Chance is a second master. Pliny the Elder More Quotes by Pliny the Elder More Quotes From Pliny the Elder Cats too, with what silent stealthiness, with what light steps do they creep up to a bird! Pliny the Elder cat light bird The 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 Elder hens ears two The ancients had little doubt about the true shape of the earth: "It's [the world's] shape has the rounded appearance of a perfect sphere. This is shown first of all by the name of 'orb' which is bestowed upon it by the general consent of mankind. ...Our eyesight also confirms this belief, because the firmament presents the aspect of a concave hemisphere equidistant in every direction, which would be impossible in the case of any other figure." Pliny the Elder doubt names perfect Wine takes away reason, engenders insanity, leads to thousands of crimes, and imposes such an enormous expense on nations. Pliny the Elder wine reason insanity It is ridiculous to suppose that the great head of things, whatever it be, pays any regard to human affairs. Pliny the Elder ridiculous affair pay The human features and countenance, although composed of but some ten parts or little more, are so fashioned that among so many thousands of men there are no two in existence who cannot be distinguished from one another. Pliny the Elder littles men two All men possess in their bodies a poison which acts upon serpents; and the human saliva, it is said, makes them take to flight, as though they had been touched with boiling water. The same substance, it is said, destroys them the moment it enters their throat. Pliny the Elder poison water men The only thing man knows instinctively is how to weep. Pliny the Elder knows men In the literary as well as military world, most powerful abilities will often be found concealed under a rustic garb. Pliny the Elder often-is powerful military The enjoyments of this life are not equal to its evils. Pliny the Elder equal evil life And that all seas are made calme and still with oile; and therefore the Divers under the water doe spirt and sprinkle it abroad with their mouthes because it dulceth and allaieth the unpleasant nature thereof, and carrieth a light with it. Pliny the Elder light sea water ...shellfish are the prime cause of the decline of morals and the adaptation of an extravagant lifestyle. Indeed of the whole realm of Nature the sea is in many ways the most harmful to the stomach, with its great variety of dishes and tasty fish. Pliny the Elder cooking sea food ....shellfish are the prime cause of the decline of morals and the adaptation of an extravagant lifestyle. Pliny the Elder adaptation moral causes Human nature is fond of novelty. Pliny the Elder novelty human-nature humans The graceful tear that streams for others' Man is the weeping animal born to govern all the rest. Pliny the Elder tears animal men The most valuable discoveries have found their origin in the most trivial accidents. Pliny the Elder valuable found discovery Example is the softest and least invidious way of commanding. Pliny the Elder example way Our civilization depends largely on paper. Pliny the Elder depends paper civilization 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. Pliny the Elder sovereign vanity should-have Many other means there be, that promise the foreknowledge of things to come: besides the raising up and conjuring of ghosts departed, the conference also with familiars and spirits infernal. And all these were found out in our days, to be no better than vanities and false illusions. Pliny the Elder departed vanity mean
