Lucretius

Date of Birth: 99 BCE

Zodiac Sign: Unknown

Date of Death: 55 BCE

Biography

Titus Lucretius Carus, commonly known as Lucretius, was a Roman poet and philosopher born in 99 BCE. He is best known for his single, monumental work “De Rerum Natura” (On the Nature of Things), a didactic poem that explores Epicurean philosophy, addressing the nature of the universe, the workings of the human mind, and the pursuit of happiness. Despite the obscurity surrounding much of his life, Lucretius’s work has had a lasting impact on both literature and philosophy, influencing figures such as Virgil and the Enlightenment thinkers. His poem remains a critical source for understanding Epicurean thought and the cultural milieu of ancient Rome.

5 Interesting Facts about Lucretius

1. “De Rerum Natura” is composed of six books and nearly 7,400 lines of Latin hexameter.

2. Lucretius’s work was virtually unknown during the Middle Ages but was rediscovered during the Renaissance, significantly influencing modern scientific thought.

3. He argued that the gods do not interfere in the world, a radical idea that prefigured modern secularism.

4. Lucretius’s poetry includes detailed descriptions of atomic theory, predating modern scientific discoveries by centuries.

5. His work was one of the first to suggest that the soul is mortal and dies with the body, challenging traditional religious views of the time.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Lucretius

1. “Nature is doing her best each moment to make us well. Why, nature is but another name for health.”

2. “The drops of rain make a hole in the stone, not by violence, but by oft falling.”

3. “What once sprung from the earth sinks back into the earth.”

4. “Fear is the mother of all gods.”

5. “It is great wealth to a soul to live frugally with a contented mind.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

As a poet and philosopher in ancient Rome, Lucretius did not amass wealth in the manner modern individuals might. His “net worth” would have been modest, primarily reliant on patronage and the support of friends or benefactors.