Pliny The Elder
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"Gaius Plinius Secundus", better known as "Pliny the Elder" (), was a Roman author, naturalist, and natural philosopher, as well as naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and personal friend of the emperor Vespasian.

Spending most of his spare time studying, writing or investigating natural and geographic phenomena in the field, he wrote an encyclopedic work, Natural History (Pliny)/Naturalis Historia ('Natural History'), which became a model for all other encyclopedias. Pliny the Younger, his nephew, wrote of him in a letter to the historian Tacitus:

Pliny is referring to the fact that Tacitus relied on his uncle's now missing work on the History of the German Wars. Pliny the Elder died on August 25, AD 79, while attempting the rescue by ship of a friend and his family from the Eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79/eruption of Mount Vesuvius that had just destroyed the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. The prevailing wind would not allow his ship to leave the shore. His companions attributed his collapse and death to toxic fumes, but they were unaffected by the fumes, so he probably died of natural causes rather than volcanic action.

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Hope is the pillar that holds up the world. Hope is the dream of a waking man.

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.

The best plan is to profit by the folly of others.

Such is the audacity of man, that he hath learned to counterfeit Nature, yea, and is so bold as to challenge her in her work.

This only is certain, that there is nothing certain; and nothing more miserable and yet more arrogant than man.

The brain is the citadel of sense perception.

The happier the moment the shorter.

True glory consists in doing what deserves to be written; in writing what deserves to be read; and in so living as to make the world happier for our living in it.

In these matters the only certainty is that nothing is certain.

Why is it that we entertain the belief that for every purpose odd numbers are the most effectual?

From the end spring new beginnings.

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.

Indeed, what is there that does not appear marvelous when it comes to our knowledge for the first time? How many things, too, are looked upon as quite impossible until they have been actually effected?

The lust of avarice as so totally seized upon mankind that their wealth seems rather to possess them than they possess their wealth.

Truth comes out in wine.

Home is where the heart is.

There is always something new out of Africa.

No mortal man, moreover is wise at all moments.

Nothing which we can imagine about Nature is incredible.