Fragments | Litsy

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The book is full of clever aphorisms. I noticed within these fragments (often 3rd or 4th hand) the origins of many themes and tropes in Western media over the intervening 2500 years since these fragments began to appear. A quick, but dense read and essential for anyone interested in philosophy.

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batsy

Fragments | Heraclitus

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I can't review this with any sort of authority (thinking about those GR reviews that were all, "THIS IS THE WORST TRANSLATION EVER") but I deeply enjoyed this glimpse into Heraclitus's mind. This translation produced fluid, elegant lines. There's not much context & a lot of it is left up to interpretation, like poems. "Fools seek counsel from the ones they doubt". "One's bearing shapes one's fate." "Things keep their secrets." Highly recommended.

batsy I read the translation by Brooks Haxton. I also dipped into Guy Davenport's 7 Greeks for his Heraclitus chapter, which was also lovely and thought-provoking: "In searching out the truth be ready for the unexpected, for it is difficult to find and puzzling when you find it."

7 Greeks

sarahbarnes Great review! 2y

BookishMeandering I love those ancient metaphysical philosophers. 2y

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batsy @sarahbarnes Thanks! 🙂 2y

batsy @BookishMeandering Same 😁 2y

vivastory I meant to leave a comment about this the other day when I saw your post but I received a late Xmas b&n gift card last week & one of the books I used it for is Heraclitus. Looking forward to it! 2y

batsy @vivastory Oh, great! I hope you find it worthwhile! It's just something that one can dip in and out of anytime. 2y

vivastory It sounds poetic & mysterious. I'm def. intrigued. 2y

GatheringBooks I was a philosophy major my first year in college and I find myself going back to them philosophers for truth and clarity. I was taken, though, by the James Hillman foreword. I love his work as a psychologist. Check out his book - which pretty much shaped my work as a researcher/psychologist/educator. 😘

The Soul's Code: In Search of Character and Calling

batsy @GatheringBooks I really enjoyed his foreword, as well! I kept highlighting so many lines. Thank you for the book rec, that looks exactly like my kind of thing ❤️ 2y

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batsy

Fragments | Heraclitus

Enjoying these cryptic and aphoristic fragments by Heraclitus—and on occasion you'll come across a sick burn, as the kids say 😎

psalva I‘ve been reading Papyrus by Irene Vallejo, and I was intrigued reading about Heraclitus who apparently placed a copy of his book On Nature in the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, which was later burned down by Herostratus. Vallejo writes about his work being the beginning of difficult literature where the reader must wrest meaning from the words. I imagine fragments make it harder to do that… 2y

merelybookish Usually people are royalty or someone famous in a past life. So a refreshing change to be a 🥒. 🤔😆 2y

batsy @psalva I want to read Papyrus! It sounds fascinating. Yes, I'm reading excerpts of Early Greek Philosophy by Jonathan Barnes & he tries to contextualise Heraclitus by giving different interpretations from different writers & it's tough to "read" Heraclitus without attempting to fill in the blanks. I didn't know about the temple & the burning down of it. Ironic, since Heraclitus saw fire as the ruling element of all things! 2y

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batsy @merelybookish There's something pretty cute about the cucumber and sardine bit, isn't it 😆 It's made me warm to Pythagoras, lol. 2y

sarahbarnes Amazing! 😅 2y

batsy @sarahbarnes 😁 2y

Graywacke I love this line! ( @merelybookish I‘m a bit late, but yes, that! 👏 ) 2y

batsy @Graywacke It's great, isn't it. So much of early Greek philosophy is highly relatable because of its style. 2y

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alisiakae

Fragments | Heraclitus (of Ephesus.), T. M. Robinson

I forgot there was a quote on the back of this mug. It is something I needed to see today. #booksandtea

Craftylikefox Love it 🖤🖤 6y

Gissy Love that phrase in your mug! 👌 6y

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GoneFishing

Fragments | Heraclitus (of Ephesus.), T. M. Robinson

Even a soul submerged in sleep
is hard at work and helps
make something of the world.

JanuarieTimewalker13 This is definitely good to know because I love to sleep! 8y

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