Fragment 34

ἀξύνετοι ἀκούσαντες κωφοῖσιν ἐοίκασι· φάτις αὐτοῖσιν μαρτυρεῖ παρεόντας ἀπεῖναι

Hearing they do not understand, like the deaf. Of them does the saying bear witness: 'present, they are absent'.

Commentary

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I have adjusted Burnet's translation to sharply show the distinction between hearing and understanding. Also, I believe Heraclitus is citing a popular saying, so I have adjusted the last phrase to a quotation.

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