Pliny the Elder
Author of Naturalis Historia, a comprehensive encyclopedia compiling knowledge of the natural world and famously stating that nature is the greatest of all things.
Quotes by Pliny the Elder
The greatest hope is to believe in oneself.
The greatest peace is to be at peace with oneself.
The greatest wealth is a good conscience.
The greatest treasure is a good friend.
The greatest gift is a good education.
The greatest art is to conceal art.
The greatest pleasure is to do what one ought to do.
The greatest victory is to conquer oneself.
The greatest glory is to be good.
The greatest happiness is to be content with what one has.
True glory consists in doing what deserves to be written; in writing what deserves to be read.
The world's a forest, in which all lose their way; though by a different path each goes astray.
Nature is to be commanded only by obeying her.
In comparing various authors with one another, I have discovered that some of the gravest and latest writers have transcribed, word for word, the writings of the ancient authors, referring their readers to them for their authority.
The human features and countenance, although composed of but some ten parts, are so fashioned that among so many thousands of men there are no two in existence who cannot be distinguished from one another.
Man alone at the very moment of his birth, cast naked upon the naked earth, does she abandon to cries and lamentations.
It is far from easy to determine whether she [Nature] has proved to man a kind parent or a merciless stepmother.
The discrimination between good and evil is in man's power.
With man, most of his misfortunes are occasioned by man.
Indeed, what is there that does not appear marvelous when it comes to our knowledge for the first time?