Parmenides of Elea (530 B.C. – 450 B.C.) was a brilliant Greek philosopher born in Elea, in present-day Italy.

The author of only one written work, he caused a revolution in the thought of the time that influenced later thinkers, such as Empedocles, Anaxagoras and even Plato.

Great sentences of Parmenides

In this article we will go deeper into the philosophy described by Parmenides and his legacy . Through Parmenides’ best phrases we will discover his vision of matter, life and death.

They are somewhat cryptic and convoluted aphorisms, so knowing how to correctly interpret each of their famous quotes requires a detailed analysis of their theories.

Related articles:

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  • “70 phrases of Socrates to understand his philosophy”
  • “Aristotle’s 100 Best Sentences”

1. And what need would have driven him to be born sooner or later, from nothing?

About existence.

2. Only one narrative path remains: what is it. And on this path there are abundant signs.

The path of life and its questions.

3. The same remains in the same, and rests in itself.

A sample of their philosophy of matter.

4. The same thing can be intelligible and can be.

Very much in line with the previous sentence.

5. Only one story remains as a path: the Entity is.

Reflection on the matter.

6. It is indifferent to me where I begin; for there I shall return again.

Elea’s Parmenides’ critical phrase about the inexistence of mutability.

7. You will know the ethereal nature and, also in the ether, all the signs and destructive effects of the pure and clear torch of the sun and from where they have been generated.

One of the concepts developed by this Greek thinker: the Ether.

8. For there is not and there will not be anything alien other than what it is.

Another phrase from Parmenides in which he talks to us about matter.

9. The same thing can be intelligible and can be.

If we can apprehend it, it’s possibly an entity.

10. The mares that carry me as far as my spirit can reach carried me when, in driving me, they brought me to the road, abundant in signs, of the goddess.

Incredible metaphor extracted from his poetic work.

11. Everything there is has always existed. Nothing can come from nothing. And something that exists cannot become nothing either.

A sample of his philosophical monism, which opposes the constant change proposed by Heraclitus.

12. Reason will eventually be right.

Parmenides’ brutal aphorism in which he guarantees that the truth will prevail.

13. The universe, for one who knew how to embrace it from a single point of view, would be, if it were allowed to be said, no more than a single fact and a great truth.

Another of those phrases from Elea’s Parmenides in which she clearly shows us her monistic vision of what exists.

14. Music that doesn’t describe something is just noise.

A famous quote about music.

15. War is the art of destroying men, politics is the art of deceiving them.

Impressive reflection of political and communicative nature.

16. It’s the same to think and to be.

We close this list of thoughts of Parmenides with this phrase about selfhood.