It has been observed that the height of a man from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot is equal to the distance between the tips of the middle fingers of the two hands when extended in a straight line. Pliny the Elder More Quotes by Pliny the Elder More Quotes From Pliny the Elder This only is certain, that there is nothing certain. Pliny the Elder certain The 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 honesty stars country The most disgraceful cause of the scarcity [of remedies] is that even those who know them do not want to point them out, as if they were going to lose what they pass on to others. Pliny the Elder selfishness science knowledge To laugh, if but for an instant only, has never been granted to man before the fortieth day from his birth, and then it is looked upon as a miracle of precocity. Pliny the Elder laughter laughing men I think it is the most beautiful and humane thing in the world, so to mingle gravity with pleasure that the one may not sink into melancholy, nor the other rise up into wantonness. Pliny the Elder beautiful world thinking The best kind of wine is that which is most pleasant to him who drinks it. Pliny the Elder drink wine kind In wine there is health (In vino sanitas) Pliny the Elder vino wine As in our lives so also in our studies, it is most becoming and most wise, so to temper gravity with cheerfulness, that the former may not imbue our minds with melancholy, nor the latter degenerate into licentiousness. Pliny the Elder wise mind may I would have a man generous to his country, his neighbors, his kindred, his friends, and most of all his poor friends. Not like some who are most lavish with those who are able to give most of them. Pliny the Elder generosity men country Men are most apt to believe what they least understand; and through the lust of human wit obscure things are more easily credited. Pliny the Elder lust men believe As for the garden of mint, the very smell of it alone recovers and refreshes our spirits, as the taste stirs up our appetite for meat. Pliny the Elder smell garden food No book so bad but some part may be of use. Pliny the Elder use may book The leading distinction in magnets is the sex, male and female, and the next great difference in them is the colour. Those of Magnesia, bordering on Macedonia, are of a reddish black; those of Breotia are more red than black; and the kind that is found in Troas is black, of the female sex, and consequently destitute of attractive power. Pliny the Elder black science sex 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 miscarriage son thinking 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. Pliny the Elder skills flower wind There is in them a softer fire than the ruby, there is the brilliant purple of the amethyst, and the sea green of the emerald - all shining together in incredible union. Some by their splendor rival the colors of the painters, others the flame of burning sulphur or of fire quickened by oil. Pliny the Elder purple oil sea As touching peaches in general, the very name in Latine whereby they are called Persica, doth evidently show that they were brought out of Persia first. Pliny the Elder peaches touching names Why is it that we entertain the belief that for every purpose odd numbers are the most effectual? Pliny the Elder purpose belief numbers In comparing various authors with one another, I have discovered that some of the gravest and latest writers have transcribed, word for word, from former works, without making acknowledgment. Pliny the Elder acknowledgment former compare No mortal man, moreover is wise at all moments. Pliny the Elder demise wise men