Translated by Christopher Culver
τοῦ δὲ λόγου τοῦδ’ ἑόντος αἰεὶ ἀξύνετοι γίγνονται ἄνθρωποι καὶ πρόσθεν ἢ ἀκοῦσαι καὶ ἀκούσαντες τὸ πρῶτον· γινομένων γὰρ πάντων κατὰ τὸν λόγον τόνδε ἀπείροισιν ἑοίκασι, πειρώμενος καὶ ἐπέων καὶ ἔργων τοιούτων, ὁκοίων ἐγὼ διηγεῦμαι, κατὰ φύσιν διαιρέων ἕκαστον καὶ φράζων ὅκως ἔχει. τοὺς δὲ ἄλλους ἀνθρώπους λανθάνει ὁκόσα ἐγερθέντες ποιοῦσιν, ὅκωσπερ ὁκόσα εὕδοντες ἐπιλανθάνονται.
Though logos exists always, men become insensitive to it, both before they have heard it and after they have heard it for the first time; for although all things come about according to the logos, men seem to have no experience of it when they examine the kinds of words and deeds which I have set forth, dividing each thing according to its nature and explaining what it is like. Other men do not realise what they are doing when they are awake, just as they do not know what they are doing when asleep.
τοῦ λόγου δ’ ἐόντος ξυνοῦ ζώουσιν οἱ πολλοὶ ὡς ἰδίαν ἔχοντες φρόνησιν.
Although the logos is common to all, most people live as if they have a rationality of their own.
εἰ πάντα τὰ ὄντα καπνὸς γένοιτο, ῥῖνες ἂν διαγνοῖεν.
If everything became smoke, one’s nose could distinguish things.
ἀρῃφάτους θεοὶ τιμῶσι καὶ ἄνθρωποι.
Gods as well as men honour those slain in battle.
ἀνθρώπους μένει ἀποθανόντας ἄσσα οὐκ ἐλπονται οὐδὲ δοκέουσιν.
What lies in store for the dead is something they neither expect nor imagine.
κόσμον τόνδε, τὸν αὐτὸν ἀπάντων, οὔτε τις θεῶν οὔτε ἀνθρώπων ἐποίησεν, ἀλλ’ ἦν ἀεὶ καὶ ἔσται πῦρ ἀείζωον, ἀπτόμενον μέτρα καὶ ἀποσβεννύμενον μέτρα.
No one either of the gods or of men made this universe, but it has always been and will be, an ever-living fire, igniting and extinguishing itself in measure.
οὐκ ἐμοῦ ἀλλὰ τοῦ λόγου ἀκούσαντας ὁμολογεῖν σοφόν ἐστιν ἓν πάντα εἶναι.
Not by listening to me, but to the logos, it is wise to agree that all things are one.
πόλεμος πάντων μὲν πατήρ ἐστι, πάντων δὲ βασιλεύς, καὶ τοὺς μὲν θεοὺς ἐδειξε τοὺς δὲ ἀνθρώπους, τοὺς μὲν δούλους ἐποίησε τοὺς δὲ ἐλευθέρους.
War is the father of all, and the king of all, and it shows men as gods and makes slaves out of the free.
ὁδὸς ἄνω κάτω μία καὶ ὡυτή.
The way up and the way down are one and the same.
εἰδέναι δὲ χρὴ τὸν πόλεμον ἐόντα ξυνόν, καὶ δίκη ἐριν, καὶ γινόμενα πάντα κατ᾿ ἔριν καὶ χρεωμενα.
One must understand that war is universal, that order is strife, and that all things come about and are ordained by strife.
θυμῷ μάχεσθαι χαελπόν· ὃ γαρ ἂν θέλῃ, ψυχῆς ὠνεῖται.
It is difficult to fight against the urge to act, for whatever it wants, it takes at the expense of the soul.
ὁ ἄναξ, οὗ τὸ μαντεῖόν ἐστι ἐν Δελφοῖς, οὔτε λέγει οὔτε κρύπτει, ἀλλὰ σημαίνει.
The lord whose oracle is in Delphi neither speaks nor conceals, but gives a sign.
ἥλιος οὐκ ὑπερβήσεται μέτρα· εί δὲ μή, Ἐρινύες μιν Δίκης ἐπίκουροι ἐξευρήσουσιν.
The sun will not overstep its bounds, but if it does, the Erinyes, handmaidens of Justice, will find him.
ξυνὸν ἀρχὴ καὶ πέρας ἐπὶ κύκλου [περιφέρειας].
On the circumference of a circle a beginning and end are the same.
αὔη ψυχὴ σοφωτάτη καὶ ἀρίστη.
The dry soul is wisest and most virtuous.
τὰ ψυχρὰ θέρμεται, θερμὸν ψύχεται, ὑγρὸν αὐαίνεται, καρφαλέον νοτίζεται.
Cold things warm up, hot things cool down, wet things dry up, dry things become wet.