--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: All men possess in their bodies a poison…" description: "\"All men possess in their bodies a poison which acts upon serpents; and the human saliva, it is said, makes them take to flight, as though they had been..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e4/pliny-the-elder-2838_body_all-men-possess-in-their-bodies-a-poison_2235881.jpg" --- # All men possess in their bodies a poison which acts upon… ![“All men possess in their bodies a poison which acts upon serpents; and the human saliva, it is said, makes them take to flight, as though they had been touched with boiling water. The same substance, it is said, destroys them the moment it enters their throat.” quote by Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e4/pliny-the-elder-2838_body_all-men-possess-in-their-bodies-a-poison_2235881.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e4/pliny-the-elder-2838_body_all-men-possess-in-their-bodies-a-poison_2235881.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e4/pliny-the-elder-2838_body_all-men-possess-in-their-bodies-a-poison_2235881.jpg) > “All men possess in their bodies a poison which acts upon serpents; and the human saliva, it is said, makes them take to flight, as though they had been touched with boiling water. The same substance, it is said, destroys them the moment it enters their throat.” [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human saliva contains a compound that repels snakes, causing them to flee when it contacts their mouths. **In simple terms:** Saliva can deter snakes. Key Takeaway Respect wildlife and avoid provoking snakes. Themes biology human-animal interaction defense mechanisms Mood cautious informative Type scientific practical When to use this quote - hiking - field research - outdoor education - first aid training Key Concepts chemical deterrents physiology Questions to Reflect On - Why might this defense be unreliable? - How could this knowledge affect human-snake encounters? A Different Perspective Effectiveness varies by snake species and saliva condition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Poison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poison/) [Serpent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serpent/) [Serpents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serpents/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) ## Related quotes > [Honey comes out of the air At early dawn the leaves of trees are found bedewed with honey. Whether this is the perspiration of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/honey-comes-out-of-the-air-at-early-dawn-the-leaves-of-trees-are/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [The very serpents bite their tails; the bees forget to sting, For a language so celestial setteth up a wondering. 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Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) > [Where there is the tree of knowledge, there is always Paradise: so say the most ancient and most modern serpents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/where-there-is-the-tree-of-knowledge-there-is-always-paradise-so-say/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“There are many dangerous serpents in India-the cobra, the boa, the python, water snakes, vipers, king cobras, and even some that fly.” That didn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-houck/there-are-many-dangerous-serpents-in-india-the-cobra-the-boa-the/) [Colleen Houck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-houck/) > [“Presently a serpent sought them out privately, and came to them walking upright, which was the way of serpents in those days. The serpent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/presently-a-serpent-sought-them-out-privately-and-came-to-them/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Among all the kinds of serpents, there is none comparable to the Dragon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-topsell/among-all-the-kinds-of-serpents-there-is-none-comparable-to-the-dragon/) [Edward Topsell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-topsell/) > [Those who give you a serpent when you ask for a fish, may have nothing but serpents to give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/those-who-give-you-a-serpent-when-you-ask-for-a-fish-may-have-nothing/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [“Snakes are the most widely dreamed about, most feared, most religiously significant creature in the world. A squiggle, they are believed to be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-christy/snakes-are-the-most-widely-dreamed-about-most-feared-most-religiously/) Bryan Christy > [Red serpents, fiery forms, and yelling hags, Fit company for mad adventurers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-freneau/red-serpents-fiery-forms-and-yelling-hags-fit-company-for-mad/) [Philip Freneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-freneau/) > [“I hate and fear snakes, because if you look into the eyes of any snake you will see that it knows all and more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/i-hate-and-fear-snakes-because-if-you-look-into-the-eyes-of-any-snake/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [ “Then there's the pillar statue in the semi-subterranean temple at Tiahuanaco \[Bolivia\]. Like the Totem Pole of Göbekli Tepe, it is anthropomorphic. Like the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-hancock/then-there-s-the-pillar-statue-in-the-semi-subterranean-temple-at/) [Graham Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-hancock/) > [In Boston serpents whistle at the cold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lowell/in-boston-serpents-whistle-at-the-cold/) [Robert Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lowell/) > [I have often had apparitions of hosts of serpents with heads at their tails, but not one was able to bite me; and many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-hus/i-have-often-had-apparitions-of-hosts-of-serpents-with-heads-at-their/) [Jan Hus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-hus/) ## More by Pliny the Elder > [Simple diet is best: for many dishes bring many diseases, and rich sauces are worse than even heaping several meats upon each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/simple-diet-is-best-for-many-dishes-bring-many-diseases-and-rich/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [Amid the sufferings of life on earth, suicide is God's best gift to man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/amid-the-sufferings-of-life-on-earth-suicide-is-god-s-best-gift-to-man/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [The happier the moment the shorter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/the-happier-the-moment-the-shorter/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [Indeed, what is there that does not appear marvelous when it comes to our knowledge for the first time? How many things, too, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/indeed-what-is-there-that-does-not-appear-marvelous-when-it-comes-to/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [Accustom yourself to master and overcome things of difficulty; for if you observe, the left hand for want of practice is insignificant, and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/accustom-yourself-to-master-and-overcome-things-of-difficulty-for-if/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [As land is improved by sowing it with various seeds, so is the mind by exercising it with different studies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/as-land-is-improved-by-sowing-it-with-various-seeds-so-is-the-mind-by/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [True happiness consists in being considered deserving of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/true-happiness-consists-in-being-considered-deserving-of-it/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [The largest land animal is the elephant, and it is the nearest to man in intelligence: it understands the language of its country and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/the-largest-land-animal-is-the-elephant-and-it-is-the-nearest-to-man/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [Many dishes bring many diseases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/many-dishes-bring-many-diseases/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [In the literary as well as military world, most powerful abilities will often be found concealed under a rustic garb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/in-the-literary-as-well-as-military-world-most-powerful-abilities/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [Man naturally yearns for novelty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/man-naturally-yearns-for-novelty/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [With man, most of his misfortunes are occasioned by man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/with-man-most-of-his-misfortunes-are-occasioned-by-man/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [Better do nothing than do ill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/better-do-nothing-than-do-ill/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [It is this earth that, like a kind mother, receives us at our birth, and sustains us when born; it is this alone, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/it-is-this-earth-that-like-a-kind-mother-receives-us-at-our-birth-and/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [His only fault is that he has no fault.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/his-only-fault-is-that-he-has-no-fault/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) [Explore all 147 Pliny the Elder quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) ## More Body quotes > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. 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