Meaning: The quote you have provided is from the ancient Greek philosopher Parmenides. Parmenides was a pre-Socratic philosopher who lived around the late 6th and early 5th centuries BCE. He is known for his work on metaphysics and his philosophical poem, "On Nature." In this quote, Parmenides is discussing the ways of enquiry that lead to knowledge and truth.

In this quote, Parmenides presents the idea that there are specific ways of enquiry that lead to true knowledge. He contrasts these ways of enquiry with others that may not lead to truth. Parmenides presents the idea that the trustworthy path to knowledge is one that assumes the existence of being and the impossibility of non-being. This implies that true knowledge is derived from an understanding of being as necessary and unchanging.

Parmenides' philosophy is often associated with the concept of "monism," which is the belief that all of reality is ultimately grounded in a single substance or principle. In Parmenides' case, this principle is being itself. He argued that being is eternal, unchanging, and indivisible. According to Parmenides, the senses can be deceptive, and true knowledge can only be obtained through rational inquiry into the nature of being.

In the context of this quote, Parmenides suggests that the trustworthy path to knowledge is one that starts with the assumption that being exists and that it cannot not exist. This assumption leads to truth, as truth "attends" this path. Parmenides is emphasizing the importance of reason and rational inquiry as the means to uncovering true knowledge about the nature of reality.

It's important to note that Parmenides' ideas were revolutionary for his time and had a significant influence on the development of Western philosophy. His emphasis on the primacy of reason and the nature of being laid the groundwork for later philosophical inquiries into metaphysics, epistemology, and the nature of reality.

In conclusion, Parmenides' quote reflects his belief in the trustworthy path to knowledge, which involves assuming the existence of being and the impossibility of non-being. This assumption, according to Parmenides, leads to truth. His ideas have had a lasting impact on the history of philosophy and continue to be a subject of study and interpretation in contemporary philosophical discourse.