Let not things, because they are common, enjoy for that the less share of our consideration. Pliny the Elder Natural History, Book XIX, Chapter 19.
The ancients had little doubt about the true shape of the earth: “Its [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
The pheasant 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 Natural History, Book X, Chapter 67.
In the literary as well as military world, most powerful abilities will often be found concealed under a rustic garb. – Pliny the Elder
The most valuable discoveries have found their origin in the most trivial accidents. – Pliny the Elder
It is ridiculous to suppose that the great head of things, whatever it be, pays any regard to human affairs. – Pliny the Elder Natural History, Book II, Chapter 5.
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
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
A god cannot procure death for himself, even if he wished it, which, so numerous are the evils of life, has been granted to man as our chief good. – Pliny the Elder
Their best and most wholesome feeding is upon one dish and no more and the same plaine and simple: for surely this huddling of many meats one upon another of divers tastes is pestiferous. But sundrie sauces are more dangerous than that. – Pliny the Elder
It is this earth that, like a kind mother, receives us at our birth, and sustains us when born; it is this alone, of all the elements around us, that is never found an enemy of man. – Pliny the Elder
Wine takes away reason, engenders insanity, leads to thousands of crimes, and imposes such an enormous expense on nations. – Pliny the Elder
The depth of darkness to which you can descend and still live is an exact measure of the height to which you can aspire to reach. – Pliny the Elder
Of all wonders, this is among the greatest, that some fresh waters close by the sea spring forth as out of pipes: for the nature of the waters also ceaseth not from miraculous properties. – Pliny the Elder
The invention of money opened a new field to human avarice by giving rise to usury and the practice of lending money at interest while the owner passes a life of idleness. – Pliny the Elder