So it is more useful to watch a man in times of peril, and in adversity to discern what kind of man he is; for then at last words of truth are drawn from the depths of his heart, and the mask is torn off, reality remains.

Quo magis in dubiis hominem spectare periclis
convenit adversisque in rebus noscere qui sit;
nam verae voces tum demum pectore ab imo
eliciuntur et eripitur persona amanare.

Lucretius

On the Nature of Things

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More information about this quote

Topic

Tests of character Character

Author

Lucretius

Source

On the Nature of Things

Medium

Poem

Genre

Didactic poem Philosophical literature

Language

Latin

Time

55 BC 50s BC 1st century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Occupation

Philosopher Poet Writer

From

Italy Europe Roman Republic

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Carus, Titus Lucretius. De Rerum Natura [On the Nature of Things]. c. 55 BC, bk. 3, l. 55.

Current Citation

Carus, Titus Lucretius. The Nature of Things, translated by Alicia Stallings. Penguin Classics, 2007, bk. 3, l. 55.

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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote about Character

There are a set of religious, or rather moral writers, who teach that virtue is the certain road to happiness, and vice to misery, in this world. A very wholesome and comfortable doctrine, and to which we have but one objection, namely, that it is not true.

Henry Fielding

Tom Jones

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More information about this quote
Topic
Character

Author

Henry Fielding
Source
Tom Jones
Medium
Novel
Genre
Coming of age story Picaresque
Language
English
Time
1749 1740s 18th century
Authentication Score 3
Original Citation

Fielding, Henry. The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling. London: Andrew Millar, 1749, bk. 15, ch. 1.

Current Citation

Fielding, Henry. The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, edited by Alice Wakely. Penguin Classics, 2005.

Another quote from Classical antiquity

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Genesis 3:6

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More information about this quote
Topic
Adam and Eve Temptation Original sin Sin
Source
Genesis The Bible
Medium
Scripture
Genre
Religious literature
Language
Hebrew
Time
1405 BC 1400s BC 15th century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 3
Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (Genesis 3:6).

Another quote originally in Latin

Nature to be commanded must be obeyed.

Francis Bacon

Novum Organum

More information about this quote
Topic
Man and nature Nature

Author

Francis Bacon
Source
Novum Organum
Genre
Philosophical literature
Statement Type
Paradox
Language
Latin
Time
1620 1620s 17th century
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Bacon, Francis. Novum Organum. London: John Beale, 1620, bk. 1, no. 3.

Current Citation

Bacon, Francis. The New Organon. Translated by Michael Silverthorne. Cambridge UP, 2000, bk. 1, no. 3.