The philosopher must serve the gods not in words only, but in deeds as well.
Δεῖ γὰρ τὸν φιλοσοφοῦντα μὴ μόνον λόγῳ θεραπεύειν τοὺς θεούς, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἔργοις.
Philosophers
Iamblichus
Born c. 245 in Chalcis, Syria, Iamblichus turned Neoplatonism from contemplation toward ritual. A pupil of Porphyry but his rival on theurgy, he founded the Apamea school and shaped the later course of Neoplatonism.
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Iamblichus's Other Quotes
Related Quotes
The knowledge and contemplation of nature is somehow defective and incomplete unless action follows.
-- Panaetius
It is not learning that makes people good, but practice.
-- Gaius Musonius Rufus
It is the task of one rightly oriented toward others to draw the circles in toward the centre.
-- Hierocles
It is hard to retain what you learn unless you practice it.
-- Seneca
Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.
-- Marcus Aurelius
The philosopher must be the priest of the god who is over all things.
-- Porphyry