“Why is it that we entertain the belief that for every purpose odd numbers are the most effectual?”
Pliny the Elder book Natural History
Book XXVIII, sec. 23.
Naturalis Historia
Quotes from bookNatural History
Pliny the ElderOriginal title Naturalis historia (Latin, 74)
The Natural History is a work by Pliny the Elder. It is one of the largest single works to have survived from the Roman Empire to the modern day and purports to cover all ancient knowledge. The work's subject area is thus not limited to what is today understood by natural history; Pliny himself defines his scope as "the natural world, or life". It is encyclopedic in scope, but its structure is not like that of a modern encyclopedia. It is the only work by Pliny to have survived, and the last that he published. He published the first 10 books in AD 77, but had not made a final revision of the remainder at the time of his death during the AD 79 eruption of Vesuvius. The rest was published posthumously by Pliny's nephew, Pliny the Younger.
“Always act in such a way as to secure the love of your neighbour.”
Pliny the Elder book Natural History
Book XVIII, sec. 44.
Naturalis Historia
“When a building is about to fall down, all the mice desert it.”
ruinis inminentibus musculi praemigrant...
Pliny the Elder book Natural History
Book VIII, sec. 103.
Naturalis Historia
“The best plan is, as the common proverb has it, to profit by the folly of others.”
Pliny the Elder book Natural History
Book XVIII, sec. 31.
Naturalis Historia
“With man, most of his misfortunes are occasioned by man.”
Pliny the Elder book Natural History
Book VII, sec. 5.
Naturalis Historia
“It has become quite a common proverb that in wine there is truth.”
Pliny the Elder book Natural History
Book XIV, sec. 141.
Naturalis Historia
“With a grain of salt.”
Cum grano salis.
Pliny the Elder book Natural History
Book XXIII, sec. 8.
Naturalis Historia
“It is generally admitted that the absent are warned by a ringing in the ears, when they are being talked about.”
Absentes tinnitu aurium præsentire sermones de se receptum est.
Pliny the Elder book Natural History
Book XXVIII, sec. 5.
Naturalis Historia
“This is Italy, land sacred to the Gods.”
Haec est Italia diis sacra
Pliny the Elder book Natural History
Book III, sec. 46.
Naturalis Historia
