In the tumultuous era of the 4th century BC, amidst the crumbling of Alexander the Great’s vast empire and the intellectual chaos of conflicting philosophical schools, one figure emerged not with a new dogma, but with a radical silence. Pyrrho of Elis, a painter turned philosopher, traveled to the edges of the known world, marching with Alexander’s armies into India. There, he encountered the Gymnosophists, the "naked wise men," whose indifference to pain, politics, and dogmatic belief profoundly shattered Pyrrho’s Greek sensibilities. He returned to Elis not with a complex system of physics or logic, but with a singular, devastating insight: that human misery stems from the desperate, futile need to label things as "true" or "false," "good" or "bad." Pyrrho taught that by relinquishing the thirst for certainty, one could achieve the divine tranquility that others sought in vain.
Pyrrho wrote nothing. Like Socrates, his influence was entirely oral and behavioral, captured in the verses of his devoted student Timon of Phlius and later codified by Sextus Empiricus. He lived his philosophy so completely that anecdotes suggest his friends had to pull him out of the way of wagons and cliffs because he refused to trust the sensory input that danger was imminent, though later scholars suggest this was an exaggeration of his mental discipline rather than physical recklessness. His philosophy, Pyrrhonism, was not merely an academic stance but a therapeutic regimen for the soul. He argued that since perception and reason are easily deceived, and since every argument has an equal and opposite counter-argument, the only rational stance is *epoché*—the suspension of judgment. From this suspension, he promised, *ataraxia* (freedom from worry) would follow like a shadow follows a body.
Today, in an information age defined by polarization, "fake news," and the anxiety of constant opinion-making, Pyrrho’s message is more piercing than ever. He challenges us to ask whether our stress comes from the world itself, or from our rigid judgments about the world. He invites us to step back from the fray of dogmatism, to embrace the unknown, and to find peace in the admission that we simply do not know. His legacy is the ultimate liberation of the mind: the freedom that comes from admitting that the absolute truth is beyond our grasp, and that life can still be lived beautifully without it.
50 Popular Quotes from Pyrrho
The Indeterminacy of Things
"Things are equally indifferent, unmeasurable, and inarbitrable."
This is the foundational pillar of Pyrrhonist thought, suggesting that the external world lacks inherent value or definitive characteristics. Pyrrho asserts that objects and events do not carry truth or falsehood in themselves; it is the human mind that projects these qualities onto them. By recognizing that reality is fluid and undefined, we strip external events of their power to disturb us. This realization is the first step toward breaking the chains of emotional reactivity.
"No more this than that."
This famous maxim, *ou mallon*, encapsulates the concept of equipollence—the idea that for every assertion, the opposite is equally plausible. It serves as a mental tool to neutralize dogmatic beliefs that claim exclusive access to the truth. When we realize that a situation is "no more good than bad," we cease to be slaves to our preferences. It is a mantra for dissolving the rigidity of opinion.
"Neither our sensations nor our opinions tell us truths or falsehoods."
Pyrrho attacks the reliability of our primary tools for navigating the world: our senses and our reasoning. If our eyes can be deceived by a mirage and our logic twisted by rhetoric, then neither can be trusted as a standard for absolute truth. This quote urges a profound humility regarding human capability. It warns us against building our lives on the shaky foundations of sensory perception.
"Every argument has an equal and opposite argument."
This principle of *isostheneia* (equal strength) suggests that logic is a game that can be played in any direction. For every philosopher proving god exists, another proves he does not; for every political stance, a counter-stance exists with valid points. Pyrrho advises that engaging in these endless debates is futile and anxiety-inducing. Peace is found not in winning the argument, but in stepping out of the ring entirely.
"We must not put our trust in these senses, but be without judgment."
Trusting the senses leads to false confidence, which inevitably leads to disappointment when reality shifts. To be "without judgment" is to observe the world without attaching labels to it. This state of non-judgment allows one to navigate life fluidly, adapting to changes without the friction of shattered expectations. It is a call to experience raw existence rather than a curated version of it.
"Reality is inaccessible to the human mind."
Here, Pyrrho draws a hard line between appearance and reality; we can know how things appear to us, but never what they truly are. This agnostic stance regarding the nature of the universe relieves the philosopher of the burden of solving the riddles of existence. If the core of reality is locked away, we are free to focus on living well rather than knowing all. It shifts the focus from metaphysics to ethics.
"Nothing is honorable or base by nature."
Moral relativism is central to Pyrrhonism; concepts of honor, shame, justice, and evil are constructed by custom and law, not written into the atoms of the universe. Recognizing this frees the individual from the guilt and social pressure associated with arbitrary cultural norms. It does not mean one acts immorally, but rather that one understands morality as a human convention. This insight dissolves the stress of moral absolutism.
"The nature of the good is as unknowable as the nature of the sea’s bottom."
Just as we cannot see the depths of the ocean from the surface, we cannot perceive the true "good" through the surface of daily events. What seems like a disaster today may be a blessing tomorrow, and vice versa. Pyrrho warns against the arrogance of assuming we know what is best for us or the world. This acceptance of ignorance prevents the despair that comes when "good" plans go awry.
"All things are by convention and custom."
Pyrrho asserts that our values—beauty, justice, value—are merely agreements made by society, not cosmic truths. When we realize money is valuable only because we agree it is, or that status is a social game, we can play the game without being consumed by it. It allows for a detached participation in society. We follow the rules to avoid trouble, not because the rules are divine.
"To every reason there is opposed a reason of equal weight."
This reinforces the practice of balancing arguments to reach a state of suspension. If you feel strongly about a political issue, Pyrrho would ask you to find the strongest argument for the opposing side until your certainty wavers. This wavering is not a failure; it is the goal. In the balance of uncertainty lies the quiet mind.
The Art of Suspended Judgment (Epoché)
"I determine nothing."
This is the ultimate statement of the Skeptic; it is an active refusal to assent to any dogma. By determining nothing, the mind remains open, flexible, and unburdened by the defense of a specific viewpoint. It is not a statement of ignorance, but of intellectual discipline. It prevents the calcification of thought.
"Suspension of judgment is the only escape from the labyrinth of opinions."
The world is a maze of conflicting ideologies, each claiming to be the exit; Pyrrho suggests the only way out is to stop looking for the exit and sit down. *Epoché* is the refusal to choose a path when all paths are uncertain. This suspension saves energy that would otherwise be wasted on futile intellectual struggles. It is an act of liberation from the tyranny of having to have an opinion.
"We should remain without inclination and without turning."
To be without "inclination" means not to lean toward one belief over another. To be without "turning" means not to be repulsed by ideas we dislike. This emotional and intellectual equilibrium creates a stability that external events cannot shake. It is the definition of a mind that is centered and immovable.
"Silence is the proper response to the mysteries of existence."
Where others fill the void with myths, theories, and gods, Pyrrho advocates for silence (aphasia). This is not just refraining from speech, but an internal silence where the chatter of judgment ceases. It acknowledges that language is insufficient to capture reality. In this silence, the anxiety of "figuring it out" evaporates.
"Withhold assent to the non-evident."
Pyrrho distinguishes between what is evident (it is hot outside) and what is non-evident (the heat is caused by angry gods). We must live by the evident but withhold agreement from the theoretical explanations behind them. This keeps us grounded in practical reality while avoiding the traps of theoretical speculation. It protects the mind from the turbulence of unprovable fears.
"Be not like the dog who bites the stone thrown at him, but look to the thrower—the mind."
We often react to external provocations (the stone) without examining our own internal judgments (the thrower) that give those events power. Pyrrho teaches that the source of our distress is never the event, but our judgment of the event. By suspending judgment, we stop biting the stone. We gain control over the only thing we can control: our reaction.
"Let your speech be: 'It seems so to me now.'"
This is the language of the Skeptic; never claiming "it is," but only "it appears." This linguistic shift prevents conflict and acknowledges the subjectivity of experience. It keeps the speaker humble and open to change as perceptions shift. It is a diplomatic way to navigate a world of dogmatists.
"Do not seize upon the truth, for it is a slippery eel."
The harder one grasps for absolute certainty, the more it eludes them, leading to frustration. Pyrrho suggests we should stop the grasping mechanism of the mind altogether. By relaxing our grip, we stop the struggle, and in that cessation of struggle, we find peace. Truth-seeking is often a disguise for a desire for control.
"The wise man does not fight the current, nor does he swim with it; he floats."
Resistance creates suffering, but blind conformity is also a trap. The suspension of judgment allows one to float through life, buoyed by circumstances rather than fighting them. This metaphor of buoyancy represents the lightness of being that comes from *epoché*. One is carried by life, observing but not judging the course.
"Say only what is necessary, and say it with doubt."
Certainty breeds arrogance and conflict; doubt breeds caution and gentleness. Pyrrho encourages a minimalism in speech and thought, ensuring that we never overcommit to a position we cannot prove. This tentative approach to life prevents the humiliation of being proven wrong. It is a shield against the volatility of the intellectual world.
The Pursuit of Ataraxia (Tranquility)
"Ataraxia follows suspended judgment as a shadow follows a body."
This is the central promise of Pyrrhonism: tranquility is not achieved by effort, but as a byproduct of stopping the mental noise of judgment. You cannot force a shadow to appear; you simply stand in the light. Similarly, you cannot force peace; you simply stand in the suspension of judgment. It implies that peace is our natural state when we stop disturbing it with beliefs.
"The goal is not truth, but quietude."
Most philosophers seek truth at the cost of their peace; Pyrrho sacrifices truth to gain peace. He recognized that the endless search for answers is a form of torture. By abandoning the goal of "knowing," one achieves the goal of "being." It is a radical reorientation of the purpose of philosophy.
"Desire for certainty is the root of all anxiety."
We fear the unknown, so we invent certainties to comfort ourselves, but these fragile inventions eventually fail, causing more anxiety. Pyrrho teaches that if we can learn to be comfortable with uncertainty, we become invincible to fear. The root of anxiety is not the world, but the demand that the world make sense. Cut the root, and the anxiety withers.
"Live without agitation in a world of turmoil."
While the world burns with wars and political strife, the Pyrrhonist remains internally cool. This does not mean they do not act or help, but they do so without the internal turmoil of anger or despair. It is the ability to function in chaos without becoming chaotic. This is the ultimate survival skill.
"Tranquility is the silence of the dogmatic mind."
When the inner voice that says "this is wrong" or "this must happen" is silenced, what remains is tranquility. Ataraxia is defined negatively—it is the absence of trouble. It is the mental equivalent of a windless sea. This silence is the highest pleasure for the Skeptic.
"We are like travelers in a storm, seeking the shelter of indifference."
Life is a storm of sensory inputs and misfortunes; indifference (in the philosophical sense of not labeling things as good/bad) is the shelter. By not caring about the outcome in a dogmatic sense, we are protected from the rain of disappointment. It is a refuge built within the mind.
"Happiness is a condition of the soul, not a result of events."
If happiness depended on external events, no one would ever be secure, as events are fickle. Pyrrho places the seat of happiness firmly within the discipline of the mind. By disconnecting well-being from fortune, the Skeptic becomes self-sufficient. Happiness becomes a constant possession rather than a fleeting visitor.
"Be indifferent to the inevitable."
Since we cannot control death, sickness, or loss, railing against them is madness. Pyrrho advises a radical acceptance of the inevitable flow of nature. This indifference is not a lack of feeling, but a lack of resistance. It turns the tragedy of life into a mere phenomenon to be observed.
"The wise man is happy because he knows he knows nothing."
Socrates claimed ignorance as wisdom; Pyrrho claims ignorance as the source of happiness. The burden of knowing is heavy; the lightness of unknowing is joyous. This quote inverts the usual hierarchy of knowledge. It suggests that the intellectual void is actually a sanctuary.
"Peace is found in the space between opinions."
Most people live *in* their opinions; the Skeptic lives in the gap between them. That gap is the space of *epoché*, where the mind is not contracted around a belief. Expanding this space is the practice of Pyrrhonism. It is in this gap that the soul can breathe.
The Deception of the Senses and Reason
"Honey appears sweet to me, but whether it is sweet in essence, I do not know."
This classic example illustrates the difference between subjective experience and objective reality. Pyrrho admits the sensation (sweetness) but refuses to claim sweetness is an intrinsic property of the honey, as it might taste bitter to a sick man. This distinction prevents us from fighting over subjective experiences. It validates the experience while denying the dogma.
"The same tower looks round from afar and square from near."
A staple argument of Skepticism, this observation proves that distance changes perception. Since we cannot be everywhere at once, we never see the "true" shape, only the relative shape. This applies to moral situations too; things look different depending on your proximity to the problem. Therefore, absolute judgment is impossible.
"Wine strengthens the body but weakens the mind; is it good or bad?"
Context determines the value of everything; nothing is inherently good or bad. The duality of the wine exposes the flaw in binary thinking. Pyrrho uses this to show that "good" and "bad" are not fixed labels but shifting perspectives. Thus, we should avoid labeling anything definitively.
"Those who claim to know the truth are merely the most deluded."
Dogmatists—Stoics, Epicureans, Platonists—are seen by Pyrrho as dreamers who believe their dreams are real. Their confidence is a symptom of their lack of self-awareness regarding the limits of human perception. This quote is a sharp rebuke of intellectual arrogance. It levels the playing field between the scholar and the fool.
"Logic is a net that catches the wind but misses the bird."
Reason can build complex systems (the net), but it often fails to capture the living, breathing reality (the bird) of the moment. Pyrrho was skeptical of dialectic and syllogisms, seeing them as word games that distracted from the immediate experience of life. He preferred the direct simplicity of suspension over the complexity of logic.
"Perception is a liar that tells the truth about itself only."
Our eyes tell us "I see red," which is true about the eye's experience, but not necessarily true about the object. We mistake the report of the senses for the nature of the world. Pyrrho warns us to treat our senses as biased witnesses. We should listen to them, but not convict based on their testimony alone.
"We perceive only the interaction, never the object."
We never touch an object; we touch the resistance of our skin against it. We perceive the collision, not the thing-in-itself. This profound epistemological insight predates Kant by millennia. It reminds us that we are locked in our own subjectivity, making dogmatic claims about the outside world absurd.
"The sick man and the healthy man see the world differently; who is right?"
Since the state of the observer changes the observation, there is no "standard" observer to determine the truth. Is the world as the sober man sees it, or the drunkard? Both are states of being. Pyrrho argues there is no neutral vantage point. Therefore, judgment must be suspended.
"Do not confuse the map of your thoughts with the territory of reality."
Our beliefs are merely maps we draw to navigate, but they are often flawed or outdated. Pyrrho urges us not to mistake our mental models for the world itself. When the map contradicts the terrain, the dogmatist blames the terrain; the Skeptic throws away the map. This flexibility is key to survival.
"Reason is a tool that can be used to prove anything, therefore it proves nothing."
If a lawyer can argue innocence and another guilt with equal skill using reason, then reason itself is neutral and non-determinative. Pyrrho saw reason as a mercenary, willing to fight for any side. Consequently, he refused to pledge allegiance to it. He trusted the suspension of logic more than logic itself.
Living Without Belief
"Live by appearances, following the customs and laws of your country."
How does a Skeptic live if they believe nothing? Pyrrho’s answer is pragmatic: follow the herd. By adhering to local customs and laws, not because they are "true" but because it is practical, one avoids conflict and punishment. This allows the Skeptic to blend in and live a normal life externally while remaining free internally.
"We follow our natural appetites without belief."
When hungry, the Skeptic eats; when thirsty, they drink. They do not need a philosophy of nutrition to satisfy a biological urge. Pyrrho emphasizes a return to instinctive, natural living. One can function perfectly well on autopilot without the heavy baggage of ideology.
"Action does not require certainty, only impulse."
One does not need to be certain that a bridge is safe to cross it; one only needs the impulse to cross and the lack of evidence that it is unsafe. Pyrrho argues that life is driven by drives and habits, not by syllogisms. We can navigate the world on probability and instinct. This removes the paralysis of analysis.
"Accept the guidance of the arts and crafts."
Pyrrho respected practical knowledge—how to paint, how to bake, how to build. These are functional skills that do not require metaphysical truth, only practical results. He encourages us to engage in the world through constructive action rather than abstract speculation. There is peace in the simplicity of doing work well.
"Live as a stranger in your own land."
A stranger observes customs but does not judge them, follows rules to be polite but is not emotionally invested in them. Pyrrho suggests adopting this tourist mindset toward one's own life. It creates a healthy detachment. You are passing through this life, not building a permanent fortress in it.
"The Skeptic lives like a child, guided by the moment."
Children do not worry about the definition of "play," they just play. They are immersed in the present without the burden of abstract judgment. Pyrrho sees this immediate, unreflective engagement with life as superior to the philosopher’s brooding. We should recover the innocence of immediate experience.
"Yield to the necessities of the body."
Hunger, thirst, and cold are realities that cannot be argued away. The Skeptic yields to them immediately and tends to them. There is no virtue in ascetic denial for the sake of a "truth." Pyrrho advocates for a simple, biological existence that honors the vessel we inhabit.
"Custom is the lord of all things."
Since there is no absolute truth, custom becomes the default ruler of conduct. Recognizing this allows the Skeptic to be a good citizen without being a fanatic. They understand that their society's way is just *one* way, not *the* way. This breeds tolerance and adaptability.
"Act without attachment to the result."
This mirrors the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, likely influenced by his time in India. You perform the action because it seems appropriate, but you do not stake your happiness on the outcome. If it succeeds, fine; if it fails, fine. This detachment renders the Skeptic immune to the highs and lows of fortune.
"Life is a play; act your part, but know it is just a role."
Pyrrho viewed social roles—father, citizen, teacher—as costumes. We must wear them and speak the lines, but we must never forget that the actor is separate from the character. This ensures that when the tragedy occurs in the play, the actor remains unharmed. It is the ultimate psychological protection.
Conclusion
Pyrrho of Elis remains one of the most enigmatic and challenging figures in the history of thought. In a world obsessed with being "right," he offered the radical proposition that being right is irrelevant to being happy. By stripping away the layers of dogma, belief, and judgment that encrust the human mind, he revealed a path to *ataraxia*—a profound, unshakable stillness. He did not promise truth; he promised that if we stopped looking for it, we would find something better: peace.
His philosophy is not a call to blindness or ignorance, but to a sophisticated humility. It asks us to acknowledge the limits of our perception and to live gently within them. In the modern era, where every social media feed demands an opinion and every news cycle demands a reaction, Pyrrhonism offers a sanctuary. It grants us permission to say "I don't know," to suspend our judgment, and to watch the world with the detached curiosity of a traveler. Pyrrho teaches us that the quiet mind is not an empty mind, but a free one.
Do you find yourself exhausted by the pressure to have an opinion on everything? Have you ever experienced the relief of simply admitting "I don't know"? Share your thoughts in the comments below on how suspending judgment might help you find peace in today's chaotic world.