Such is the audacity of man, that he hath learned to counterfeit Nature, yea, and is so bold as to challenge her in her work.
PLINY THE ELDERSuch is the audacity of man, that he hath learned to counterfeit Nature, yea, and is so bold as to challenge her in her work.
PLINY THE ELDERNature has given man no better thing than shortness of life.
PLINY THE ELDERMan 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.
PLINY THE ELDERIndeed, 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?
PLINY THE ELDERWe ought to be guarded against every appearance of envy, as a passion that always implies inferiority wherever it resides.
PLINY THE ELDERThe 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.
PLINY THE ELDERIt is ridiculous to suppose that the great head of things, whatever it be, pays any regard to human affairs.
PLINY THE ELDERHuman nature craves novelty.
PLINY THE ELDERSimple diet is best: for many dishes bring many diseases, and rich sauces are worse than even heaping several meats upon each other.
PLINY THE ELDERIn wine there is health.
PLINY THE ELDERLet honor be to us as strong an obligation as necessity is to others.
PLINY THE ELDERHis only fault is that he has no fault.
PLINY THE ELDERNo man’s abilities are so remarkably shining as not to stand in need of a proper opportunity.
PLINY THE ELDERThe only thing man knows instinctively is how to weep.
PLINY THE ELDERExample is the softest and least invidious way of commanding.
PLINY THE ELDERIn these matters the only certainty is that nothing is certain.
PLINY THE ELDER