“It is ridiculous to suppose that the great head of things, whatever it be, pays any regard to human affairs.”
Book II, sec. 20.
Naturalis Historia
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Pliny the Elder 31
Roman military commander and writer 23–79Related quotes
“The human tendency to regard little things as important has produced very many great things.”
G 46
Variant translation: The inclination of people to consider small things as important has produced many great things.
Aphorisms (1765-1799), Notebook G (1779-1783)
“He said they that were serious in ridiculous matters would be ridiculous in serious affairs.”
Cato the Elder
Roman Apophthegms
Source: Our Enemy, the State (1935), p. 209
Context: In every civilization, however generally prosaic, however addicted to the short-time point of view on human affairs, there are always certain alien spirits who, while outwardly conforming to the requirements of the civilization around them, still keep a disinterested regard for the plain intelligible law of things, irrespective of any practical end. They have an intellectual curiosity, sometimes touched with emotion, concerning the august order of nature; they are impressed by the contemplation of it, and like to know as much about it as they can, even in circumstances where its operation is ever so manifestly unfavourable to their best hopes and wishes.
Source: The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna (1942), p. 423
Context: Truth is one; only It is called by different names. All people are seeking the same Truth; the variance is due to climate, temperament, and name. A lake has many ghats. From one ghat the Hindus take water in jars and call it "jal". From another ghat the Mussalmāns take water in leather bags and call it "pāni". From a third the Christians take the same thing and call it "water". Suppose someone says that the thing is not "jal" but "pāni", or that it is not "pāni" but "water", or that it is not "water" but "jal", It would indeed be ridiculous. But this very thing is at the root of the friction among sects, their misunderstandings and quarrels. This is why people injure and kill one another, and shed blood, in the name of religion. But this is not good. Everyone is going toward God. They will all realize Him if they have sincerity and longing of heart.
Source: 1960s, Understanding Media (1964), p. 8