Becoming Quote by Anaxagoras
“Wrongly do the Greeks suppose that aught begins or ceases to be; for nothing comes into being or is destroyed; but all is an aggregation or secretion of preexisting things; so that all becoming might more correctly be called becoming mixed, and all corruption, becoming separate.”
About This Quote
Source Philosophical Treatise: Fragments of Anaxagoras, c. 5th century BC
Reality consists of mixtures of preexisting substances; change is mixing, not creation or destruction.
In simple terms: All change is mixing of existing things.
Key Takeaway
Recognize that transformation involves recombination.
Themes
philosophy
change
metaphysics
Mood
contemplative
analytical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- scientific research
- artistic creation
- personal growth
- environmental cycles
Key Concepts
preexistence
aggregation
corruption
becoming
Questions to Reflect On
- What existing elements combine in your current situation?
- How does mixing influence your view of change?
A Different Perspective
May oversimplify complex processes and ignore emergent properties.
