Democritus (or Democrit) (Δημόκριτος ο Αβδηρίτης)( 472/457 BC

It was said that Democritus himself looked at the sun and became blind, because seeing with his eyes hinders him to see that what can be seen better with the spirit. Tertulian expresses some doubts and says that Democritus did this because being old he did not want to see more any beautiful women (for obvious reasons). In contrast to this Eratosthenes was said became blind in old age and that he committed suicide by starvation.

A strange story about his death exists: He said that often a long life is nothing than a elongated death and he decided almost 100 years old to die. He refused to eat. His sister also almost 100 years old complained that she could not go to the Thesmophorien festival because she had to be at hist home until his death. Democritus asked her to put a hot bread on his face. So he survived the next three days by just breathing the smell of the bread and his sister could go to the festival. When his sister confirmed that the festival is over he died. This story is described by Hermippus and Hipparchus says that he was 109 years when he died.

Democritus Quotes:

• I have wandered over a larger part of the Earth than any other man of my time, inquiring about things most remote; I have observed very many climates and lands and have listened to many learned men; but no one has ever yet surpassed me in the construction of lines with demonstration; no, not even the Egyptian rope-stretchers with whom I lived five years in all, in a foreign land.

• Many very learned men have no intelligence.

• It is hard to be governed by one’s inferior.

• A life without festivity is a long road without an inn.

• It is better to examine one’s own faults than others.

• To a wise man the whole earth is his home. (Reminds the words of Thucydides: Of famous men, the whole world is the tomb)