7 Quotes About Lucretiu

Lucretius is the Roman poet of the 1st century BCE who wrote De rerum Natura, Latin for "On the Nature of Things". Considered one of the greatest literary works of Western civilization, it is a philosophical poem about the nature of reality. It's known for its use of vivid, striking images and metaphors to bring Epicurean philosophy to life. The poem was written in collaboration with his friend Titus Lucretius Carus Read more

The poem was intended to be a satire on contemporary Roman religion, particularly the cult of Cybele, an ancient goddess which later became associated with Rhea. Lucretius also lampoons music and makes reference to some biological topics.

1
A man leaves his great house because he's bored With life at home, and suddenly returns, Finding himself no happier abroad. He rushes off to his villa driving like mad, You'ld think he's going to a house on fire, And yawns before he's put his foot inside, Or falls asleep and seeks oblivion, Or even rushes back to town again. So each man flies from himself (vain hope, because It clings to him the more closely against his will) And hates himself because he is sick in mind And does not know the cause of his disease. Titus Lucretius Carus
2
The supply of matter in the universe was never more tightly packed than it is now, or more widely spread out. For nothing is ever added to it or subtracted from it. It follows that the movement of atoms today is no different from what it was in bygone ages and always will be. So the things that have regularly come into being will continue to come into being in the same manner; they will be and grow and flourish so far as each is allowed by the laws of nature. . Titus Lucretius Carus
3
Visible objects therefore do not perish utterly, since nature repairs one thing from another and allows nothing to be born without the aid of another's death. Titus Lucretius Carus
4
Furthermore, as the body suffers the horrors of disease and the pangs of pain, so we see the mind stabbed with anguish, grief and fear. What more natural than that it should likewise have a share in death? Titus Lucretius Carus
5
The whole of life but labours in the dark. For just as children tremble and fear all In the viewless dark, so even we at times Dread in the light so many things that be No whit more fearsome than what children feign, Shuddering, will be upon them in the dark. This terror then, this darkness of the mind, Not sunrise with its flaring spokes of light, Nor glittering arrows of morning can disperse, But only nature's aspect and her law. Titus Lucretius Carus
6
To paraphrase Lucretius, there's nothing more useful than to watch a man or woman in times of contagious deadly disease peril combined with his or her assumptions of financial adversity to discern what kind of man or woman they really are. T.K. Naliaka