"Gutta cavat lapidem non vi, sed sæpe cadendo."
— Perseverance

January 1, 1970

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Virtues
Original Language: English

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Quoted in the Menagiana, 1713. Probably first to use it was Richard, Monk of S. Victor; Paris. (Died about 1172. Scotchman by birth.) In his Adnotationes mysticæ in Psalmos he says: "Quid lapide durius, quid aqua mollius? Verumtamen gutta cavat lapidem non vi sed sæpe cadendo." See Migne's Patrologia Latina, Volume CXCVI, p. 389. Said to be by Chœrilus of Samos, by Simplicius—Ad Aristot. Physic. Auscult, VIII. 2, p. 429. (Brand's ed.) Same idea in Lucretius I. 314; also in IV. 1282. Translation