Lucretius

a Roman poet. About 97-53 B. C. Little is known of his early life. He is thought to have studied at Athens with the Epicureans. Of his writings, only one is left, a didactic poem, De Rerum Natura, Concerning the Nature of Things. It is an exposition of Epicurean philosophy, reminding the reader somewhat of Pope's Essay on Man. The leading doctrine is the thought that death should not be feared. Lucretius had the encouragement of Cicero. He is considered to have shown ability, even genius, in clothing philosophy, rather intractable material, with the dress of poetry. See Latin

SAYINGS.