The Man and His Letters

today's quote of the day is about p.l.i.n.y and is from a.n. sherwin-white's (not to be confused with sherwin williams) 1969 article 'pliny, the man and his letters' (GR16(1969)76-90):

Pliny was neither a scientist nor a philosopher, but as a man superficially educated in the philosophical disciplines of his own day he was a rationalist, and his rationalism is not perverted or obscured by his devotion as a writer to the cult of style. It is the balance of these two qualities that his particular excellence lies. He was not a great writer any more than he was a great man, but he did little things well.