Nature does nothing without purpose or uselessly.

εἰ οὖν ἡ φύσις μηθὲν μήτε ἀτελὲς ποιεῖ μήτε μάτην

Aristotle

Politics

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More information about this quote

Topic

Elegance of nature Efficiency of nature Nature

Author

Aristotle

Source

Politics

Genre

Political literature Philosophical literature

Language

Greek

Time

350 BC 350s BC 4th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Occupation

Philosopher Writer

From

Greece Europe Ancient Greece

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Aristotle. Politics. 4th century BC, bk. 1.

Current Citation

Aristotle. Politics, translated by R. F. Stalley and Sir Ernest Barker. Oxford University Press, 2009, bk. 1.

Illustrated Quote

A quote by Aristotle about elegance of nature: “Nature does nothing without purpose or uselessly.”
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A quote by Aristotle about elegance of nature: “Nature does nothing without purpose or uselessly.”
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A quote by Aristotle about elegance of nature: “Nature does nothing without purpose or uselessly.”
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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote by Aristotle

We learn an art or craft by doing the things that we shall have to do when we have learnt it.

Aristotle

The Nicomachean Ethics

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More information about this quote
Topic
Practice Learning Self-improvement

Author

Aristotle
Source
The Nicomachean Ethics
Genre
Philosophical literature
Language
Greek
Time
322 BC 320s BC 4th century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Aristotle. Ἠθικὰ Νικομάχεια, Ēthika Nikomacheia [Nicomachean Ethics]. c. 322 BC.

Current Citation

Aristotle. Nicomachean Ethics, translated by Terence Irwin. Hackett Publishing, 2019, bk. 2.

Another quote about Nature

The world today is sick to its thin blood for lack of elemental things, for fire before the hands, for water welling from the earth, for air, for the dear earth itself underfoot.

Henry Beston

More information about this quote
Topic
Man and nature Alienation The elements Nature

Author

Henry Beston
Source
The Outermost House
Genre
Nature writing Autobiography and memoir
Language
English
Time
1928 1920s 20th century
Authentication Score 3
Original Citation

Beston, Henry. The Outermost House. Doubleday, Doran and Co., 1928, ch. 1.

Current Citation

Beston, Henry. The Outermost House. Holt Paperbacks, 2003, ch. 1.

Another quote from Classical antiquity

For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.

Luke 15:24

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More information about this quote
Topic
Prodigal son Forgiveness Reconciliation
Source
Gospel of Luke The Bible
Medium
Scripture
Genre
Religious literature
Language
Greek
Time
61 60s 1st century
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 3
Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (Luke 15:24).

Another quote originally in Greek

Give me but one firm spot on which to stand and I will move the earth.

Archimedes

Quoted in History of the World, by Diodorus Siculus

More information about this quote
Topic
Laws of physics Physics
Speaker
Archimedes

Author

Diodorus Siculus
Source
History of the World
Language
Greek
Time
212 BC 210s BC 3rd century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Archimedes. Quoted in History of the World, written by Diodorus Siculus. c. 20 BC.

Current Citation

Archimedes. Quoted in Diodorus Siculus: Library of History, Volume IX, Books 18-19.65. Harvard University Press, 1947.