The only certainty is uncertainty
PLINY THE ELDERAmong these things, one thing seems certain – that nothing certain exists and that there is nothing more pitiful or more presumptuous than man.
More Pliny the Elder Quotes
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It is ridiculous to suppose that the great head of things, whatever it be, pays any regard to human affairs.
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It [the earth] alone remains immoveable, whilst all things revolve round it.
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The lust of avarice as so totally seized upon mankind that their wealth seems rather to possess them than they possess their wealth.
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No book so bad but some part may be of use.
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Most men are afraid of a bad name, but few fear their consciences.
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Nature has given man no better thing than shortness of life.
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As touching peaches in general, the very name in Latine whereby they are called Persica, doth evidently show that they were brought out of Persia first.
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The depth of darkness to which you can descend and still live is an exact measure of the height to which you can aspire to reach.
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Hope is the pillar that holds up the world. Hope is the dream of a waking man.
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It is generally much more shameful to lose a good reputation than never to have acquired it.
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True happiness consists in being considered deserving of it.
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His only fault is that he has no fault.
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I think it is the most beautiful and humane thing in the world, so to mingle gravity with pleasure that the one may not sink into melancholy, nor the other rise up into wantonness.
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In the literary as well as military world, most powerful abilities will often be found concealed under a rustic garb.
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Now, that the sovereign power and deity, whatsoever it is, should have regard of mankind, is a toy and vanity worthy to be laughed at.
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In wine, there’s truth.
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Wine takes away reason, engenders insanity, leads to thousands of crimes, and imposes such an enormous expense on nations.
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Our civilization depends largely on paper.
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Man is the only one that knows nothing, that can learn nothing without being taught. He can neither speak nor walk nor eat, and in short he can do nothing at the prompting of nature only, but weep.
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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.
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Example is the softest and least invidious way of commanding.
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Not a day without a line.
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Nothing is more useful than wine for strengthening the body and also more detrimental to our pleasure if moderation be lacking.
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In these matters the only certainty is that nothing is certain.
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Why is it that we entertain the belief that for every purpose odd numbers are the most effectual?
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Cats too, with what silent stealthiness, with what light steps do they creep up to a bird!
PLINY THE ELDER