God is not external to anyone, but is present with all things, though they are ignorant that he is so.
—Plotinus
Topics: God
We are not separated from spirit, we are in it.
—Plotinus
Topics: Spirit
Withdraw into yourself and look. And if you do not fine yourself beautiful yet, act as does the creator of a statue that is to be made beautiful: he cuts away here, he smoothes there, he makes this line lighter, this other purer, until a lovely face has grown his work. So do you also: cut away all that is excessive, straighten all that is crooked, bring light to all that is overcast, labor to make all one glow or beauty and never cease chiseling your statue, until there shall shine out on you from it the godlike splendor of virtue, until you see the perfect goodness surely established in the stainless shrine.
—Plotinus
Topics: Beauty
Beauty is rather a light that plays over the symmetry of things than that symmetry itself.
—Plotinus
Topics: Beauty
Beauty addresses itself chiefly to sight, but there is a beauty for the hearing too, as in certain combinations so words and in all kinds of music; for melodies and cadences are beautiful; and minds that lift themselves above the realm of sense to a higher order are aware of beauty in the conduct of life, in actions, in character, in the pursuits of the intellect; and there is the beauty of the virtues.
—Plotinus
Topics: Beauty, Music
Cease not to be the sculptor of thine own image.
—Plotinus
Fear must be entirely banished. The purified soul will fear nothing.
—Plotinus
Topics: Fear, Soul
Being is desirable because it is identical with Beauty, and Beauty is loved because it is Being. We ourselves possess Beauty when we are true to our own being; ugliness is in going over to another order; knowing ourselves, we are beautiful; in self-ignorance, we are ugly.
—Plotinus
Topics: Beauty
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
- Xenocrates Greek Philosopher, Scientist
- Heraclitus Ancient Greek Philosopher
- Plato Ancient Greek Philosopher
- Plutarch Greek Biographer
- Epictetus Ancient Greek Philosopher
- Bias of Priene Greek Orator
- Aristotle Ancient Greek Philosopher
- Epicurus Greek Philosopher
- Euripides Ancient Greek Dramatist
- Homer Ancient Greek Poet
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