55 BC

Explore 15 quotes from the year 55 BC

Life is one long struggle in the dark.

Lucretius

On the Nature of Things

Buy On The Nature of Things at Amazon Buy On The Nature of Things at Amazon
Read On the Nature of Things at MIT's classics department website

More information about this quote

Topic

Nature of life Ignorance

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

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Carus, Titus Lucretius. De Rerum Natura [On the Nature of Things]. c. 55 BC, bk. 2, l. 54.

Current Citation

Carus, Titus Lucretius. The Nature of Things, translated by Alicia Stallings. Penguin Classics, 2007, bk. 2, l. 54.

And life is given to none freehold, but it is leasehold for all.

Lucretius Carus

De Rerum Natura

Buy On The Nature of Things at Amazon Buy On The Nature of Things at Amazon
Read On the Nature of Things at MIT's classics department website

More information about this quote

Topic

Nature of life Life

Author

Lucretius Carus

Source

De Rerum Natura

Medium

Poem

Genre

Philosophical literature Didactic poem

Statement Type

Metaphor, analogy and simile

Language

Latin

Time

55 BC 50s BC 1st century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Carus, Titus Lucretius. De Rerum Natura [On the Nature of Things]. c. 55 BC, bk. 3, l. 971.

Current Citation

Carus, Titus Lucretius. The Nature of Things, translated by Alicia Stallings. Penguin Classics, 2007, bk. 3, l. 971.

The ring on the finger becomes thin beneath by wearing, the fall of dripping water hollows the stone.

Lucretius

On the Nature of Things

Buy On The Nature of Things at Amazon Buy On The Nature of Things at Amazon
Read On the Nature of Things at MIT's classics department website

More information about this quote

Topic

Effects of time Persistence

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

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Carus, Titus Lucretius. De Rerum Natura [On the Nature of Things]. c. 55 BC, bk. 1, l. 312.

Current Citation

Carus, Titus Lucretius. The Nature of Things, translated by Alicia Stallings. Penguin Classics, 2007, bk. 1, l. 312.

A tree cannot grow in the sky, nor clouds be in the deep sea, nor fish live in the fields, nor can blood be in sticks nor sap in rocks.

Lucretius

On the Nature of Things

Buy On The Nature of Things at Amazon Buy On The Nature of Things at Amazon
Read On the Nature of Things at MIT's classics department website

More information about this quote

Topic

Nature

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

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Carus, Titus Lucretius. De Rerum Natura [On the Nature of Things]. c. 55 BC, bk. 3, l. 784.

Current Citation

Carus, Titus Lucretius. The Nature of Things, translated by Alicia Stallings. Penguin Classics, 2007, bk. 3, l. 784.

Lovely it is, when the winds are churning up the waves on the great sea, to gaze out from the land on the great efforts of someone else; not because it's an enjoyable pleasure that somebody is in difficulties, but because it's lovely to realize what troubles you are yourself spared.

Lucretius Carus

De Rerum Natura

Buy On The Nature of Things at Amazon Buy On The Nature of Things at Amazon
Read On the Nature of Things at MIT's classics department website

More information about this quote

Topic

Ocean and sea Safety

Author

Lucretius Carus

Source

De Rerum Natura

Medium

Poem

Genre

Philosophical literature Didactic poem

Language

Latin

Time

55 BC 50s BC 1st century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Carus, Titus Lucretius. De Rerum Natura [On the Nature of Things]. c. 55 BC, bk. 2, l. 1.

Current Citation

Carus, Titus Lucretius. The Nature of Things, translated by Alicia Stallings. Penguin Classics, 2007, bk. 2, l. 1.

Pleasant it is, when over a great sea the winds trouble the waters, to gaze from shore upon another's great tribulation: not because any man's troubles are a delectable joy, but because to perceive what ills you are free from yourself is pleasant.

Lucretius

On the Nature of Things

Buy On The Nature of Things at Amazon Buy On The Nature of Things at Amazon
Read On the Nature of Things at MIT's classics department website

More information about this quote

Topic

Misfortunes of others

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

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Carus, Titus Lucretius. De Rerum Natura [On the Nature of Things]. c. 55 BC, bk. 2, l. 1.

Current Citation

Carus, Titus Lucretius. The Nature of Things, translated by Alicia Stallings. Penguin Classics, 2007, bk. 2, l. 1.

Nothing can be created from nothing.

Lucretius

On the Nature of Things

Buy On The Nature of Things at Amazon Buy On The Nature of Things at Amazon
Read On the Nature of Things at MIT's classics department website

More information about this quote

Topic

Creation Nothingness

Author

Lucretius

Source

On the Nature of Things

Medium

Poem

Genre

Didactic poem Philosophical literature

Statement Type

Precepts and axioms

Language

Latin

Time

55 BC 50s BC 1st century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Carus, Titus Lucretius. De Rerum Natura [On the Nature of Things]. c. 55 BC, bk. 1, l. 155.

Current Citation

Carus, Titus Lucretius. The Nature of Things, translated by Alicia Stallings. Penguin Classics, 2007, bk. 1, l. 155.

Never trust her at any time when the calm sea shows her false alluring smile.

Lucretius

On the Nature of Things

Buy On The Nature of Things at Amazon Buy On The Nature of Things at Amazon
Read On the Nature of Things at MIT's classics department website

More information about this quote

Topic

Ocean and sea Appearance vs. reality

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

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Carus, Titus Lucretius. De Rerum Natura [On the Nature of Things]. c. 55 BC, bk. 2, l. 558.

Current Citation

Carus, Titus Lucretius. The Nature of Things, translated by Alicia Stallings. Penguin Classics, 2007, bk. 2, l. 558.

Therefore death is nothing to us, it matters not one jot, since the nature of the mind is understood to be mortal.

Lucretius

On the Nature of Things

Buy On The Nature of Things at Amazon Buy On The Nature of Things at Amazon
Read On the Nature of Things at MIT's classics department website

More information about this quote

Topic

Facing death Fear of death Death

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

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Carus, Titus Lucretius. De Rerum Natura [On the Nature of Things]. c. 55 BC, bk. 3, l. 830.

Current Citation

Carus, Titus Lucretius. The Nature of Things, translated by Alicia Stallings. Penguin Classics, 2007, bk. 3, l. 830.

Death therefore is nothing to us nor does it concern us a scrap, seeing that the nature of the spirit we possess is something mortal.

Lucretius Carus

De Rerum Natura

Buy On The Nature of Things at Amazon Buy On The Nature of Things at Amazon
Read On the Nature of Things at MIT's classics department website

More information about this quote

Topic

Materialism (philosophy) The soul Death

Author

Lucretius Carus

Source

De Rerum Natura

Medium

Poem

Genre

Philosophical literature Didactic poem

Language

Latin

Time

55 BC 50s BC 1st century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Carus, Titus Lucretius. De Rerum Natura [On the Nature of Things]. c. 55 BC, bk. 3, l. 830.

Current Citation

Carus, Titus Lucretius. The Nature of Things, translated by Alicia Stallings. Penguin Classics, 2007, bk. 3, l. 830.

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.

Lucretius

On the Nature of Things

Buy On The Nature of Things at Amazon Buy On The Nature of Things at Amazon
Read On the Nature of Things at MIT's classics department website

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

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.

Material objects are of two kinds, atoms and components of atoms. The atoms themselves cannot be swamped by any force, for they are preserved indefinitely by their absolute solidity.

Lucretius

On the Nature of Things

Buy On The Nature of Things at Amazon Buy On The Nature of Things at Amazon
Read On the Nature of Things at MIT's classics department website

More information about this quote

Topic

Atomism Scientific theory

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

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Carus, Titus Lucretius. De Rerum Natura [On the Nature of Things]. c. 55 BC, bk. 1, l. 518.

Current Citation

Carus, Titus Lucretius. The Nature of Things, translated by Alicia Stallings. Penguin Classics, 2007, bk. 1, l. 518.

History is the witness that testifies to the passing of time; it illumines reality, vitalizes memory, provides guidance in daily life, and brings us tidings of antiquity.

Cicero

On Oratory

More information about this quote

Topic

History

Author

Cicero

Source

On Oratory

Genre

Philosophical literature

Statement Type

Definition

Language

Latin

Time

55 BC 50s BC 1st century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Cicero, Marcus Tullius. De Oratore [On the Orator]. c. 55 BC, bk. 2, ch. 9, sect. 36.

Current Citation

Cicero, Marcus Tullius. Cicero: On the Orator, Books I-II, translated by E. W. Sutton and H. Rackham. Harvard University Press, 1948, bk. 2, ch. 9, sect. 36.

The first beginnings of things cannot be distinguished by the eye.

Lucretius

On the Nature of Things

Buy On The Nature of Things at Amazon Buy On The Nature of Things at Amazon
Read On the Nature of Things at MIT's classics department website

More information about this quote

Topic

New beginnings

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

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Carus, Titus Lucretius. De Rerum Natura [On the Nature of Things]. c. 55 BC, bk. 1, l. 268.

Current Citation

Carus, Titus Lucretius. The Nature of Things, translated by Alicia Stallings. Penguin Classics, 2007, bk. 1, l. 268.

Truths kindle light for truths.

Lucretius

On the Nature of Things

Buy On The Nature of Things at Amazon Buy On The Nature of Things at Amazon
Read On the Nature of Things at MIT's classics department website

More information about this quote

Topic

Incremental progress Nature of progress Progress Truth

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

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Carus, Titus Lucretius. De Rerum Natura [On the Nature of Things]. c. 55 BC, bk. 1, l. 1117.

Current Citation

Carus, Titus Lucretius. The Nature of Things, translated by Alicia Stallings. Penguin Classics, 2007, bk. 1, l. 1117.