6 Quotes & Sayings By Hypatia

Hypatia was a Greek astronomer and philosopher, born around 350 AD in Alexandria, Egypt. She was the daughter of the mathematician Theon of Alexandria and the sister of the philosopher Damascius. Hypatia's father had been a teacher at the Museum in Alexandria. In his youth, Hypatia had been a student of Ptolemy, which explains why he would have been familiar with her astronomical observations Read more

Following her father's death, Hypatia became curator of the Museum and taught mathematics and astronomy at the Museum and at Alexandria University. Once it became clear to her that Christianity was heretical and contradicted many teachings of Greek philosophy, she left Alexandria to start a school for girls in Athens, which she named after herself — "Hypatia". With great learning and forcefulness she defended paganism against Christian dogma and prevented its conversion into an established religion. In 415 AD, a Christian mob attacked Hypatia's school. She died in the massacre, along with other scholars she had taught, including the mathematician Theon.

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Fables should be taught as fables, myths as myths, and miracles as poetic fancies. To teach superstitions as truths is a most terrible thing. The child mind accepts and believes them, and only through great pain and perhaps tragedy can he be in after years relieved of them. In fact, men will fight for a superstition quite as quickly as for a living truth – often more so, since a superstition is so intangible you cannot get at it to refute it, but truth is a point of view, and so is changeable. . Hypatia
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To rule by fettering the mind through fear of punishment in another world, is just as base as to use force... Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better than not to think at all. Hypatia
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Life is an unfoldment, and the further we travel the more truth we can comprehend. To understand the things that are at our door is the best preparation for understanding those that lie beyond. Hypatia
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In fact men will fight for a superstition quite as quickly as for a living truth - often more so, since a superstition is so intangible you cannot get at it to refute it, but truth is a point of view, and so is changeable. Hypatia
5
Fables should be taught as fables, myths as myths, and miracles as poetic fantasies. To teach superstitions as truths is a most terrible thing. The child mind accepts and believes them, and only through great pain and perhaps tragedy can he be in after years relieved of them. Hypatia