Pliny the Elder
Pliny the Elder
Gaius Plinius Secundus, better known as Pliny the Elder, was a Roman author, naturalist, and natural philosopher, as well as naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and personal friend of the emperor Vespasian...
NationalityRoman
ProfessionAuthor
past oblivion over-it
God has no power over the past except to cover it with oblivion.
laughter men laughing
To laugh, if but for an instant only, has never been granted to man before the fortieth day from his birth, and then it is looked upon as a miracle of precocity.
doe firsts impossible
Indeed, what is there that does not appear marvelous when it comes to our knowledge for the first time? How many things, too, are looked up on as quite impossible until they have been actually effected?
impossible has-beens
How many things... are looked upon as quite impossible until they have been actually effected?
wine insanity crime
Wine takes away reason, engenders insanity, leads to thousands of crimes, and imposes such an enormous expense on nations.
men names conscience
Most men are afraid of a bad name, but few fear their consciences.
eye afar neglect
We neglect those things which are under our very eyes, and heedless of things within our grasp, pursue those which are afar off.
sex science black
The leading distinction of magnets is sex... The kind that is found in Troas is black, and of the female sex, and consequently destitute of attractive power.
country stars honesty
The largest land animal is the elephant, and it is the nearest to man in intelligence: it understands the language of its country and obeys orders, remembers duties that it has been taught, is pleased by affection and by marks of honour, nay more it possesses virtues rare even in man, honesty, wisdom, justice, also respect for the stars and reverence for the sun and moon.
lust avarice-greed wealth
The lust of avarice as so totally seized upon mankind that their wealth seems rather to possess them than they possess their wealth.
strong honor obligation
Let honor be to us as strong an obligation as necessity is to others.
flower wind skills
There is an herb named in Latine Convolvulus (i.e. with wind), growing among shrubs and bushes, with carrieth a flower not unlike to this Lilly, save that it yeeldeth no smell nor hath those chives within; for whitenesse they resemble one another very much, as if Nature in making this floure were a learning and trying her skill how to frame the Lilly indeed.
men mind great-business
The great business of man is to improve his mind, and govern his manners; all other projects and pursuits, whether in our power to compass or not, are only amusements.
dream morning wine
Wine maketh the band quivering, the eye watery, the night unquiet, lewd dreams, a stinking breath in the morning, and an utter forgetfulness of all things.