The only certainty is that nothing is certain.

Solum ut inter ista certum sit, nihil esse certi.

Pliny the Elder

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Topic

Certainty Uncertainty Truth

Author

Pliny the Elder

Source

Historia Naturalis

Genre

Scientific literature

Statement Type

Paradox

Language

Latin

Time

77 BC 70s BC 1st century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Occupation

Scientist Writer

From

Italy Europe

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Pliny the Elder. Historia Naturalis [Natural History]. 77 AD, bk. 2.

Current Citation

Pliny the Elder. Natural History: A Selection, translated by John F. Healy. Penguin Classics, 1991, bk. 2.

Illustrated Quote

A quote by Pliny the Elder about certainty: “The only certainty is that nothing is certain.”
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A quote by Pliny the Elder about certainty: “The only certainty is that nothing is certain.”
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A quote by Pliny the Elder about certainty: “The only certainty is that nothing is certain.”
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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 Truth

The truth will set you free. But not until it is finished with you.

David Foster Wallace

Infinite Jest

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More information about this quote
Topic
The painful truth Truth

Author

David Foster Wallace
Source
Infinite Jest
Medium
Novel
Language
English
Time
1996 1990s 20th century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

Wallace, David Foster. Infinite Jest. Little, Brown and Company, 1996.

Another quote from Classical antiquity

Who benefits?

Lucius Cassius Longinus Ravilla

Quoted in Pro Milone, by Cicero

More information about this quote
Speaker
Lucius Cassius Longinus Ravilla

Author

Cicero
Source
Pro Milone
Statement Type
Question
Language
Latin
Time
80 BC 80s BC 1st century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 2
Citation

Cicero, Marcus Tullius. "Pro Roscio Amerino [In defense of Sextus Roscius of Amerina]." 80 BC, Umbria, Italy.

Another quote originally in Latin

The social progress, order, security and peace of each country are necessarily connected with the social progress, order, security and peace of all other countries.

Pope John XXIII

Pacem in Terris

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More information about this quote
Topic
Interconnectedness of all people International politics

Author

Pope John XXIII
Source
Pacem in Terris
Medium
Letter
Genre
Papal encyclical Religious literature
Language
Latin
Time
1963 1960s 20th century
Authentication Score 2
Citation

Pope John XXIII. "Pacem in Terris [Peace on Earth]." Litterae Encyclicae [Encyclical Letter]. 11 Apr. 1963, pt. 4.

Another quote of the following type Paradox

He who binds to himself a joy
Does the winged life destroy;
But he who kisses the joy as it flies
Lives in eternity's sunrise.

William Blake

More information about this quote
Topic
Letting go

Author

William Blake
Medium
Poem
Statement Type
Paradox
Language
English
Time
1792 1790s 18th century
Authentication Score 3
Original Citation

Blake, William. Poem written in his notebook. c. 1792.

Current Citation

Blake, William. "Eternity." William Blake: Selected Poems, edited by Nicholas Shrimpton. Oxford University Press, 2019.