Conferences Quote by Pliny the Elder
“Many other means there be, that promise the foreknowledge of things to come: besides the raising up and conjuring of ghosts departed, the conference also with familiars and spirits infernal. And all these were found out in our days, to be no better than vanities and false illusions.”
About This Quote
Source Natural History, Book 9, 77 AD
The passage warns that attempts to summon spirits or predict the future are mere vanity, exposing the futility of occult practices.
In simple terms: Seeking ghosts and predictions is vanity.
Key Takeaway
Focus on observable reality over superstition.
Themes
skepticism
superstition
knowledge
vanity
Mood
skeptical
inquisitive
analytical
Type
historical
educational
When to use this quote
- academic research
- critical thinking workshops
- historical analysis
Key Concepts
epistemology
history of science
mythology
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do people turn to divination?
- What value can rituals provide despite lacking empirical proof?
A Different Perspective
It dismisses cultural contexts where such practices held social meaning.
![“I know that some of the folks in the press are uptight about this [moving the press corps out of the West Wing ], and I understand. What we're - the only thing that's been discussed is whether or not the initial press conferences are going to be in that small press - and for the people listening…” quote by Reince Priebus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/940/reince-priebus-3623_conferences_i-know-that-some-of-the-folks-in-the-pre_23230.jpg)
