Plutarch Quotes

Greek philosopher and historian (c. AD 46 – after AD 119)

Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus (c. 46 – 120) was a Greek historian, biographer, and essayist.

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Native Name: L. Mestrius Plutarchus • Πλούταρχος

Alternative Names: Plutarchus • Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus • Plutarchos • Plutarch of Chaeronea • Ploutarchos

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After giving marriage such traits of reserve and decorum, he none the less freed men from the empty and womanish passion of jealous possession, by making it honourable for them, while keeping the marriage relation free from all wanton irregularities, to share with other worthy men in the begetting of children,

In words are seen the state of mind and character and disposition of the speaker.

But for the sake of some little mouthful of flesh we deprive a soul of the sun and light, and of that proportion of life and time it had been born into the world to enjoy.

To seek power by servility to the people is a disgrace, but to maintain it by terror, violence, and oppression is not a disgrace only, but an injustice.

Small, therefore, can we think the progress we have made, as long as our admiration for those who have done noble things is barren, and does not of itself incite us to imitate them.

To learn is simply to allow something to be done to you.

I will show," said Agesilaus, "that it is not the places that grace men, but men the places.

I don't recall the beginning of what you said, and consequently I also don't grasp the middle sections, while the part at the end I don't approve of.

This may show us how dangerous it is to incur the hostility of a city that is mistress of eloquence and song.

As Athenodorus was taking his leave of Cæsar, "Remember," said he, "Cæsar, whenever you are angry, to say or do nothing before you have repeated the four-and-twenty letters to yourself."

When a man's eyes are sore his friends do not let him finger them, however much he wishes to, nor do they themselves touch the inflammation: But a man sunk in grief suffers every chance comer to stir and augment his affliction like a running sore; and by reason of the fingering and consequent irritation it hardens into a serious and intractable evil.

Courage consists not in hazarding without fear; but being resolutely minded in a just cause.

The Spartans do not ask how many are the enemy but where are they.

For water continually dropping will wear hard rocks hollow.

A Spartan, seeing a man taking up a collection for the gods, said that he did not think much of gods who were poorer than himself.