Lucian of Samosata (c. 120-180+)
“The fly has a life of ease and idleness, enjoying the fruits of others’ labours and finding itself a full table everywhere. Goats produce milk for it; the bee toils specially for flies and men; cooks season their dishes for it; it tastes the food of kings before they do, walking all over their tables and sharing their enjoyment of all that they feast on.”
- From Praise of the Fly (section 8) by Lucian of Samosata, translated by C. D. N. Costa in Selected Dialogues (Oxford University Press / Oxford World Classics, 2005, 2006, 2009).
