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Quote by Pliny the Elder

Author

Pliny the Elder
Pliny the Elder

Pliny the Elder was a Roman author, naturalist, and philosopher, renowned for his comprehensive work 'Natural History'. Born in 23 AD, he was a member of the Roman nobility and held various public offices, including military and administrative roles. His encyclopedic work is a cornerstone of classical literature, offering extensive insights into the natural world, including geography, botany, zoology, and human history. Tragically, Pliny the Elder perished in 79 AD during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. more

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“When neither high purpose nor the categorical imperatives of religion will do, the only argument against suicide is life itself. You pause and attend: the heart beats in your chest; outside, the trees are thick with new leaves, a swallow dips over them, the light moves, people are going about their business.”

“Suicidal thinking, if serious, can be a kind of death scare, comparable to suffering a heart attack or undergoing a cancer operation. One survives such a phase both warier and chastened. When-ten years ago-I emerged from a bad dip into suicidal speculation, I felt utterly exhausted and yet quite fearless of ordinary dangers, vastly afraid of myself but much less scared of extraneous eventualities.”

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