When did Lactantius live?

Lactantius was born in c. 250 AD and died in c. 325 AD.

Where was Lactantius from?

Lactantius was a Roman philosopher of the Ancient era.

What philosophical movements is Lactantius associated with?

Lactantius was associated with Christian Philosophy.

How many quotes are attributed to Lactantius?

There are 12 attributed quotations from Lactantius in the 1001Philosophers collection, organized by topic.

Lactantius c. 250 AD – c. 325 AD

Lactantius (c. 250 AD – c. 325 AD) was a Roman philosopher of the Ancient era, associated with Christian Philosophy.

Lucius Caecilius Firmianus Lactantius was an early Christian Latin author and rhetorician who served as tutor to the son of the emperor Constantine. Trained in classical rhetoric and converted as an adult, he produced the Divine Institutes, the first systematic presentation of Christian thought in elegant Latin prose, addressed to a cultivated pagan readership. His later On the Deaths of the Persecutors records the history of the Diocletianic persecution and the rise of Constantine. The renewed interest in his polished Latin in the Renaissance earned him the title the Christian Cicero.

Key facts

Nationality: Roman
Era: Ancient
Movements: Christian Philosophy

Selected quotes

Attributed to Lactantius:

“If God did not exist, ethics would be merely human convention.”
Attributed to Lactantius:

“Justice is the mother of all virtues.”
Attributed to Lactantius:

“Religion is the bond between God and human beings.”
Attributed to Lactantius:

“Wisdom and religion are inseparable; we cannot have one without the other.”
Attributed to Lactantius:

“The first duty is to know God; the second, to fear him; the third, to love him.”

Read all Lactantius quotes

Lactantius by topic

Frequently asked about Lactantius

When did Lactantius live?: Lactantius was born in c. 250 AD and died in c. 325 AD.
Where was Lactantius from?: Lactantius was a Roman philosopher of the Ancient era.
What philosophical movements is Lactantius associated with?: Lactantius was associated with Christian Philosophy.
What was Lactantius known for?: Lucius Caecilius Firmianus Lactantius was an early Christian Latin author and rhetorician who served as tutor to the son of the emperor Constantine.
How many quotes are attributed to Lactantius?: There are 12 attributed quotations from Lactantius in the 1001Philosophers collection, organized by topic.