This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.
Greek Pre-Socratic Sophist Thinker, Teacher and Philosopher
"There are two sides to every question."
"Let us hold our discussion together in our own persons, making trial of the truth and of ourselves."
"Man is the measure of all things."
"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."
"Concerning the gods, I have no means of knowing either that they exist or that they do not exist, nor what sort of form they may have; there are many reasons why knowledge on this subject is not possible, owing to the lack of evidence and the shortness of human life. "
"As to the Gods, I have no means of knowing either that they exist or that they do not exist, or if they do, what they are like."
"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."
"Man is the measure of all things: of things which are, that they are, and of things which are not, that they are not."
"The art of measurement, by showing us the truth would have brought our soul into the repose of abiding by the truth, and so would have saved our life."
"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."
"You, Socrates, began by saying that virtue can't be taught, and now you are insisting on the opposite, trying to show that all things are knowledge, justice, soundness of mind, even courage, from which it would follow that virtue most certainly can be taught."
"When it comes to consideration of how to do well in running the city, which must proceed entirely through justice and soundness of mind."