Plutarch Quotes
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If Nature be not improved by instruction, it is blind; if instruction be not assisted by Nature, it is maimed; and if exercise fail of the assistance of both, it is imperfect.
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Speech is like cloth of Arras opened and put abroad, whereby the imagery doth appear in figure; whereas in thoughts they lie but as packs.
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God is the brave man's hope, and not the coward's excuse.
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I have heard that Tiberius used to say that that man was ridiculous, who after sixth years, appealed to a physician.
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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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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.
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Be ruled by time, the wisest counsellor of all.
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There were two brothers called Both and Either; perceiving Either was a good, understanding, busy fellow, and Both a silly fellow and good for little, Philip said, 'Either is both, and Both is neither.'
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What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality.
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Good birth is a fine thing, but the merit is our ancestors.
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Being about to pitch his camp in a likely place, and hearing there was no hay to be had for the cattle, 'What a life,' said he, 'is ours, since we must live according to the convenience of asses!'
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The generous mind adds dignity to every act, and nothing misbecomes it.
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Rather I fear on the contrary that while we banish painful thoughts we may banish memory as well.
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Themistocles said to Antiphales, 'Time, young man, has taught us both a lesson'.
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The soul of man... is a portion or a copy of the soul of the Universe and is joined together on principles and in proportions corresponding to those which govern the Universe.
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Thrasyllus the Cynic begged a drachm of Antigonus. 'That,' said he, 'is too little for a king to give.' 'Why, then,' said the other, 'give me a talent.' 'And that,' said he, 'is too much for a Cynic (or, for a dog) to receive.'
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As small letters hurt the sight, so do small matters him that is too much intent upon them; they vex and stir up anger, which begets an evil habit in him in reference to greater affairs.
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The new king [Alexander the Great] should perform acts so important and glorious as would make the poets and musicians of future ages labour and sweat to describe and celebrate him.
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There is no debt with so much prejudice put off as that of justice.
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Knavery is the best defense against a knave.
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Playing the Cretan with the Cretans (i.e. lying to liars).
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Leo Byzantius said, 'What would you do, if you saw my wife, who scarce reaches up to my knees?… Yet,' went he on, 'as little as we are, when we fall out with each other, the city of Byzantium is not big enough to hold us.'
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Nothing exists in the intellect that has not first gone through the senses.
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Aristodemus, a friend of Antigonus, supposed to be a cook's son, advised him to moderate his gifts and expenses. 'Thy words,' said he, 'Aristodemus, smell of the apron.'