The 14 best quotes by Anaximander of Miletus

These are the most famous reflections of the Greek philosopher who proposed the "arché".

Anaximander of Miletus (610 BC - 545 BC) was a philosopher and geographer of special importance in Hellenic thought.

Like his teacher Thales, Anaximander was born in the city of Miletus, and shared teachings and reflections with Anaximenes, who was his disciple. The main contribution of Anaximander refers to the archéthe beginning of all things.

Famous phrases of Anaximander.

Only one of his works transcended, the interesting On NatureThe book was lost, but its teachings were recovered through doxographical commentaries of later scholars. His works in astronomy and geography had a special significance, being the first human being to measure the solstices and equinoxes, and he was also a pioneer in affirming that the Earth is cylindrical, although he was wrong in assuring that it occupied a central position in the universe.

In today's article we are going to compile the best phrases of Anaximanderto understand a little better the thought and ideas of this outstanding Greek philosopher.

• Recommended article: "The 30 most famous and important philosophers in history".

1. Water is the arché (principle) of the universe.

Certainly, without water there is no life. It is another thing to think that it is an essential element for matter itself, but Anaximander affirmed so.

2. Nature is eternal and does not age.

One of those sentences of Anaximander in which he reinforces his theory of immutable matter.

3. All beings derive from other more ancient beings by successive transformations.

A first step towards the understanding of human evolution.

4. Things are full of Gods.

On the omnipotence of the divine being.

4. There are many worlds and many systems of Universes that exist all at the same time, all of them perishable.

His astronomical vision had a great repercussion and following in his time.

5. The indefinite is inborn and incorruptible, for that which begins necessarily has an end; and all corruption has an end.

His philosophy of matter had this fundamental premise.

6. The unlimited has no beginning because, in that case, it would be limited.

A truism that synthesizes several notions about his thought.

7. Immortal and indestructible, it surrounds everything and destroys everything.

Anaximander's phrase for posterity.

8. The indefinite is divine, for it is immortal and imperishable.

Another reflection on the lack of definition.

9. Nature is eternal and does not age.

A description of Mother Nature and her peculiarities.

10. The earth is cylindrical, three times as wide as its depth and only the upper part is inhabited. But this earth is isolated in space and the sky is a complete sphere in the center of which is located, without support, our cylinder, the earth, is located at the same distance from all points of the sky.

These astronomical principles had a great impact on the knowledge of the Greek era.

10. The original principle of things is the aperiron. It is there that they arise, it is there that they perish by reason of necessity.

On the aperiron and its qualities.

11. Things originate by the separation of opposites.

On the transformation of matter.

12. The age of humans cannot be explained without their ancestors.

Another phrase about the evolution of the species.

13. The principle and element of things is the indefinite.

In this thought he describes the origin of his metaphysical philosophy.

14. Anaximander of Miletus affirmed that the infinite is the first principle, and that all things are generated from it, and are corrupted through it. The infinite is nothing but matter. (Plutarch)

The Greek philosopher Plutarch summarized some of Anaximander's ideas in this way.