The 16 best famous quotes of Parmenides of Elea

We review sixteen great reflections of one of the first Greek thinkers.

Parmenides of Elea (530 BC - 450 BC) was a brilliant Greek philosopher born in Elea, in present-day Italy.

Author of only one written work, he caused a revolution in the thought of the time that influenced later thinkers of the stature of Empedocles, Anaxagoras and even Plato.

Great phrases of Parmenides

In this article we will delve into the philosophy described by Parmenides and his legacy.. Through the best phrases of Parmenides we will discover his vision of matter, life and death.

They are somewhat cryptic and convoluted aphorisms, so knowing how to correctly interpret each of his famous quotes requires a detailed analysis of his theories.

Related articles:

• "75 philosophical phrases of great thinkers of history".
• "70 phrases of Socrates to understand his philosophy".
• "The 100 best phrases of Aristotle".

1. And what necessity would have impelled him to be born earlier or later, starting from nothing?

About existence.

2. Only one narratable path remains: that it is. And on this path there are abundant signs.

The path of life and its questions.

3. The same remains in the same, and rests in itself.

A sample of his philosophy of matter.

4. The same can be intelligible and can be.

Very much in line with the previous sentence.

5. Only one account remains as a path: the Being is.

Reflection on matter.

6. It is indifferent to me where I begin; for there I shall return again.

Critical phrase of Parmenides of Elea about the inexistence of mutability.

7. Thou shalt know the ethereal nature, and also in the ether all the signs and destructive effects of the pure and clear torch of the sun, and whence they have been engendered.

One of the concepts developed by this Greek thinker: the Ether.

8. For there is not and there will not be anything other than what is.

Another phrase of Parmenides in which he talks about matter.

9. The same thing can be intelligible and can be.

If we can apprehend it, it is possibly an entity.

10. The mares that lead me as far as my spirit can reach carried me when, in leading me, they brought me to the path, abundant in signs, of the goddess.

Incredible metaphor extracted from his poetic work.

11. Everything that exists has always existed. Nothing can arise from nothing. And something that exists cannot become nothing either.

A sample of his philosophical monism, which opposes the constant change proposed by Heraclitus.

12. Reason will end up being right.

Brutal aphorism of Parmenides in which he assures us that truth will prevail.

13. The universe, for him who knew how to embrace it from a single point of view, would not be, if he were allowed to say so, more than a single fact and a great truth.

Another of those sentences of Parmenides of Elea in which he clearly shows us his monistic vision of the existent.

14. Music that does not describe something is nothing but noise.

A famous quote about music.

15. War is the art of destroying men, politics is the art of deceiving them.

Impressive political and communicative reflection.

16. It is the same to think and to be.

We close this list of thoughts of Parmenides with this phrase on selfhood.