Etsi difficiile esse videtur credere quicquam in rebus solido reperiri corpore posse. transit enim fulmen caeli per saepta domorum, clamor ut ad voces; flamen candescit in igni dissiliuntque ferre ferventi saxa vapore. tum labefactatus rigor auri solvitur aestu; tum glacies aeris flamma devicta liquescit; permanat calor argentum penetraleque frigus quando utrumque manu retinentes pocula rite sensimus infuso lympharum rore superne.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- It seems hard to believe solid bodies exist, yet lightning passes through walls and metals melt in fire.
- In plain terms
- Evidence shows matter behaves in ways that reveal its nature.
- What can you take from it?
- Trust observable phenomena over intuition.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What contradicts your initial belief?
- How do you test reality?
Another view
Some truths remain hidden from direct observation.
More from Lucretius
Stilicidi casus lapidem cavat, uncus aratri.
Permalink to quote #4 Ita res accedent lumina rebus.
Permalink to quote #6 Nequeunt oculis rerum primordia cerni.
Permalink to quote #3
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