Plutarch Quotes
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For the wise man, every day is a festival.
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The real destroyer of the liberties of the people is he who spreads among them bounties, donations and benefits.
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'I will show,' said Agesilaus, 'that it is not the places that grace men, but men the places.'
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After the battle in Pharsalia, when Pompey was fled, one Nonius said they had seven eagles left still, and advised to try what they would do. 'Your advice,' said Cicero, 'were good if we were to fight jackdaws.'
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For he who gives no fuel to fire puts it out, and likewise he who does not in the beginning nurse his wrath and does not puff himself up with anger takes precautions against it and destroys it.
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The first man . . . ventured to call food and nourishment the parts that had a little before bellowed and cried, moved and lived. How could his eyes endure the slaughter when throats were slit and hides flayed and limbs torn from limb? How could his nose endure the stench? How was it that the pollution did not turn away his taste, which made contact with the sores of others and sucked juices and serums from mortal wounds?
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The first evil those who are prone to talk suffer, is that they hear nothing.
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'And this,' said Cæsar, 'you know, young man, is more disagreeable for me to say than to do.'
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When Philip had news brought him of divers and eminent successes in one day, 'O Fortune!' said he, 'for all these so great kindnesses do me some small mischief.'
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For the mind does not require filling like a bottle, but rather, like wood, it only requires kindling to create in it an impulse to think independently and an ardent desire for the truth.
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Politics is not like an ocean voyage or a military campaign... something which leaves off as soon as reached. It is not a public chore to be gotten over with. It is a way of life.
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The most glorious exploits do not always furnish us with the clearest discoveries of virtue or vice in men.
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When Darius offered him ten thousand talents, and to divide Asia equally with him, 'I would accept it,' said Parmenio, 'were I Alexander.' 'And so truly would I,' said Alexander, 'if I were Parmenio.' But he answered Darius that the earth could not bear two suns, nor Asia two kings.
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The giving of riches and honors to a wicked man is like giving strong wine to him that hath a fever.
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There are two sentences inscribed upon the Ancient oracle... "Know thyself" and "Nothing too much"; and upon these all other precepts depend.
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A prating barber asked Archelaus how he would be trimmed. He answered, 'In silence.'
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Lysander said that the law spoke too softly to be heard in such a noise of war.
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It is part of a good man to do great and noble deeds, though he risk everything.
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Authority and place demonstrate and try the tempers of men, by moving every passion and discovering every frailty.
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Reason speaks and feeling bites.
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A physician, after he had felt the pulse of Pausanias, and considered his constitution, saying, 'He ails nothing,' 'It is because, sir,' he replied, 'I use none of your physic.'
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It were better to have no opinion of God at all than such a one as is unworthy of him; for the one is only belief - the other contempt.
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Julius Caesar divorced his wife Pompeia, but declared at the trial that he knew nothing of what was alleged against her and Clodius. When asked why, in that case, he had divorced her, he replied: Because I would have the chastity of my wife clear even of suspicion.
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The human heart becomes softened by hearing of instances of gentleness and consideration.