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Plotinus

Plotinus Quotes

Philosopher

Plotinus (204-270 AD), a renowned Greek philosopher, is considered the founder of Neoplatonism. His philosophical ideas have had a profound impact on the development of Christian philosophy and Western philosophy in general.

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Famous Plotinus Quotes

“Knowing ourselves, we are beautiful; in self-ignorance, we are ugly.”

Self Beautiful Knowledge Knowing Ignorance Ugly

Author:Plotinus

“Never did eye see the sun unless it had first become sun-like, and never can the soul have vision of the First Beauty unless itself be beautiful.”

Firsts Soul Eye Beautiful Vision Sun

Book:The Six Enneads

Source: The Six Enneads

“Being is desirable because it is identical with Beauty, and Beauty is loved because it is Being. We ourselves possess Beauty when we are true to our own being; ugliness is in going over to another order; knowing ourselves, we are beautiful; in self-ignorance, we are ugly.”

Self Beautiful Order Knowing Ignorance Ugly Desirable Ugliness Identical

Author:Plotinus

“The soul that beholds beauty becomes beautiful.”

Inspirational Soul Beautiful

Author:Plotinus

“Beauty addresses itself chiefly to sight, but there is a beauty for the hearing too, as in certain combinations so words and in all kinds of music; for melodies and cadences are beautiful; and minds that lift themselves above the realm of sense to a higher order are aware of beauty in the conduct of life, in actions, in character, in the pursuits of the intellect; and there is the beauty of the virtues.”

Source: Delphi Complete Works of Plotinus - Complete Enneads (Illustrated)

“Withdraw into yourself and look. And if you do not find yourself beautiful as yet, do as the creator of a statue that is to be made beautiful; the sculptor cuts away here, smoothes there, makes this line lighter, this other purer, until he or she has shown a beautiful face upon the statue.”

Ifs Looks Made Beautiful Faces Lines Cutting Creator Finding Yourself Introspection Statues Lighters Sculptors Beautiful Face

Author:Plotinus