Heraclitus

Heraclitus, often known as "The Obscure," was a pre-Socratic philosopher who lived around 500 BCE in the city of Ephesus, within the Persian Empire. Unlike many thinkers of his time who sought static principles to explain the nature of the world, Heraclitus believed in the philosophy of change and flux. For him, the universe was in a state of constant transformation, exemplified by his famous saying, "No man ever steps in the same river twice."

Central to his philosophy was the concept of the "Logos" - a divine principle that orders the cosmos. It is both the source and sustainer of all life, underlying the perpetual change evident in the material world. Fire, for Heraclitus, was the primary element symbolizing this ceaseless change, embodying both creation and destruction.

A few of his renowned fragments that capture the essence of his thought include:

"Everything flows, nothing stands still."

"Character is destiny."

"The only constant is change."