Pliny the Elder Quotes

A collection of quotes by Pliny the Elder.

Pliny the Elder (23-79 AD) was a Roman author, naturalist, and naval and military commander. He is best known for his extensive work, "Naturalis Historia," a comprehensive encyclopedic text covering a wide range of topics such as geography, zoology, botany, and mineralogy. Pliny the Elder had a remarkable curiosity and dedication to knowledge, which led him to compile a vast amount of information from various sources. Tragically, he perished during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius while attempting to rescue people stranded by the disaster. His writings continue to be valued as an important source of knowledge from the ancient world.

Truth comes out in wine.

Truth comes out in wine.

Pliny the Elder

Truth

Grief has limits, whereas apprehension has none. For we grie

Grief has limits, whereas apprehension has none. For we grieve only for what we know has happened, but we fear all that possibly may happen.

Pliny the Elder

Fear

Compassion and shame come over one who considers how precari

Compassion and shame come over one who considers how precarious is the origin of the proudest of living beings: often the smell of a lately extinguished lamp is enough to cause a miscarriage. And to think that from such a frail beginning a tyrant or butcher may be born! You who trust in your physical strength, who embrace the gifts of fortune and consider yourself not their ward but their son, you who have a domineering spirit, you who consider yourself a god as soon as success swells your breast, think how little could have destroyed you!

Pliny the Elder

Birth

Men are most apt to believe what they least understand.

Men are most apt to believe what they least understand.

Pliny the Elder

Belief

In these matters the only certainty is that there is nothing

In these matters the only certainty is that there is nothing certain.

Pliny the Elder

Certainty

The only certainty is that nothing is certain.

The only certainty is that nothing is certain.

Pliny the Elder

Certainty

The enjoyments of this life are not equal to its evils.

The enjoyments of this life are not equal to its evils.

Pliny the Elder

Life

It is generally much more shameful to lose a good reputation

It is generally much more shameful to lose a good reputation than never to have acquired it.

Pliny the Elder

Reputation

Let honor be to us as strong an obligation as necessity is t

Let honor be to us as strong an obligation as necessity is to others.

Pliny the Elder

Honor

There is always something new out of Africa.

There is always something new out of Africa.

Pliny the Elder

Nationalism Nation Nationality

The happier the moment the shorter.

The happier the moment the shorter.

Pliny the Elder

Happiness

The master's eye is the best fertilizer.

The master's eye is the best fertilizer.

Pliny the Elder

Farming

Prosperity tries the fortunate, adversity the great.

Prosperity tries the fortunate, adversity the great.

Pliny the Elder

Adversity

True glory consists in doing what deserves to be written; in

True glory consists in doing what deserves to be written; in writing what deserves to be read; and in so living as to make the world happier and better for our living in it.

Pliny the Elder

Fame

Home is where the heart is.

Home is where the heart is.

Pliny the Elder

Home

Such is the audacity of man, that he hath learned to counter

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 Elder

Nature

Hope is the pillar that holds up the world. Hope is the drea

Hope is the pillar that holds up the world. Hope is the dream of a waking man.

Pliny the Elder

Hope