Pythagoras Quotes


Abstain from beans.


Context

In that era votes were taken be legislators dropping dried beans in different jars. The Ancient Greek word for “beans” was metaphorical for “politics.” Pythagoras advised the students at his academy and all others of means to avoid politics. He was concerned that politics would distract a person from more important activities such as philosophy, mathematics and science. Worse that the hypocrisy and compromises made in politics would corrupt honest, rational thinking.


Citations

Pythagoras, ~570 BC– ~495 BC, Ancient Greek Philosopher & Mathematician, Founder of the religion called Pythagoreanism, Warning about politics

Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations

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Pythagoras
Pythagoras
  • Born:
  • Nationality: Greek
  • Profession: Mathematician

Pythagoras of Samos (c. 570 – c. 495 BC) was an ancient Ionian Greek philosopher and the eponymous founder of Pythagoreanism. His political and religious teachings were well known in Magna Graecia and influenced the philosophies of Plato, Aristotle, and, through them, Western philosophy. Knowledge of his life is clouded by legend, but he appears to have been the son of Mnesarchus, a gem-engraver on the island of Samos. Modern scholars disagree regarding Pythagoras's education and influences, but they do agree that, around 530 BC, he travelled to Croton in southern Italy, where he founded a school in which initiates were sworn to secrecy and lived a communal, ascetic lifestyle. This lifestyle entailed a number of dietary prohibitions, traditionally said to have included vegetarianism, although modern scholars doubt that he ever advocated for complete vegetarianism.