The best choose one thing instead of everything, everlasting fame among mortals; but the masses stuff themselves like cattle.

αἱρεῦνται γὰρ ἒν ἀντὶ ἀπάντων οἱ ἄριστοι, κλέος ἀέναον θνητῶν· οἱ δὲ πολλοὶ κεκόρηνται ὄκωσπερ κτήνεα

Heraclitus

Buy Heraclitus' Fragments at Amazon Buy Heraclitus' Fragments at Amazon

More information about this quote

Topic

The masses Gluttony Fame Legacy

Author

Heraclitus

Medium

Presocratic fragment Fragment

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Greek

Time

5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Occupation

Philosopher

From

Turkey Europe Ancient Greece

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Heraclitus. Fragments. 5th century BC, F50 - DK B29.

Current Citation

Heraclitus. "Heraclitus of Ephesus." The First Philosophers: The Presocratics and Sophists, translated by Robin Waterfield. Oxford University Press, 2009, F50 - DK B29.

Illustrated Quote

A quote by Heraclitus about the masses: “The best choose one thing instead of everything, everlasting fame among mortals;…”
Download
A quote by Heraclitus about the masses: “The best choose one thing instead of everything, everlasting fame among mortals;…”
Download
A quote by Heraclitus about the masses: “The best choose one thing instead of everything, everlasting fame among mortals;…”
Download

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 Heraclitus

One cannot step twice into the same river, for the waters are continually flowing on.

Heraclitus

Buy Heraclitus' Fragments at Amazon Buy Heraclitus' Fragments at Amazon
More information about this quote
Topic
The only constant is change Change Rivers

Author

Heraclitus
Medium
Presocratic fragment Fragment
Genre
Philosophical literature
Statement Type
Paradox
Language
Greek
Time
5th century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Heraclitus. Fragments. 5th century BC, DK B12.

Current Citation

Heraclitus. "Heraclitus of Ephesus." The First Philosophers: The Presocratics and Sophists, translated by Robin Waterfield. Oxford University Press, 2009, DK B12.

Another quote about The masses

The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.

Henry David Thoreau

Walden

Buy Walden at Amazon Buy Walden at Amazon
Read Walden at Project Gutenberg
More information about this quote
Topic
The masses The human condition

Author

Henry David Thoreau
Source
Economy Walden
Genre
Autobiography and memoir
Language
English
Time
1854 1850s 19th century
Authentication Score 3
Original Citation

Thoreau, Henry David. "Economy." Walden; or, Life in the Woods. Boston: Ticknor and Fields, 1854.

Current Citation

Thoreau, Henry David. "Economy." Walden and Civil Disobedience. Signet, 2012.

Another quote from the 5th century BC

Know the enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles you will never be defeated.

Sun Tzu

The Art of War

Buy The Art of War at Amazon Buy The Art of War at Amazon
Read The Art of War at marxists.org
More information about this quote
Topic
Self-knowledge Enemies

Author

Sun Tzu
Source
The Art of War
Medium
Treatise
Genre
Military treatise
Statement Type
Advice
Language
Chinese
Time
475 BC 470s BC 5th century BC
Authentication Score 0
Original Citation

Sun Tzu. 孫子兵法 [The Art of War]. c. 475 BC, ch. 3.

Current Citation

Sun Tzu. The Art of War: The Essential Translation of the Classic Book of Life, translated by John Minford. Penguin Classics, 2009, ch. 3.

Another quote from Classical antiquity

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

God

Exodus 20:4-6

Buy the Bible (KJV) at Amazon Buy the Bible (KJV) at Amazon
Read this verse at Bible Hub
More information about this quote
Topic
Idols Idolatry The Ten Commandments
Speaker
God
Source
Exodus The Bible
Medium
Scripture
Genre
Religious literature
Statement Type
Orders and commands
Language
Hebrew
Time
1405 BC 1400s BC 15th century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 3
Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (Exodus 20:4-6).

Another quote originally in Greek

How, then, might we contrive... One noble lie to persuade if possible the rulers themselves, but failing that the rest of the city?

Socrates

Quoted in Republic, by Plato

Buy the Republic at Amazon Buy the Republic at Amazon
Read the Republic at MIT's classics department website
More information about this quote
Topic
Politics and lies Lies
Speaker
Socrates

Author

Plato
Source
Republic
Medium
Philosophical dialogue Dialogue
Genre
Philosophical literature
Statement Type
Question
Language
Greek
Time
375 BC 370s BC 4th century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Socrates. Quoted in Πολιτεία [Republic], written by Plato. c. 375 BCE.

Current Citation

Socrates. Quoted in Republic, written by Plato, translated by Desmond Lee. Penguin Classics, 2007.