Man is the measure of all things.

πάντων χρημάτων μέτρον ἄνθρωπον εἶναι

Protagoras

Quoted in Theaetetus, by Plato

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More information about this quote

Topic

Nature of man

Speaker

Protagoras

Author

Plato

Source

Theaetetus

Medium

Philosophical dialogue

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Greek

Time

420 BC 420s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Occupation

Philosopher

From

Greece Europe Ancient Greece

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Plato. Θεαίτητος [Theatetus]. c. 400 BC.

Current Citation

Plato. Theatetus, translated by John McDowell. Oxford University Press, 2014.

Illustrated Quote

A quote by Protagoras about nature of man: “Man is the measure of all things.”
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A quote by Protagoras about nature of man: “Man is the measure of all things.”
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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote by Plato

Of all wild creatures, the child is the most intractable.

Plato

Laws

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More information about this quote
Topic
Man and animals Boys Teaching children Children

Author

Plato
Source
Laws
Medium
Philosophical dialogue Dialogue
Genre
Philosophical literature
Language
Greek
Time
346 BC 340s BC 4th century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Plato. Νόμοι [Laws]. c. 346 BC, bk. 7.

Current Citation

Plato. Laws, translated by Tom Griffith, edited by Malcolm Schofield. Cambridge University Press, 2016, bk. 7.

Another quote about Nature of man

I think, therefore I am.

René Descartes

Discourse on Method

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More information about this quote
Topic
Nature of man

Author

René Descartes
Source
Discourse on Method
Genre
Philosophical literature
Language
French
Time
1637 1630s 17th century
Era
Age of Enlightenment
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Descartes, René [published anonymously]. Discours de la Méthode: Pour bien conduire sa raison, et chercher la vérité dans les sciences [Discourse on Method: To Conduct Reason Well, and Seek Truth in the Sciences]. Leiden, 1637, pt. 4.

Current Citation

Descartes, René. Discourse on the Method, translated by Ian Maclean. Oxford University Press, 2008, pt. 4.

Another quote from the 5th century BC

There are many wonderful things, and nothing is more wonderful than man.

Sophocles

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More information about this quote
Topic
Nature of man Man and animals

Author

Sophocles
Source
Antigone
Medium
Play
Genre
Tragic play Greek theater
Language
Greek
Time
441 BC 440s 5th century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Sophocles. Ἀντιγόνη [Antigone]. c. 441 BC, Festival of Dionysus, Athens, Greece.

Current Citation

Sophocles. "Antigone." The Oedipus Cycle: Oedipus Rex; Oedipus at Colonus; Antigone, translated by Dudley Fitts and Robert Fitzgerald. Mariner Books, 2002.

Another quote from Classical antiquity

It is never right to do wrong or to requite wrong with wrong, or when we suffer evil to defend ourselves by doing evil in return.

Socrates

Quoted in Crito, by Plato

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More information about this quote
Topic
Eye for an eye Retaliation Revenge Justice
Speaker
Socrates

Author

Plato
Source
Crito
Medium
Philosophical dialogue
Genre
Philosophical literature
Statement Type
Precepts and axioms
Language
Greek
Time
399 BC 390s BC 4th century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Plato. Crito. 399 BCE.

Current Citation

Plato. "Crito." Plato: Euthyphro; Apology; Crito; Phaedo, translated by Christopher Emlyn-Jones and William Preddy. Harvard University Press, 2017.

Another quote originally in Greek

All men have need of the Gods.

Homer

The Odyssey

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More information about this quote
Topic
God and man God Human nature

Author

Homer
Source
The Odyssey
Medium
Poem
Genre
Epic poem
Language
Greek
Time
700 BC 700s BC 8th century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Homer. Ὀδύσσεια [Odyssey]. c. 710 BC, bk. 3, l. 48.

Current Citation

Homer. The Odyssey, edited by Bernard Knox, translated by Robert Fagles. Penguin Classics, 2006, bk. 3, l. 48.