The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers

by Diogenes Laertius

And Lobon of Argos, says, that which was written by him extends to about two hundred verses; and that the following inscription is engraved upon his statue:—

Miletus, fairest of Ionian cities,

Gave birth to Thales, great astronomer,

Wisest of mortals in all kinds of knowledge.

IX. And these are quoted as some of his lines:—

It is not many words that real wisdom proves;

Breathe rather one wise thought,

Select one worthy object,

So shall you best the endless prate of silly men reprove.—

And the following are quoted as sayings of his:—“God is the most ancient of all things, for he had no birth: the world is the most beautiful of things, for it is the work of God: place is the greatest of things, for it contains all things: intellect is the swiftest of things, for it runs through everything: necessity is the strongest of things, for it rules everything: time is the wisest of things, for it finds out everything.”