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Ideas of Lucretius, by Text

[Roman, 100 - 55 BCE, Born in Rome. Roman poet, about whom little is known. Probably a slave. Died in Rome.]

60BCE On the Nature of the Universe
5.56 p.172 17004 Nothing can break the binding laws of eternity
I.1069 p.58 5704 There can be no centre in infinity
I.152 p.31 5694 Nothing can be created by divine power out of nothing
I.303 p.36 5695 Only bodies can touch one another
I.342 p.37 5696 If there were no space there could be no movement, or even creation
I.422 p.40 5697 The only possible standard for settling doubts is the foundation of the senses
I.46 p.28 5693 Everything is created and fed by nature from atoms, and they return to atoms in death
I.465 p.41 5698 We can only sense time by means of movement, or its absence
I.544 p.43 5699 If matter wasn't everlasting, everything would have disappeared by now
I.558 p.43 5700 It is quicker to break things up than to assemble them
I.620 p.45 5701 If an object is infinitely subdivisible, it will be the same as the whole universe
I.700 p.47 5702 The senses are much the best way to distinguish true from false
I.959 p.55 5703 The universe must be limitless, since there could be nothing outside to limit it
II.1022 p.90 5714 Even simple facts are hard to believe at first hearing
II.1057 p.91 5715 This earth is very unlikely to be the only one created
II.1094 p.92 5716 Nature runs the universe by herself without the aid of gods
II.133 p.64 5706 Atoms move themselves
II.180 p.65 5707 The universe can't have been created by gods, because it is too imperfect
II.21 p.60 5705 Nature only wants two things: freedom from pain, and pleasure
II.217 p.66 5708 In downward motion, atoms occasionally swerve slightly for no reason
II.294 p.68 5709 The actions of the mind are not determinate and passive, because atoms can swerve
II.652 p.79 5710 Gods are tranquil and aloof, and have no need of or interest in us
II.658 p.79 5711 The earth is and always has been an insentient being
II.914 p.87 5712 Particles may have sensation, but eggs turning into chicks suggests otherwise
II.988 p.89 5713 You needn't be made of laughing particles to laugh, so why not sensation from senseless seeds?
III.140 p.100 5718 The mind is in the middle of the breast, because there we experience fear and joy
III.164 p.101 5719 The mind moves limbs, wakes the body up, changes facial expressions, which involve touch
III.201 p.102 5721 The mind is very small smooth particles, which evaporate at death
III.262 p.51 21387 The separate elements and capacities of a mind cannot be distinguished
III.542 p.112 5720 Spirit is mortal
III.624 p.115 5722 For a separated spirit to remain sentient it would need sense organs attached to it
III.670 p.116 5723 If spirit is immortal and enters us at birth, why don't we remember a previous existence?
III.743 p.118 5724 Lions, foxes and deer have distinct characters because their minds share in their bodies
III.799 p.120 5725 An immortal mind couldn't work harmoniously with a mortal body
III.867 p.122 5726 The dead are no different from those who were never born
III.95 p.99 5717 The mind is a part of a man, just like a hand or an eye
IV.462 p.144 5727 Most supposed delusions of the senses are really misinterpretations by the mind
IV.479 p.145 5728 The concept of truth was originated by the senses
IV.518 p.146 5729 If the senses are deceptive, reason, which rests on them, is even worse
IV.638 p.150 6611 One man's meat is another man's poison
IV.834 p.156 5730 Our bodies weren't created to be used; on the contrary, their creation makes a use possible
VI.400 p.229 5731 Why does Jupiter never hurl lightning from a blue sky?