Zoroaster

Founder of Zoroastrianism

Ancient influential 220 sayings

Sayings by Zoroaster

If one would have a friend, then must one also be willing to wage war for him: and in order to wage war, one must be capable of being an enemy.

c. 1500-1200 BCE (approximate) — Context: Ethical teaching on friendship and enmity
Controversial Unverifiable

Beware of lust; it corrupteth both the body and the mind.

c. 1500-1200 BCE (approximate) — Context: Ethical teaching
Controversial Unverifiable

Satisfaction linked with dishonor or with harm to others is a prison for the seeker.

c. 1500-1200 BCE (approximate) — Context: Ethical teaching
Controversial Unverifiable

The one who follows the destructive impulse is referred to as “deceitful”; the one who follows the beneficial impulse is “the upholder of cosmic order, righteous.”

c. 1500-1200 BCE (approximate) — Context: Description of dualistic choice in Zoroastrian texts
Controversial Unverifiable

Good and evil are so real that humans are to partake in this cosmic battle by selecting sides.

c. 1500-1200 BCE (approximate) — Context: Description of Zoroastrian worldview
Controversial Unverifiable

There are two fundamental spirits, twins which in waking hours are heard, but in thought are not seen. They are the better and the bad. Of these two, the wise have chosen rightly, not so the foolish.

-1000 to -600 (approximate) — Gathas, Yasna 30.3
Controversial Unverifiable

He who comes to know me through my thought, and through my word and deed, he shall become a sharer in the good reward.

-1000 to -600 (approximate) — Gathas, Yasna 46.10
Controversial Unverifiable

To him who chooses me, I shall give as a reward the best of existence, but to him who does not choose me, I shall give the worst.

-1000 to -600 (approximate) — Gathas, Yasna 49.3
Controversial Unverifiable

Indeed, I shall speak forth concerning this world’s two spirits, of which the one is good, the other evil, as to thought, as to word, as to deed. Between these two, the discerning have chosen aright, not so the undiscerning.

-1000 to -600 (approximate) — Gathas, Yasna 45.2
Controversial Unverifiable

He who practices deception, O Mazda, he is the evil one, and he is the one who causes woe.

-1000 to -600 (approximate) — Gathas, Yasna 49.5
Controversial Unverifiable

He who holds the righteous man dear, and the evil man far from him, he is a friend to Ahura Mazda.

-1000 to -600 (approximate) — Gathas, Yasna 34.8
Controversial Unverifiable

The wicked man, O Mazda, shall be known by his deeds, and by his words, and by his thoughts.

-1000 to -600 (approximate) — Gathas, Yasna 49.4
Controversial Unverifiable

Between these two, the demons have not chosen aright, for delusion came upon them as they consulted, so that they chose the worst thought.

-1000 to -600 (approximate) — Gathas, Yasna 30.6
Controversial Unverifiable

And the reward of the evil man shall be the darkness of the nether world.

-1000 to -600 (approximate) — Gathas, Yasna 45.7
Controversial Unverifiable

He who is good to the pious, he is good to himself, but he who is evil to the pious, he is evil to himself.

-1000 to -600 (approximate) — Gathas, Yasna 46.12
Controversial Unverifiable

Let us therefore be of those who further this world, O Mazda Ahura, and you other Ahuras, by deeds of Good Thought, by words, by actions.

-1000 to -600 (approximate) — Gathas, Yasna 30.9
Controversial Unverifiable

For the wicked man, the end of existence shall be long darkness, ill food, and the word 'woe!'

-1000 to -600 (approximate) — Gathas, Yasna 30.4
Controversial Unverifiable

Hear with your ears the best things; behold with a clear vision the two paths, the better and the worse, which the Wise One has declared.

-1000 to -600 (approximate) — Gathas, Yasna 30.2
Controversial Unverifiable

The one who is false is a follower of the Lie; the one who is true is a follower of Truth.

-1000 to -600 (approximate) — Gathas, Yasna 45.2
Controversial Unverifiable

To him who causes pain to the righteous, there shall be pain at the end.

-1000 to -600 (approximate) — Gathas, Yasna 51.10
Controversial Unverifiable