Plotinus

Philosopher

Plotinus was a pivotal philosopher in the Neoplatonism movement, known for his exploration of metaphysics and the concept of 'the One'.

Born
c. 204 AD
Died
c. 270 AD
Quotes
46
Rank
#109

About Plotinus

Plotinus — Life and Legacy

Plotinus, a prominent philosopher of the 3rd century, is best known for founding Neoplatonism, a philosophical system that emphasizes the existence of a single source of all reality, referred to as 'the One'. His work, 'Enneads', is a collection of writings that delve into metaphysical concepts, exploring the nature of existence, the soul, and the relationship between the material and immaterial worlds. Central to Plotinus's philosophy is the idea that the material world is a mere reflection of a higher reality. He famously stated that 'the One' is beyond all attributes and distinctions, representing ultimate unity. This perspective challenges conventional views of reality, suggesting that true understanding comes from transcending the physical realm. His emphasis on inner contemplation as a means to connect with 'the One' reveals a deep understanding of the human experience and the quest for meaning. The relevance of Plotinus's ideas persists today, as they invite individuals to reflect on their own existence and the nature of reality. His insights into the interconnectedness of all beings and the importance of spiritual growth continue to resonate, encouraging a journey towards greater understanding and unity.

Quote collection

Plotinus quotes (page 1 of 3)

46 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.

Plotinus Philosopher
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"The stars are like letters that inscribe themselves at every moment in the sky. Everything in the world is full of signs. All events are coordinated. All things depend on each other. Everything breathes together."

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"Beauty is rather a light that plays over the symmetry of things than that symmetry itself."

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"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."

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"Knowledge has three degrees--opinion, science, illumination. The means or instrument of the first is sense; of the second, dialectic; of the third, intuition."

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"We must not run after it, but we must fit ourselves for the vision and then wait tranquilly for it, as the eye waits on the rising of the Sun which in its own time appears above the horizon and gives itself to our sight."

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"You can only apprehend the Infinite by a faculty that is superior to reason."

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"Each one of us is part of the soul of the universe"

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"And this is the life of the Gods, and of Godlike men, a life without love of the world, a flight of the Alone to the Alone."

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"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."

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"We must close our eyes and invoke a new manner of seeing...a wakefulness that is the birthright of us all, though few put it to use."

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"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."

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"We are not separated from spirit, we are in it."

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"Before we had our becoming here, we existed There, men other than now; we were pure souls. Intelligence inbound with the entire of reality, not fenced off, integral to that All. [...] Then it was as if One voice sounded. One word was uttered and from every side an ear attended and received and there was an effective hearing; now we are become a dual thing, no longer that which we were at first, dormant, and in a sense no longer present."

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"In this state of absorbed contemplation, there is no longer any question of holding an object in view; the vision is such that seeing and seen are one; object and act of vision have become identical."

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"It is precisely because there is nothing within the One that all things are from it."

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"We may treat of the Soul as in the body - whether it be set above it or actually within it - since the association of the two constitutes the one thing called the living organism, the Animate.Now from this relation, from the Soul using the body as an instrument, it does not follow that the Soul must share the body's experiences: a man does not himself feel all the experiences of the tools with which he is working."

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