All men carry about them that which is poyson to serpents: for if it be true that is reported, they will no better abide the touching with man's spittle than scalding water cast upon them: but if it happed to light within their chawes or mouth, especially if it come from a man that is fasting, it is present death.

Pliny the Elder (Caius Plinius Secundus)

Related Quotes

Their best and most wholesome feeding is upon one dish and no more and the same plaine and simple: for surely this hudling of many meats one upon another of divers tastes is pestiferous. But sundrie sauces are more dangerous than that.

— Pliny the Elder (Caius Plinius Secundus)

Our fathers used to say that the master's eye was the best fertilizer. [Lat., Majores fertilissium is agro oculum domini esse dixerunt.]

— Pliny the Elder (Caius Plinius Secundus)

And that all seas are made calme and still with oile; and therefore the Divers under the water doe spirt and sprinkle it abroad with their mouthes because it dulceth and allaieth the unpleasant nature thereof, and carrieth a light with it.

— Pliny the Elder (Caius Plinius Secundus)

The feasant hens of Colchis, which have two ears as it were consisting of feathers, which they will set up and lay down as they list.

— Pliny the Elder (Caius Plinius Secundus)

For however often a man may receive an obligation from you, if you refuse a request, all former favors are effaced by this one denial. [Lat., Nam quamblibet saepe obligati, si quid unum neges, hoc solum meminerunt, quod negatum est.]

— Pliny the Younger (Caius Caecilius Secundus)