The genuine works of Hippocrates, Vol. 1 · Hippocrates
THE STOICS.
“They are of opinion that the first principles of all things are two--the active and the passive: that the passive is matter, a being devoid of all qualities; the active, or efficient, is the reason (λόγος) residing in it, that is, God. That he, being eternal, fabricates all things from it all (all matter?). That there is a difference between the first principles and the elements--that the former are increate and indestructible, whilst the elements are destructible by burning (ἐκπύρωσιν).--That the first principles are bodies devoid of form, whereas the elements are possessed of form. That God and Mind, Fate and Jupiter, are one and the same being under different appellations; that he formed the four elements, fire, air, water, earth.”[317] “Our Stoics say, that there are two principles in Nature from which all things are formed, namely, cause and matter. That matter lies inert, a being prepared for all things, but inactive, unless some one move it.--That cause, that is, reason, forms matter, and changes it at will. There must be something _by_ which everything is made and _of_ which it is made: the former is the cause, the latter the matter.”[318] “Some of our sect are of opinion that air, being changeable into fire and water, etc.”[319] “We are of opinion that earth is changeable. To this we may add that all things are formed from all things--air from water--water from air--fire from air--air from fire; _why, then, should not earth be formed from water, and water from earth?_ Earth is formed from water--why then not water from earth?”[320]
“The Stoics divided Nature into two things, the one of which is the efficient, and the other that which furnishes itself as the materials from which anything is made.”[321] Suidas says, regarding the first principles: “The first principles of all things are two, the efficient and the passive. The passive, then, is a being devoid of qualities--earth, matter. The efficient is the reason residing in it, namely, God. The principles and elements are different, inasmuch as the former are increate and indestructible, while the elements are destructible by burning. Besides, the first principles are without body and form, but the elements have form.”[322] “Zeno, the son of Mnaseas, the Citiensian, taught that there are two principles, God and matter, the one efficient and the other passive; and that there are four elements.”[323] “The Stoics maintain that the first principles are two, God and matter; not that they consider God as an element, but as the active principle, whilst matter is the passive.”[324] “Always remember the saying of Heraclitus, _that the dissolution of earth is to become water, and the dissolution of water to become earth; and the dissolution of air to become fire, and conversely_.”[325] “Contemplate the courses of the stars as if carried about with them, and frequently revolve in your mind the mutual transmutations of the elements into one another.”[326] “Acquire the habit of contemplating the transmutation of all things into one another.”[327] “Fire, air, water, earth, were so formed by Nature as to furnish aliment by turns to one another.”[328]
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.