Pythagoras is one of the best known characters in history. He was a Greek mathematician and philosopher, who lived between 580 BC and 495 BC. He made great contributions in numerous fields such as astronomy and music as well as, of course, philosophy and mathematics.
Many experts believe that Pythagoras was the most complete first mathematician in history. There are many mysteries that surround his life, and there were even those who considered him a madman who heard voices. What there is no doubt is that he was the first to establish a relationship between mathematics and music.
The truth is that his figure is wrapped in a halo of mystery and legend . Everything indicates that in his travels through Babylon and Egypt he acquired great knowledge in religion, astronomy and mathematics.
After his travels he settled in Crotona, where he founded a secret religious, mathematical and philosophical society , which achieved remarkable success. His symbol was the pentagram and he had 300 followers. They spread through Greece and Italy.
Who was Pythagoras?
He was born on the Island of Samos , although during his childhood he lived in various places because his father was a merchant. He had a good education and learned to play the lyre. He learned from various influential teachers, such as Pherekydes or Thales.
In 535 BC he traveled to Egypt, where he learned about religious beliefs that led him to found a secret society in Italy.
The contributions
It was also in Egypt where Pythagoras approached geometry , which earned him to formulate the so-called Pythagorean Theorem to calculate the sides of a right triangle.
In the field of music, the most important contribution that Pitagóras made was the formulation of the laws of harmony . In addition, he managed to establish proportional intervals and the relationship of dissonance or consonance, thus creating the musical scale.
Math
Pythagoras was one of the first mathematicians to study even and even numbers , as well as prime numbers. The Pythagoreans were the ones who established the scientific basis for mathematics. They discovered the Pythagorean theorem, also known as the hypotenuse theorem.
The thought
On the thought of Pythagoras , the Greek mathematician and philosopher considered that the human being had been created in harmony. He had a creative thought, and he considered that the universe was divided into the natural world, the divine and the human. In addition, he considered man a living being with intelligence and soul.
The most important phrases of Pythagoras
- Don’t be greedy and stingy; the right measure is excellent in such cases.
- Silence is the first stone of the temple of wisdom.
- Purify your heart before allowing love to settle in it, as the sweetest honey turns sour in a dirty glass.
- Freedom said one day to the law: “You hinder me.” The law responded to freedom: “I keep you.”
- He who speaks, sows. He who listens, collects.
- Help your fellow men to lift their load, but do not consider yourself obliged to carry it.
- Happiness consists of being able to unite the beginning with the end.
- “Yes” and “no” are the oldest and simplest words, but they require more thought.
- It is difficult to travel through many paths of life at the same time.
- It is better for a man to keep his mouth shut, and for others to think he is stupid, than to open it and for others to be convinced that he is.
- I prefer the staff of experience to the fast car of fortune. The philosopher travels on foot.
- To educate is not to give a career to live, but to temper the soul for the difficulties of life.
- Choose the best way to live; custom will make it pleasant for you.
- It is necessary to find the infinitely great in the infinitely small, to feel the presence of God.
- The human soul is divided into three parts: in mind, in wisdom and in anger.
- Above all, two totally contrary statements can be made.
- Nothing perishes in the universe; everything when it happens in him does not go beyond mere transformations.
- Friends are like companions on a journey, who must help each other to persevere on the path to a happier life.
- Anger begins in madness, and ends in regret.
- You must do great things, not promise great things.
