Plutarch Quotes
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To make no mistakes is not in the power of man; but from their errors and mistakes the wise and good learn wisdom for the future.
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Anger turns the mind out of doors and bolts the entrance.
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It is not reasonable that he who does not shoot should hit the mark, nor that he who does not stand fast at his post should win the day, or that the helpless man should succeed or the coward prosper.
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Evidence of trust begets trust, and love is reciprocated by love.
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When malice is joined to envy, there is given forth poisonous and feculent matter, as ink from the cuttle-fish.
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He who cheats with an oath acknowledges that he is afraid of his enemy, but that he thinks little of God.
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Water continually dropping will wear hard rocks hollow.
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When one asked him what boys should learn, 'That,' said he, 'which they shall use when men.'
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It is a high distinction for a homely woman to be loved for her character rather than for beauty.
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Knowledge of divine things for the most part, as Heraclitus says, is lost to us by incredulity.
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If you hate your enemies, you will contract such a vicious habit of mind that it will break out upon those who are your friends, or those who are indifferent to you.
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When Alexander asked Diogenes whether he wanted anything, 'Yes,' said he, 'I would have you stand from between me and the sun.'
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If any man think it a small matter, or of mean concernment, to bridle his tongue, he is much mistaken; for it is a point to be silent when occasion requires, and better than to speak, though never so well.
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A remorseful change of mind renders even a noble action base, whereas the determination which is grounded on knowledge and reason cannot change even if its actions fail.
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The belly has no ears.
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Thus our judgments, if they do not borrow from reason and philosophy a fixity and steadiness of purpose in their acts, are easily swayed and influenced by the praise or blame of others, which make us distrust our own opinions.
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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.
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Socrates... said he was not an Athenian or a Greek, but a citizen of the world.
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Friendship requires a steady, constant, and unchangeable character, a person that is uniform in his intimacy.
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Immoderate grief is selfish, harmful, brings no advantage to either the mourner or the mourned, and dishonors the dead.
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Being nimble and light-footed, his father encouraged him to run in the Olympic race. 'Yes,' said he, 'if there were any kings there to run with me.'
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Archimedes had stated, that given the force, any given weight might be moved; and even boasted that if there were another earth, by going into it he could remove this.
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Apothegms are the most infallible mirror to represent a man truly what he is.
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He made one of Antipater's recommendation a judge; and perceiving afterwards that his hair and beard were coloured, he removed him, saying, 'I could not think one that was faithless in his hair could be trusty in his deeds.'