The phrase was first used in the Satiricon written by Petronius (Titus Petronius Arbiter)

"This is the right armour of genius-
"Drink deep or taste not the Pierian spring."
Only then pour out your heart."

In 1969 Frederico Fellini made a film, Fellini Satiricon , that was loosely based upon the book. The film is deliberately fragmented and surreal though the androgynous Giton (Max Born) gives the graphic picture of Petronius’ character.