Pliny the Younger (c.61–c.112 CE,) fully Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus, was an Ancient Roman senator, lawyer, and writer. He is noted for his books of private letters that deal with both public and private affairs and which include a description of the eruption of Vesuvius in 79CE. He was the nephew and adopted son of Pliny the Elder.
Born in Novum Comum (Como,) Pliny wrote a Greek tragedy in his 14th year, and under Quintilian’s tuition, became one of the most accomplished men of his time. His skill as an orator enabled him at 18 to plead in the Forum, and he served as consul in 100 CE, in which year he wrote his eulogy to Trajan. From 103–105 CE, he was propraetor of the Provincia Pontica and was curator of the Tiber, among other offices.
Pliny’s ten volumes of letters give an intimate picture of the upper class in the 1st century CE; notably, his correspondence with Trajan clearly shows how the Romans regarded the early Christians and their ‘depraved and extravagant superstition.’
Pliny contributed to Tacitus’s Historiae a description of Mt. Vesuvius’s eruption that destroyed Pompeii and other cities. (Pliny was present at the eruption; Pliny the Elder was killed by it.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Pliny the Younger
Honor puts us under an obligation as binding as necessity is for other people.
—Pliny the Younger
Topics: Honor
Grief has limits, whereas apprehension has none. For we grieve only for what we know has happened, but we fear all that possibly may happen.
—Pliny the Younger
Topics: Fear, Anxiety, Worry
His only fault is that he has no fault.
—Pliny the Younger
Topics: Perfection
It is better to excel in any single art than to arrive only at mediocrity in several, so moderate skill in several is to be preferred where one cannot attain to perfection in any.
—Pliny the Younger
Topics: Concentration, Focus
As land is improved by sowing it with various seeds so is the mind by exercising it with different studies.
—Pliny the Younger
Topics: Study
Prosperity tries the fortunate, adversity the great.
—Pliny the Younger
Topics: Adversity, Trials
It is remarkable how ones wits are sharpened by physical exercise.
—Pliny the Younger
Topics: Health
Since it is not granted to us to live long, let us transmit to posterity some memorial that we have at least lived.
—Pliny the Younger
Topics: Living, Achieving
The longest day is soon ended.
—Pliny the Younger
Topics: Persistence
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
Martial Ancient Roman Latin Poet
Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) Roman Stoic Philosopher
Terence Roman Comic Dramatist
Persius Roman Poet
Cato the Elder (Marcus Porcius Cato) Roman Statesman
Pliny the Elder Roman Scholar
Epictetus Ancient Greek Philosopher
Plutarch Greek Biographer
Seneca the Elder (Marcus Annaeus Seneca) Roman Rhetorician
Petronius Roman Courtier