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.
Pliny the ElderNothing is more useful than wine for strengthening the body and also more detrimental to our pleasure if moderation be lacking.
Pliny the ElderThe feasant hens of Colchis, which have two ears as it were consisting of feathers, which they will set up and lay down as they list.
Pliny the ElderThe perverted ingenuity of man has given to water the power of intoxicating where wine is not procured. Western nations intoxicate themselves by moistened grain.
Pliny the ElderThe 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.
Pliny the Elder