Philo Quotes

Philo invites readers to ponder justice and personal accountability in a calm, reflective way.

16 quotes

1. Are you making war upon us, because you anticipate that we will not endure such indignity, but that we will fight on behalf of our laws, and die in defence of our national customs? For you cannot possibly have been ignorant of what was likely to result from your attempt to introduce these innovations respecting our temple.

2. A Judge must bear in mind that when he tries a case he is himself on trial.

3. Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle.

4. There was now a tumult arisen at Alexandria, between the Jewish inhabitants and the Greeks; and three ambassadors were chosen out of each party that were at variance, who came to Gaius. Now one of these ambassadors from the people of Alexandria was Apion, (29) who uttered many blasphemies against the Jews; and, among other things that he said, he charged them with neglecting the honors that belonged to Caesar; for that while all who were subject to the Roman empire built altars and temples to Gaius, and in other regards universally received him as they received the gods, these Jews alone thought it a dishonorable thing for them to erect statues in honor of him, as well as to swear by his name. Many of these severe things were said by Apion, by which he hoped to provoke Gaius to anger at the Jews, as he was likely to be. But Philo, the principal of the Jewish embassage, a man eminent on all accounts, brother to Alexander the alabarch, (30) and one not unskillful in philosophy, was ready to betake himself to make his defense against those accusations; but Gaius prohibited him, and bid him begone; he was also in such a rage, that it openly appeared he was about to do them some very great mischief. So Philo being thus affronted, went out, and said to those Jews who were about him, that they should be of good courage, since Gaius's words indeed showed anger at them, but in reality had already set God against himself.

5. It took Philo time to invent the TV.

6. The body is the soul's house. Shouldn't we therefore take care of our house so that it doesn't fall into ruin?

7. I know that God exists. I know that I have never invented anything. I have been a medium by which these things were given to the culture as fast as the culture could earn them. I give all the credit to God.

8. Money, it has been said, is the cause of good things to a good man, of evil things to a bad man.

9. Those who give hoping to be rewarded with honor are not giving, they are bargaining.

10. Learning is by nature curiosity... prying into everything, reluctant to leave anything, material or immaterial, unexplained.

11. Households, cities, countries, and nations have enjoyed great happiness when a single individual has taken heed of the Good and Beautiful. Such people not only liberate themselves; they fill those they meet with a free mind.

12. Learning is by nature, curiosity.

13. How then, is it natural that the mind of man, being so small as contained in such narrow spaces as a brain or a heart, should have room for all the vastness of sky and Universe?

14. God welcomes genuine service, and that is the service of a soul that offers the bare and simple sacrifice of truth; but from false service, the mere display of material wealth, He turns away.

15. Philo needed investors to give him money to invent television.

16. What God is to the world, that parents are to their children.