De Plantatione

And, indeed, God has caused plants to grow with their heads downwards, having fixed their heads in the deepest parts of the earth; and having drawn up the heads of the irrational animals from the earth, he has set them up high on long necks, putting their fore feet under their necks as a kind of foundation.

But man has received a preeminently superior formation. For of all other animals God has bent the eyes downwards, so that they look upon the ground; but on the other hand, he has raised the eyes of man so that he may behold the heaven, being not a terrestrial but a celestial plant as the old proverb is. [*](This is similar to what Ovid says — Pronaque dum spectant animalia caetera terram. Os homini sublime dedit: ccelumque tueri Jussit et erectos ad sidera tollere vultus. Which may be translated- And while all other creatures from their birth With downcast eyes gaze on their kindred earth, He bids man walk erect, and scan the heaven, From whence he sprung, to which his hopes are given. ) [*](This is similar to what Ovid says — Pronaque dum spectant animalia caetera terram. Os homini sublime dedit: ccelumque tueri Jussit et erectos ad sidera tollere vultus. Which may be translated- And while all other creatures from their birth With downcast eyes gaze on their kindred earth, He bids man walk erect, and scan the heaven, From whence he sprung, to which his hopes are given. )