Quotes from Thales of Miletus: The First Philosopher Who Changed the World

Phrases by Thales of Miletus that have spanned millennia continue to fascinate curious minds to this day. Considered the first philosopher of Western history, Thales was born in Miletus (present-day Turkey) around 624 BC and died around 546 BC, living during the pre-Socratic period of Ancient Greece.

This revolutionary thinker abandoned mythological explanations of the world to seek rational answers about the nature of the universe.

As one of the Seven Sages of Ancient Greece, he was not only an important philosopher, but also a mathematician, astronomer and statesman whose legacy lives on through his profound reflections on the cosmos and human existence.

In this article, we will explore the wisdom of this great thinker and how his ideas remain relevant even 2,600 years after his death. Get ready for an intellectual journey to the origins of Western philosophical thought!

Eternal Wisdom: Inspirational Quotes from Thales of Miletus

Thales of Miletus left no writings of his own that have survived to the present day. His ideas and phrases have come down to us mainly through quotations and references from later philosophers such as Aristotle, Diogenes Laertius and Plutarch.

Below is a selection of the most significant phrases attributed to this pioneering thinker.

Philosophical quotes by Thales of Miletus

Sentence	Context/Reference
“Water is the beginning of all things.”	Quoted by Aristotle in “Metaphysics”, 4th century BC.
“The hardest thing is to know yourself.”	Recorded by Diogenes Laertius in “Lives and Doctrines of the Illustrious Philosophers”, 3rd century
“The easiest thing is to give advice.”	A collection of maxims from the Seven Sages
“Necessity is strong, for it dominates all things.”	Preserved by later writers
“There is no difference between living and dying.”	When asked why he didn't die then, he replied: “Precisely because there is no difference.” (Aristotle)
“The mind is fast, because it runs through everything.”	Attributed by ancient commentators
“The most universal thing is space, because it contains all things.”	Quoted in comments on cosmology
“The oldest of beings is God, because he is ungenerated.”	Preserved by Diógenes Laércio
“The most beautiful thing is the world, because it is the work of God.”	A collection of maxims from the Seven Sages
“Hope is the only good common to all men.”	Attributed by writers from Hellenistic times
“Know yourself and you will know the universe and the gods.”	Often also attributed to other ancient philosophers
“Time is the wisest because it discovers everything.”	Preserved in anthologies of ancient wisdom
“Many words do not indicate a wise mind.”	Maxims of the Seven Sages
“Happy is the body that is healthy and the soul that is wise.”	Quoted in texts on ancient ethics
“What is divine? That which has neither beginning nor end.”	Reported by later commentators
“Not even your thoughts are hidden from the gods.”	Preserved in anthologies of Greek wisdom
“A righteous life is more pleasant than a life of pleasure.”	Attributed by moralistic writers
“It's hard to know the man.”	Fragment quoted by Diogenes Laertius
“Idleness is the brother of freedom.”	Preserved in collections of maxims
“Don't do to others what you don't want them to do to you.”	A version of the ethical principle found in various cultures
“Wealth without virtue is an ornament for the house, but it doesn't bring happiness.”	Comments on ethics attributed to Thales
“Avoid doing what you censor in others.”	Maxims of the Seven Sages
“He who promises much, delivers little.”	Preserved in anthologies of ancient wisdom
“Not everyone who seems to be a friend is one, and not everyone who doesn't seem to be one ceases to be one.”	On friendship, preserved by commentators
“Life without research is not worth living.”	Also attributed to Socrates later
“Don't be ashamed to learn more.”	Maxims of the Seven Sages
“True good consists in not doing evil.”	Preserved in texts on ethics
“The sweetest thing is to get what you want.”	Attributed by later writers
“The world is full of gods.”	Quoted by Aristotle in “De Anima”
“Inanimate things also have souls.”	Aristotle's interpretation of Thales' thought
“Lies are only one step away from slander.”	Preserved in collections of old maxims
“Excess in everything is harmful.”	Principle of balance common among the Greeks
“He who hopes, ruins himself.”	The Seven Wise Men's maxims on financial prudence
“Experience is the mother of wisdom.”	Attributed by later commentators
“He knows when the time is right.”	Maxims of the Seven Sages
“Before you speak, learn to listen.”	Preserved in anthologies of ancient wisdom
“The wise man is not the one who gives the right answers, but the one who asks the right questions.”	Attributed by late commentators
“All men are equal before the gods.”	Interpretation of his thought by later philosophers
“Friendship is a soul that inhabits two bodies.”	Also attributed to Aristotle later
“The most valuable thing is virtue, because it can't be stolen.”	Maxims of the Seven Sages
“Nothing is older than God, because he has always existed.”	Preserved by Diógenes Laércio
“Water nourishes, but fire destroys.”	Comment on his theory of the elements
“The world is beautiful because it is ordered.”	Interpretation of his cosmological thinking
“He who desires much suffers much.”	Preserved in anthologies of ancient wisdom
“Wisdom consists of three things: knowledge, experience and moderation.”	Attributed by later writers
“The strongest thing is necessity, because it conquers all.”	Maxims of the Seven Sages
“Don't try to be rich, but happy.”	Preserved in texts on ancient ethics
“A wise man carries his wealth within him.”	Attributed by later commentators
“Nature doesn't jump.”	Interpretation of his naturalistic thinking
“Remember that you are mortal.”	Common maxim among the Seven Sages
“The fastest thing is thought, because it runs through the universe.”	Quoted in commentaries on his philosophy
“The real homeland is where you live well.”	Preserved in anthologies of ancient wisdom
“One word at the right time is worth a thousand at the wrong time.”	Maxims about prudence in speech
“He who does not control his passions is their slave.”	Attributed by later ethical commentators
“Know the visible things in order to understand the invisible ones.”	Interpretation of his philosophical method
“The truly wise learn something new every day.”	Preserved in anthologies of ancient wisdom
“The cosmos is governed by laws, not whims.”	Interpretation of his naturalistic view of the world
“Nature loves to hide.”	Also attributed to Heraclitus later
“It's not our possessions, but our thoughts that determine our happiness.”	Preserved in texts on ancient ethics
“The greatest power is self-control.”	Maxims of the Seven Sages
“The universe is intelligible through reason.”	Fundamental principle of his naturalist philosophy

“Thales was the first to devote himself to the study of nature. He believed that water was the beginning of all things, that the Earth floated on water, and that everything was filled with gods or spirits.” - Aristotle, in Metaphysics.

“Thales” wisdom lay in his search for natural explanations for phenomena that had previously been attributed to the gods. He inaugurated a new way of thinking that would become the basis of Western philosophy and science." - Werner Jaeger, historian.

Conclusion

The phrases by Thales of Miletus represent the dawn of rational and philosophical thought in the West. By seeking natural explanations for phenomena previously attributed to the gods, Thales paved the way for a new way of understanding the world.

His reflections on ethics, knowledge and nature remain relevant, showing that the search for wisdom is a timeless journey.

The depth of his thought, expressed through concise and powerful maxims, continues to inspire us to question, explore and seek true knowledge.

Thales reminds us that philosophy is not just an academic exercise, but a way of life based on the search for wisdom and understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

Were you inspired by Thales of Miletus? Continue your philosophical journey by visiting our blog Messages That Inspire to discover more profound thoughts from great philosophers and thinkers throughout history.

To deepen your knowledge of Thales of Miletus, we recommend consulting his Wikipedia page in Portuguese, where you will find additional information about his life and contributions to philosophy and science.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question	Answer
Who was Thales of Miletus?	Thales of Miletus was a Greek philosopher, mathematician and astronomer who lived between 624-546 BC, considered the first philosopher of the Western tradition and one of the Seven Sages of Ancient Greece.
Why is Thales considered the first philosopher?	Because he was the first known thinker to seek natural and rational explanations for phenomena in the world, abandoning mythological and religious interpretations.
What was Thales' main theory?	Thales believed that water was the fundamental principle (arché) of all things, being the primordial element from which everything originated.
Did Thales leave any written works?	There is no evidence that Thales left any written works. His thought has come down to us through quotations and references from later philosophers, mainly Aristotle.
What were Thales' contributions to mathematics?	Thales is credited with several geometric theorems, including measuring the height of Egypt's pyramids using shadows and the theorem that bears his name about angles inscribed in circles.
How did Thales predict a solar eclipse?	It is believed that Thales used astronomical knowledge learned from the Babylonians to predict the solar eclipse of May 28, 585 BC, although the exact methods remain speculative.
Did Thales believe in gods?	Thales had a naturalistic view of the world, but according to Aristotle, he believed that “everything is full of gods”, perhaps suggesting a pantheistic or hylozoistic view of nature.
What is Thales' most important legacy?	His greatest legacy was to initiate the tradition of rational and scientific thought, seeking explanations based on the observation of nature rather than myths, thus laying the foundations for the development of Western philosophy and science.