Quotes by Plutarch
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Prosperity has this property, it puffs up narrow Souls, makes them imagine themselves high and mighty, and look down upon the World with Contempt; but a truly noble and resolved Spirit appears greatest in Distress, and then becomes more bright and conspicuous.

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.

As geographers, Sosius, crowd into the edges of their maps parts of the world which they do not know about, adding notes in the margin to the effect that beyond this lies nothing but sandy deserts full of wild beasts, and unapproachable bogs.

I had rather men should ask why my statue is not set up, than why it is.

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?

If you light upon an impertinent talker, that sticks to you like a bur, to the disappointment of your important occasions, deal freely with him, break off the discourse, and pursue your business.

Extraordinary rains pretty generally fall after great battles.

If we traverse the world, it is possible to find cities without walls, without letters, without kings, without wealth, without coin, without schools and theatres; but a city without a temple, or that practiseth not worship, prayer, and the like, no one ever saw.

Nothing is cheap which is superfluous, for what one does not need, is dear at a penny.

I, for my own part, had much rather people should say of me that there neither is nor ever was such a man as Plutarch, than that they should say, Plutarch is an unsteady, fickle, froward, vindictive, and touchy fellow.

Nor let us part with justice, like a cheap and common thing, for a small and trifling price.

It is no disgrace not to be able to do everything; but to undertake, or pretend to do, what you are not made for, is not only shameful, but extremely troublesome and vexatious.

Blinded as they are to their true character by self-love, every man is his own first and chiefest flatterer, prepared, therefore, to welcome the flatterer from the outside, who only comes confirming the verdict of the flatterer within.

Cicero called Aristotle a river of flowing gold, and said of Plato's Dialogues, that if Jupiter were to speak, it would be in language like theirs.

Plato used to say to Xenocrates the philosopher, who was rough and morose, Good Xenocrates, sacrifice to the Graces.

Philosophy is the art of living.

A good man will take care of his horses and dogs, not only while they are young, but when old and past service.

Demaratus, being asked in a troublesome manner by an importunate fellow, Who was the best man in Lacedaemon? answered at last, 'He, Sir, that is the least like you'.

When someone blamed Hecataeus the sophist because that, being invited to the public table, he had not spoken one word all supper-time, Archidamidas answered in his vindication 'He who knows how to speak, knows also when'.

Alcibiades had a very handsome dog, that cost him seven thousand drachmas; and he cut off his tail, that, said he, the Athenians may have this story to tell of me, and may concern themselves no further with me.

Though others before him had triumphed three times, Pompeius, by having gained his first triumph over Libya, his second over Europe, and this the last over Asia, seemed in a manner to have brought the whole world into his three triumphs.

Music, to create harmony, must investigate discord.

Nothing can produce so great a serenity of life as a mind free from guilt and kept untainted, not only from actions, but purposes that are wicked. By this means the soul will be not only unpolluted but also undisturbed. The fountain will run clear and unsullied.

Among real friends there is no rivalry or jealousy of one another, but they are satisfied and contented alike whether they are equal or one of them is superior.

Had I a careful and pleasant companion that should show me my angry face in a glass, I should not at all take it ill; to behold man's self so unnaturally disguised and dishonored will conduce not a little to the impeachment of anger.

It is wise to be silent when occasion requires, and better than to speak, though never so well.

The state of life is most happy where superfluities are not required and necessities are not wanting.

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.

A human body in no way resembles those that were born for ravenousness; it hath no hawk's bill, no sharp talon, no roughness of teeth, no such strength of stomach or heat of digestion, as can be sufficient to convert or alter such heavy and fleshy fare.

For water continually dropping will wear hard rocks hollow.

Those who aim at great deeds must also suffer greatly.

Grief is natural; the absence of all feeling is undesirable, but moderation in grief should be observed, as in the face of all good or evil.

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

It is indeed a desirable thing to be well-descended, but the glory belongs to our ancestors.

Moral habits, induced by public practices, are far quicker in making their way into men's private lives, than the failings and faults of individuals are in infecting the city at large.

Medicine to produce health must examine disease; and music, to create harmony must investigate discord.

Character is simply habit long continued.

I don't need a friend who changes when I change and who nods when I nod; my shadow does that much better.

The real destroyer of the liberties of the people is he who spreads among them bounties, donations and benefits.

It is part of a good man to do great and noble deeds, though he risk everything.

A few vices are sufficient to darken many virtues.

Neither blame or praise yourself.

To be ignorant of the lives of the most celebrated men of antiquity is to continue in a state of childhood all our days.

Prosperity is no just scale; adversity is the only balance to weigh friends.

The omission of good is no less reprehensible than the commission of evil.

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.

Know how to listen, and you will profit even from those who talk badly.

Silence at the proper season is wisdom, and better than any speech.

Let us carefully observe those good qualities wherein our enemies excel us; and endeavor to excel them, by avoiding what is faulty, and imitating what is excellent in them.

Do not speak of your happiness to one less fortunate than yourself.

The very spring and root of honesty and virtue lie in good education.