Golden-ratio Quote by Graham Flegg
““The Pythagoreans... were fascinated by certain specific ratios, ...The Greeks knew these as the 'golden' proportion and the 'perfect' proportion respectively. They may well have been learned from the Babylonians by Pythagoras himself after having been taken prisoner in Egypt. Ratios lay at the heart of the Pythagorean theory of music.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Music of the Spheres, Graham Flegg, 2019
Ancient Greeks linked music, mathematics, and cosmic order through specific ratios, reflecting a belief that harmony underlies reality.
In simple terms: Greek thought tied music to math and cosmos via ratios.
Key Takeaway
Explore how ratios shape perception of harmony.
Themes
music
mathematics
philosophy
history
culture
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- music composition
- architectural design
- financial modeling
- educational curricula
Key Concepts
Pythagorean theory
golden ratio
proportion
cosmic order
Questions to Reflect On
- How do numerical ratios influence your sense of beauty?
- Can harmony exist without precise measurement?
A Different Perspective
The focus on ratios may overlook cultural and emotional aspects of music.
![“Kepler followed Proclus and believed that 'the main goal of Euclid was to build a geometric theory of the so-called Platonic solids.' Kepler was fascinated by Proclus and often quotes him calling him a 'Pythagorean'. [History of Mathematics]” quote by C. Smoryński](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/68c/c-smory-ski-225321_euclid_kepler-followed-proclus-and-believed-tha_2944745.jpg)
![“The impulse to all movement and all form is given by [the golden ratio], since it is the proportion that summarizes in itself the additive and the geometric, or logarithmic, series.” quote by Schwaller de Lubicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c2d/schwaller-de-lubicz-101132_golden-ratio_the-impulse-to-all-movement-and-all-form_992121.jpg)
