Pliny the Elder Quotes

Our youth and manhood are due to our country, but our declining years are due to ourselves.

In wine, there's truth.

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.

But with man, — by Hercules! most of his misfortunes are occasioned by man.

The agricultural population produces the bravest men, the most valiant soldiers,46 and a class of citizens the least given of all to evil designs.

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

Wine takes away reason, engenders insanity, leads to thousands of crimes, and imposes such an enormous expense on nations.

It has become quite a common proverb that in wine there is truth (In Vino Veritas).

Lust is an enemy to the purse, a foe to the person, a canker to the mind, a corrosive to the conscience, a weakness of the wit, a besotter of the senses, and finally, a mortal bane to all the body.

When collapse is imminent, the little rodents flee.

When a building is about to fall down, all the mice desert it.

Nothing which we can imagine about Nature is incredible.

Many dishes bring many diseases.

Human nature is fond of novelty.

Why do we believe that in all matters the odd numbers are more powerful?

There is, to be sure, no evil without something good.

True glory consists in doing what deserves to be written, and writing what deserves to be read.

The brain is the citadel of sense perception.

A dear bargain is always disagreeable, particularly as it is a reflection upon the buyer's judgment.

Cats too, with what silent stealthiness, with what light steps do they creep up to a bird!

The first (barbers) that entered Italy came out of Sicily and it was in the 454 yeare after the foundation of Rome. Brought in they were by P. Ticinius Mena as Verra doth report for before that time they never cut their hair. The first that was shaven every day was Scipio Africanus, and after cometh Augustus the Emperor who evermore used the razor.

Human nature craves novelty.