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Plutarch (Philosopher)

The measure of a man is the way he bears up under misfortune.
— Plutarch man
What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality.
— Plutarch war
Know how to listen, and you will profit even from those who talk badly.
— Plutarch you
Eurybiades lifting up his staff as if he were going to strike, Themistocles said, Strike, if you will; but hear.
— Plutarch you
No man ever wetted clay and then left it, as if there would be bricks by chance and fortune.Of Fortune
— Plutarch man
Scilurus on his death-bed, being about to leave four-score sons surviving, offered a bundle of darts to each of them, and bade them break them. When all refused, drawing out one by one, he easily broke them,—thus teaching them that if they held together, they would continue strong; but if they fell out and were divided, they would become weak.31 Scilurus
— Plutarch death
These Macedonians, said he, are a rude and clownish people, that call a spade a spade.39 Philip
— Plutarch people
A Roman divorced from his wife, being highly blamed by his friends, who demanded, Was she not chaste? Was she not fair? Was she not fruitful? holding out his shoe, asked them whether it was not new and well made. Yet, added he, none of you can tell where it pinches me.Aemilius Paulus, sec. 29
— Plutarch friends
Alexander said, I assure you I had rather excel others in the knowledge of what is excellent, than in the extent of my power and dominion.Life of Alexander
— Plutarch life
Character is simply habit long continued.
— Plutarch character
Epaminondas is reported wittily to have said of a good man that died about the time of the battle of Leuctra, How came he to have so much leisure as to die, when there was so much stirring?Rules for the Preservation of Health, 25
— Plutarch time
On Listening to Lectures, Plutarch, Moralia 48C variously called De auditione Philosophorum or De Auditu or De Recta Audiendi Ratione
— Plutarch listening
Perseverance is more prevailing than violence and many things which cannot be overcome when they are together, yield themselves up when taken little by little.
— Plutarch man
Simonides calls painting silent poetry, and poetry speaking painting.Whether the Athenians were more Warlike or Learned, 3
— Plutarch poetry
A soldier told Pelopidas, We are fallen among the enemies. Said he, How are we fallen among them more than they among us?63 Pelopidas
— Plutarch enemies
Abstain from beans; that is, keep out of public offices, for anciently the choice of the officers of state was made by beans.
— Plutarch choice
Alexander was wont to say, Were I not Alexander, I would be Diogenes.Of the Fortune or Virtue of Alexander the Great
— Plutarch virtue
Antiphanes said merrily that in a certain city the cold was so intense that words were congealed as soon as spoken, but that after some time they thawed and became audible; so that the words spoken in winter articulated next summer.Of Mans Progress in Virtue
— Plutarch time
Aristodemus, a friend of Antigonus, supposed to be a cooks son, advised him to moderate his gifts and expenses. Thy words, said he, Aristodemus, smell of the apron.44 Antigonus I
— Plutarch words
As Cæsar was at supper the discourse was of death,—which sort was the best. That, said he, which is unexpected.Cæsar
— Plutarch death
As Meander says, For our mind is God; and as Heraclitus, Mans genius is a deity.Platonic Questions, i
— Plutarch god
Good fortune will elevate even petty minds, and give them the appearance of a certain greatness and stateliness, as from their high place they look down upon the world; but the truly noble and resolved spirit raises itself, and becomes more conspicuous in times of disaster and ill fortune.Eumenes, sec. 9
— Plutarch time
He preferred an honest man that wooed his daughter, before a rich man. I would rather, said Themistocles, have a man that wants money than money that wants a man.49 Themistocles
— Plutarch money
It is circumstance and proper measure that give an action its character, and make it either good or bad.Life of Agesilaus II
— Plutarch life
It was the saying of Bion, that though the boys throw stones at frogs in sport, yet the frogs do not die in sport but in earnest.Which are the most crafty, Water or Land Animals?, 7
— Plutarch animals
King Agis said, The Lacedæmonians are not wont to ask how many, but where the enemy are.58 Agis
— Plutarch man
Knowledge of divine things for the most part, as Heraclitus says, is lost to us by incredulity.Life of Coriolanus
— Plutarch life
Lampis, the sea commander, being asked how he got his wealth, answered, My greatest estate I gained easily enough, but the smaller slowly and with much labour.Whether an Aged Man ought to meddle in State Affairs
— Plutarch man
Lycurgus the Lacedæmonian brought long hair into fashion among his countrymen, saying that it rendered those that were handsome more beautiful, and those that were deformed more terrible. To one that advised him to set up a democracy in Sparta, Pray, said Lycurgus, do you first set up a democracy in your own house.57 Lycurgus
— Plutarch art
No beast is more savage than man when possessed with power answerable to his rage.
— Plutarch power
One made the observation of the people of Asia that they were all slaves to one man, merely because they could not pronounce that syllable No.Of Bashfulness
— Plutarch people
Phocion compared the speeches of Leosthenes to cypress-trees. They are tall, said he, and comely, but bear no fruit.56 Phocion
— Plutarch trees
Pythagoras, when he was asked what time was, answered that it was the soul of this world.Platonic Questions, viii, 4
— Plutarch time
Pythias once, scoffing at Demosthenes, said that his arguments smelt of the lamp.Life of Demosthenes
— Plutarch life
Socrates said, Bad men live that they may eat and drink, whereas good men eat and drink that they may live.How a Young Man ought to hear Poems, 4
— Plutarch men
Themistocles being asked whether he would rather be Achilles or Homer, said, Which would you rather be,—a conqueror in the Olympic games, or the crier that proclaims who are conquerors?48 Themistocles
— Plutarch home
Themistocles said that he certainly could not make use of any stringed instrument; could only, were a small and obscure city put into his hands, make it great and glorious.
— Plutarch men
Those who aim at great deeds must also suffer greatly.
— Plutarch great
Thus they let their anger and fury take from them the sense of humanity, and demonstrated that no beast is more savage than man when possessed with power answerable to his rage.The Life of Cicero
— Plutarch life
To conduct great matters and never commit a fault is above the force of human nature.Life of Fabius
— Plutarch life
To sing the same tune, as the saying is, is in everything cloying and offensive; but men are generally pleased with variety.
— Plutarch men
Vos vestros servate, meos mihi linquite moresYou keep to your own ways, and leave mine to me
— Plutarch you
We are more sensible of what is done against custom than against Nature.Of Eating of Flesh, Tract 1
— Plutarch nature
What spectator would not exclaim that through Fortune the foreign host was prevailing beyond its deserts, but through Virtue the Hellenes were holding out beyond their ability? And if the ones i.e., the enemy gains the upper hand, this will be the work of Fortune or of some jealous deity or of divine retribution; but if the others i.e., the Greeks prevail, it will be Virtue and daring, friendship and fidelity, that will win the guerdon of victory? These were, in fact, the only support that Alexander had with him at this time, since Fortune had put a barrier between him and the rest of his forces and equipment, fleets, horse, and camp. Finally, the Macedonians routed the barbarians, and, when they had fallen, pulled down their city on their heads.On the Fortune of Alexander, II, 344 e-f, Loeb
— Plutarch friendship
νήπιος, ὃς τὰ ἕτοιμα λιπὼν ἀνέτοιμα διώκειHe is a fool who leaves things close at hand to follow what is out of reach. Of Garrulity. Attributed to Hesiod, Frag. 219
— Plutarch
ἡ ἀνάπαυσις τῶν πόνων ἐστὶν ἄρτυμα.Translation: Rest gives relish to labour. 13
— Plutarch

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