55 Quotes by Xenophanes

The Ethiops say that their gods are flat-nosed and black, While the Thracians say that theirs have blue eyes and red hair. “If oxen and horses and lions had hands and were able to draw with their hands and do the same things as men, horses would draw the shapes of gods to look like horses and oxen would draw them to look like oxen, and each would make the gods' bodies have the same shape as they themselves had.

The clear and perfect truth no man has seen, nor will there be anyone who knows about the gods and what I say about all things...; for, however perfect what he says may be, yet he does not know it; all things are matters of opinion.

The sea is the source of water and the source of wind; for neither would blasts of wind arise in the clouds and blow out from within them, except for the great sea, nor would the streams of rivers nor the rain-water in the sky exist but for the sea ; but the great sea is the begetter of clouds and winds and rivers.

If cows and horses had hands and could draw, cows would draw gods that look like cows and horses would draw gods that look like horses.

Even if a man should chance to speak the most complete truth, yet he himself does not know it; all things are wrapped in appearances.

If an ox could paint a picture, his god would look like an ox.

For we are all sprung from earth and water.

This upper limit, of earth at our feet is visible and touches the air, but below it reaches to infinity.

It isn’t right to judge strength as better than good wisdom.