At one time through love all things come together into one, at another time through strife s hatred, they are borne each of them apart.
EmpedoclesRead
There are forces in nature called Love and Hate. The force of Love causes elements to be attracted to each other and to be built up into some particular form or person, and the force of Hate causes the decomposition of things.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote illustrates the dual forces of love and hate in nature, emphasizing their constructive and destructive impacts.
Empedocles highlights the fundamental roles of love and hate as natural forces that influence the creation and destruction of entities in the universe. Love is portrayed as a force that brings elements together, fostering growth and unity, while hate represents a force that leads to division and decay. This philosophical perspective prompts us to reflect on how these powerful emotions shape our existence and the world around us.
Themes
LoveHateNatureForcesPhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a discussion about the impact of emotions on personal relationships.
More from Empedocles
All quotes →Iris from sea brings wind or mighty rain.
EmpedoclesRead
The force that unites the elements to become all things is Love, also called Aphrodite; Love brings together dissimilar elements into a unity, to become a composite thing. Love is the same force that human beings find at work in themselves whenever they feel joy, love and peace. Strife, on the other hand, is the force responsible for the dissolution of the one back into its many, the four elements of which it was composed.
EmpedoclesRead
For before this I was born once a boy, and a maiden, and a plant, and a bird, and a darting fish in the sea.
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