For all things come from earth, and all things end by becoming earth.
XenophanesRead
If oxen and lions had hands and could paint with their hands and produce works of art, as men do, horses would paint the forms of the gods likes horses and oxen like oxen. Each would represent them with bodies according to the bodies of each. So the Ethiopians make their gods black and snub-nosed; the Thracians give theirs red hair and blue eyes.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that art and perception are influenced by cultural and individual perspectives.
Xenophanes' quote reflects on how different cultures perceive and represent their deities based on their own experiences and attributes. It highlights the idea that art is not a universal truth but rather a subjective expression shaped by the creator's background, leading to diverse interpretations and representations of the divine. This implies that our understanding of the world is deeply rooted in our own identities and experiences.
Themes
ArtCulturePerceptionSubjectivityIdentity
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about cultural representations in art, this quote can illustrate how perceptions vary across different societies.
More from Xenophanes
All quotes →This upper limit, of earth at our feet is visible and touches the air, but below it reaches to infinity
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There is one God - supreme among gods and men - who is like mortals in neither body nor mind.
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The gods did not reveal, from the beginning, all things to us.
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It isn't right to judge strength as better than good wisdom.
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The Ethiops say that their gods are flat-nosed and black,_x000D_ While the Thracians say that theirs have blue eyes and red hair._x000D_ “If oxen and horses and lions had hands and were able to draw with their hands and do the same things as men, horses would draw the shapes of gods to look like horses and oxen would draw them to look like oxen, and each would make the gods' bodies have the same shape as they themselves had.
XenophanesRead
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