70 Quotes by Plotinus

Nature is but an image of wisdom, the last thing of the soul; nature being a thing which doth only do, but not know.

It is bad enough to be condemned to drag around this image in which nature has imprisoned me. Why should I consent to the perpetuation of the image of this image?

Being is desirable because it is identical with Beauty, and Beauty is loved because it is Being.

The Soul of each one of us is sent, that the universe may be complete.

Cut away all that is excessive, straighten all that is crooked, bring light to all that is overcast, labour to make all one glow of beauty and never cease chiselling your statue, until there shall shine out on you from it the godlike splendour of virtue, until you shall see the perfect goodness surely established in the stainless shrine...

When we look outside of that on which we depend we ignore our unity; looking outward we see many faces; look inward and all is one head. If a man could but be turned about, he would see at once God and himself and the All.

Never stop working on your statue until the divine glory of virtue shines out on you, until you see self-mastery enthroned upon its holy seat.

The soul that beholds beauty becomes beautiful.

All things are filled full of signs, and it is a wise man who can learn about one thing from another.