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Some selections from Readings in Ancient Greek Philosophy, S. M. Cohen et al. eds. Hackett: Indianapolis, 2005

Part 1

(B97) Dogs bark at everyone they do not know.

(B72) They are at odds with the logos, with which above all they are in continuous contact, and the things they meet every day appear strange to them.

(B34) Uncomprehending when having heard, they are like the deaf.

(B34) Uncomprehending when having heard, they are like the deaf. The saying describes them: being present they are absent.

(B104) What understanding (noos) or intelligence (phren) have they? They put their trust in popular bards and take the mob for their teacher, unaware that most people are bad, and few are good.*

Part 2

(22B1) Although this logos holds always humans prove unable to understand it both before hearing it and when they have first heard it. For although all things come to be [or, “happen”] in accordance with this logos, humans are like the inexperienced when they experience such words and deeds as I set out, distinguishing each thing in accordance with its nature (physis) and saying how it is. But other people fail to notice what they do when awake, just as they forget what they do while asleep.*

(B123) Nature (physis) loves to hide.

(B60) The road up and the road down are one and the same.

(B37) Pigs wash themselves in mud, birds in dust or ash.

(B61) The sea is the purest and most polluted water: to fishes drinkable and bringing safety, to humans undrinkable and destructive.

(B87) A fool is excited by every word (logos).

Part 3

(B30) This kosmos, the same for all, none of gods nor humans made, but it was always and is and shall be: an ever-living fire, kindled in measures and extinguished in measures.

(B67) God is day and night, winter and summer, war and peace, satiety and hunger, but changes the way <fire,(?)> when mingled with perfumes, is named according to the scent of each

(B50) Listening not to me, but to the logos, it is wise to agree that all things are one.

(B114) Those who speak with understanding (noos) must rely firmly on what is common to all as a city must rely on [its?] law, and much more firmly. For all human laws are nourished by one law, the divine law; for it has as much power as it wishes and is sufficient for all and is still left over.

(B112) Right thinking (sophronein) is the greatest excellence, and wisdom (sophia) is to speak the truth and act in accordance with nature (physis) while paying attention to it.