Top 15 Lucretius Quotes

A little river seems to him, who has never seen a larger river, a mighty stream; and so with other things—a tree, a man—anything appears greatest to him that never knew a greater.

Scilicet et fluvius qui visus maximus ei, Qui non ante aliquem majorem vidit; et ingens Arbor, homoque videtur, et omnia de genere omni Maxima quae vidit quisque, haec ingentia fingit.

So rolling time changes the seasons of things. What was of value, becomes in turn of no worth.

Sic volvenda aetas commutat tempora rerum.
Quod fuit in pretio, fit nullo denique honore.

Violence and injury enclose in their net all that do such things, and generally return upon him who began.

Circumretit enim vis atque iniuria quemque,
atque, unde exortast, at eum plerumque revertit.

Men are eager to tread underfoot what they have once too much feared.

Nam cupide conculcatur nimis ante metutum.

But if one should guide his life by true principles, man's greatest riches is to live on a little with contented mind; for a little is never lacking.

Quod siquis vera vitam ratione gubernet, divitiae grandes homini sunt vivere parvo
aequo animo; neque enim est umquam penuria parvi.

For every one feels to what purpose he can use his own powers. Before the horns of a calf appear and sprout from his forehead, he butts with them when angry, and pushes passionately.

Sentit enim vis quisque suas quoad possit abuti.
cornua nata prius vitulo quam frontibus extent,
illis iratus petit atque infestus inurget.

Custom renders love attractive; for that which is struck by oft-repeated blows however lightly, yet after long course of time is overpowered and gives way. See you not too that drops of water falling on rocks after long course of time scoop a hole through these rocks?

Consuetudo concinnat amorem;
nam leviter quamvis quod crebro tunditur ictu,
vincitur in longo spatio tamen atque labascit.
Nonne vides etiam guttas in saxa cadentis
umoris longo in spatio pertundere saxa?

Vitare, plagas in amoris ne iaciamur,
non ita difficile est quam captum retibus ipsis
exire et validos Veneris perrumpere nodos.