“Be a good son, just brother, spouse tender and good father.” ~ Pythagoras.
Pythagoras
From the great Greek philosopher and mathematician, Pythagoras whose thoughts, spiritual beliefs and political teachings have greatly influenced the philosophies of both Plato and Aristotle, here are some of the most profound and life-changing lessons to learn from this genius of a man.
Pythagoras: 33 Life-Changing Lessons to Learn from Pythagoras
1. It is not wealth that makes one worthy, but generosity.
“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.”
2. Wealth is a weak anchor.
“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.”
3. Leave others to talk of you as they please.
“Rest satisfied with doing well, and leave others to talk of you as they please.”
4. Above all things, respect yourself. ~ Pythagoras
5. Let no one persuade you to do or say whatever is not best for you.
“Let no one persuade you by word or deed to do or say whatever is not best for you.” ~ Pythagoras
6. Hate and fear breed a poison in the blood.
“Hate and fear breed a poison in the blood, which if continued, affects eyes, ears, nose and the organs of digestion. Therefore, it is not wise to hear and remember the unkind things others might say about you.” ~ Pythagoras
“Many words befall men, mean and noble alike; do not be astonished by them, nor allow yourself to be constrained.”
7. Wretched men are the cause of their own suffering.
“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.”
8. Choose to be strong of soul rather than strong of body.
“Choose rather to be strong of soul than strong of body.” ~ Pythagoras
9. The most momentous thing in human life is the art of winning the soul.
“The most momentous thing in human life is the art of winning the soul to good or evil.” ~ Pythagoras
10. Walk in unfrequented paths.
“Declining from the public ways, walk in unfrequented paths.”
11. Behave to one another as to avoid making enemies.
“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.”
12. A blow from your friend is better than a kiss from your enemy. ~ Pythagoras
13. Choose always the way that seems the best, however rough.
“Choose always the way that seems the best, however rough it may be; custom will soon render it easy and agreeable.”
14. Do not say a little in many words, but a great deal in few! ~ Pythagoras
“If you’re asked: What is the silence? Respond: It is the first stone of the Wisdom’s temple.”
15. Meaningful silence is better than meaningless words.
“Meaningful silence is better than meaningless words.”
16. Be silent or let thy words be worth more than silence. ~ Pythagoras
“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.” ~ Pythagoras
17. A fool is known by his speech; a wise man by silence.
“A fool is known by his speech; and a wise man by silence.”
18. Better to be silent, than to dispute with the Ignorant.
“It is better to be silent, than to dispute with the Ignorant.”
19. It is only necessary to make war with five things.
“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.” s
20. In anger we should refrain both from speech and action.
In anger we should refrain both from speech and action.” ~
21. Anger begins in folly, and ends in repentance. ~ Pythagoras
22. No one is free who has not obtained the empire of himself.
“No one is free who has not obtained the empire of himself. No man is free who cannot command himself.”
23. Know thyself and you will know the universe.
“Know thyself and thou wilt know the universe.” ~ Pythagoras
24. We come from God, that’s why we should always be in contact with Him.
“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.” ~ Pythagoras
24. None but God is wise. ~ Pythagoras
25. The shortest words – ‘yes’ and ‘no‘ – require the most thought.
“The oldest, shortest words – ‘yes’ and ‘no’ – are those which require the most thought.” ~ Pythagoras
25. There are only two remedies for the suffering of the soul: hope and patience.
“If you have a wounded heart, touch it as little as you would an injured eye. There are only two remedies for the suffering of the soul: hope and patience.“
26. As soon as laws are necessary for men, they are no longer fit for freedom. ~ Pythagoras
Educate the children and it won’t be necessary to punish the men. ~ Pythagoras
27. Do not go to bed until you have gone over the day three times in your mind.
“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?”
28. No man should quit his post but at the command of his General; that is, of God himself.
“No man should quit his post but at the command of his General; that is, of God himself.”
29. The highest goal of music is to connect one’s soul to their Divine Nature.
“The highest goal of music is to connect one’s soul to their Divine Nature, not entertainment.”
30. Don’t try to cover your mistakes with false words.
“Don’t try to cover your mistakes with false words. Rather, correct your mistakes with examination.”
31. A man is never as big as when he is on his knees to help a child. ~ Pythagoras
32. Discretion and Wisdom cometh of GOD.
“Wisdom thoroughly learned, will never be forgotten. Science is got by diligence; But Discretion and Wisdom cometh of GOD.“
33. Salt is born of the purest parents.
“Salt is born of the purest parents: the sun and the sea.” ~ Pythagoras
Bonus: Other Famous Pythagoras Quotes
“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.” ~ Pythagoras
“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.” ~ Pythagoras
“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.”
“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.” ~ Pythagoras
“I would have to say the probability of us dying seems extremely high.” ~ Pythagoras
“Dear youths, I warn you cherish peace divine, And in your hearts lay deep these words of mine.” ~ Pythagoras
“Let exercise alternate with rest.” ~ Pythagoras
“Number was the substance of all things.” ~ Pythagoras
“Friends share all things.”
“Do not despise anyone: an atom shadowing.”
“When going to the temple to adore Divinity neither say nor do any thing in the interim pertaining to the common affairs of life.”
“So tutor youth that the sins of age be not imputed to thee.”
“Friends are as companions on a journey, who ought to aid each other to persevere in the road to a happier life.“
“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.“
“Write in the sand the flaws of your friend.”
Bonus:
“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.” ~ Pythagoras
“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.” ~ Pythagoras
“Most men and women, by birth or nature, lack the means to advance in wealth and power, but all have the ability to advance in knowledge.” ~ Pythagoras
“The experience of life in a finite, limited body is specifically for the purpose of discovering and manifesting supernatural existence.” ~ Pythagoras
“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.” ~ Pythagoras
“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.” ~ Pythagoras
“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.” ~ Pythagoras
“Should one in boldness say, Lo, I am God!
Besides the One–Eternal–Infinite,
Then let him from the throne he has usurped
Put forth his power and form another globe,
Such as we dwell in, saying, This is mine.
Nor only so, but in this new domain
For ever let him dwell. if this he can,
Then verily he is a god proclaimed.” ~ Pythagoras
“Concern should drive us into action and not into a depression. No man is free who cannot control himself.” ~ Pythagoras
“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.” ~ Pythagoras
“The highest goal of music is to connect one’s soul to their Divine Nature, not entertainment” ~ Pythagoras
“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.” ~ Pythagoras
“If you have a wounded heart, touch it as little as you would an injured eye. There are only two remedies for the suffering of the soul: hope and patience.” ~ Pythagoras
“There is geometry in the humming of the strings, there is music in the spacing of the spheres.” ~ Pythagoras
“When the wise man opens his mouth, the beauties of his soul present themselves to the view, like the statues in a temple.” ~ Pythagoras
“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.” ~ Pythagoras
“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.” ~ Pythagoras
“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.” ~ Pythagoras
“There is a good principle which created order, light, and man, and an evil principle which created chaos, darkness, and woman.” ~ Pythagoras
“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.” ~ Pythagoras
“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.” ~ Pythagoras
“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.” ~ Pythagoras
“When going to the temple to adore Divinity neither say nor do any thing in the interim pertaining to the common affairs of life.” ~ Pythagoras
“Bless us, divine number, who generated gods and men. Number contains the root and source of eternally flowing creation.” ~ Pythagoras
“Remind yourself that all men assert that wisdom is the greatest good, but that there are few who strenuously seek out that greatest good.” ~ Pythagoras
“The earth affords a lavish supply of richess 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.” ~ Pythagoras
“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.” ~ Pythagoras
“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.” ~ Pythagoras
**What about you? What is your favorite quote from Pythagoras? You can share it in the comment section bellow 🙂
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Luminita D. Saviuc
Luminita is the Founder and Editor in Chief of PurposeFairy.com and also the author of 15 Things You Should Give Up to Be Happy: An Inspiring Guide to Discovering Effortless Joy. For more details check out the 15 Things You Should Give Up To Be Happy Book Page.
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