as sleep, lust, and anger. By Pythagoras Appetite Lust Practice Sleep Anger

Don't eat your heart. By Pythagoras Heart Eat

Don't disarrange my circles! By Pythagoras Circles Disarrange

When the wise man opens his mouth, the beauties of his soul present themselves to the view, like the statues in a temple. By Pythagoras Mouth View Temple Wise Man