Xenophanes Quotes

It takes a wise man to recognize a wise man.

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.

For all things come from earth, and all things end by becoming earth.

God is one, greatest of gods and men, not like mortals in body or thought.

No man knows distinctly anything, and no man ever will.

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

Men always makes gods in their own image.

If God had not made brown honey, men would think figs much sweeter than they do.

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

Pure truth no man has seen, nor ever shall know.

No human being will ever know the truth, for even if they happen to say it by chance, they would not even know they had done so.

Truly the gods have not from the beginning revealed all things to mortals, but by long seeking, mortals discover what is better.

All men begin their learning with Homer.

The sun comes into being each day from little pieces of fire that are collected.

If oxen and horses and lions could draw and paint, they would delineate the gods in their own image.

In the beginning the gods did not at all reveal all things clearly to mortals, but by searching men in the course of time find them out better.

The Ethiopians say that their gods are snub-nosed and black the Thracians that theirs have light blue eyes and red hair.

All things that come into being and grow are earth and water.

If cattle and horses, or lions, had hands...

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

But without effort [God] sets in motion all things by mind and thought.

If horses had Gods, they would look like horses.

For we are all sprung from earth and water

Men create the gods in their own image.

No human being will ever know the Truth, for even if they happen to say it by chance, they would not even known they had done so.

Better than the strength of men and horses is our wisdom.