As to the gods, I have no means of knowing either that they exist or do not exist.
ProtagorasRead
Many things prevent knowledge, including the obscurity of the subject and the brevity of human life
Interpretation
What this quote means
Knowledge can be hindered by complex subjects and our limited time on Earth.
Protagoras highlights the challenges individuals face in acquiring knowledge, noting that some subjects are inherently obscure or difficult to understand, and simultaneously, the brevity of human life limits our capacity to learn and comprehend everything. This quote emphasizes the importance of recognizing these barriers to knowledge and encourages a mindful approach to learning within our finite existence.
Themes
KnowledgeObscurityHuman LifeLearningWisdom
In practice
Example use cases
During a lecture about the complexities of science, this quote can help illustrate the challenges of understanding intricate topics.
More from Protagoras
All quotes →Everyone, including the Athenians [...] are right to accept advice from anyone, since it is incumbent on everyone to share in that sort of excellence, or else there can be no city at all.
ProtagorasRead
As to gods, I have no way of knowing either that they exist or do not exist, or what they are like.
ProtagorasRead
Concerning the gods, I have no means of knowing either that they exist or that they do not exist, nor what sort of form they may have; there are many reasons why knowledge on this subject is not possible, owing to the lack of evidence and the shortness of human life.
ProtagorasRead
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