20 Quotes by Protagoras

Concerning the gods I cannot know either that they exist or that they do not exist, or what form they might have, for there is much to prevent one's knowing: the obscurity of the subject and the shortness of man's life.

I can't know whether the gods exist or not, nor what they are like if they do. Two things in particular prevent any certain knowledge - the topic is obscure and life is short.

Man is the measure of all things

As to gods, I have no way of knowing either that they exist or do not exist, or what they are like.

Let us hold our discussion together in our own persons, making trial of the truth and of ourselves.

No intelligent man believes that anybody ever willingly errs or willingly does base and evil deeds; they are well aware that all who do base and evil things do them unwillingly.

The Athenians are right to accept advice from anyone, since it is incumbent on everyone to share in that sort of excellence, or else there can be no city at all.

As touching the gods, I do not know whether they exist or not, nor how they are featured; for there is much to prevent our knowing: the obscurity of the subject and the brevity of human life.

There are intelligible principles inherent in the matter of every phenomenon; because matter is essentially the sum of all the seemings that it has for any and all persons.