If oxen and lions had hands and could paint with their hands and produce works of art, as men do, horses would paint the forms of the gods likes horses and oxen like oxen.
Ethiopians imagine their gods as black and snub-nosed; Thracians blue-eyed and red-haired. But if horses or lions had hands, or could draw and fashion works as men do, horses would draw the gods shaped like horses and lions like lions, making the gods resemble themselves.
Homer and Hesiod attributed to the gods all things which are disreputable and worthy of blame when done by men; and they told of them many lawless deeds, stealing, adultery, and deception of each other.
For if there should be in the city [any athlete whose skill] is honoured more than strength … the city would not on that account be any better governed.
Each would represent them with bodies according to the bodies of each. So the Ethiopians make their gods black and snub-nosed; the Thracians give theirs red hair and blue eyes.
![Xenophanes Quote - For if there should be in the city [any athlete whose skill] is honoured more than strength … the city would not on that account be any better governed.](https://minimalistquotes.com/images/for-if-there-should-be-in-the-city-any-athlete-who.jpg)
