Authors:

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z

Plutarch Quotes - Page 14

All Quotes Adversity Age Anger Army Art Belief Birth Change Character Children Courage Death Democracy Destiny Earth Education Envy Evil Failing Fate Feelings Fighting Food Friends Friendship Giving Glory God Gold Greek Grief Happiness Heart House Inspiration Inspirational Justice Learning Life Lying Motivational Pain Passion Perseverance Philosophy Plato Pleasure Politics Poverty Praise Prosperity Rage Reality Shame Silence Son Soul Study Suffering Teaching Time Understanding Virtue War Water Wealth Wife Wisdom

Good fortune will elevate even petty minds, and give them the appearance of a certain greatness and stateliness, as from their high place they look down upon the world; but the truly noble and resolved spirit raises

Good fortune will elevate even petty minds, and give them the appearance of a certain greatness and stateliness, as from their high place they look down upon the world; but the truly noble and resolved spirit raises itself, and becomes more conspicuous in times of disaster and ill fortune.

Greatness, Giving, Mind

Plutarch (2000). “The Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans, Volume II: (A Modern Library E-Book)”, p.64, Modern Library

Lampis, the sea commander, being asked how he got his wealth, answered, "My greatest estate I gained easily enough, but the smaller slowly and with much labour.

Sea, Wealth, Enough

Plutarch (1909). “Plutarch's essays and miscellanies, comprising all the works collected under the title of "Morals", translated from the Greek by several hands, corr. and rev. by William W. Goodwin”

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.

Men, People, Fickle

Plutarch, William Watson Goodwin (1874). “Plutarch's Morals”

These Macedonians are a rude and clownish people; they call a spade a spade.

People, Rude, Spades

When one told Plistarchus that a notorious railer spoke well of him, "I'll lay my life," said he, "somebody hath told him I am dead, for he can speak well of no man living.'

Men, Speak, Notorious

"Laconic Apophthegms". Reported in "Bartlett's Familiar Quotations," 10th ed., 1919.

A warrior carries his shield for the sake of the entire line.

Warrior, Sake, Lines

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.

Running, Grief, Eye

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

Family, Ancestry, Glory

Plutarch (1871). “Plutarch's Morals”, p.12

By the study of their biographies, we receive each man as a guest into our minds, and we seem to understand their character as the result of a personal acquaintance, because we have obtained from their acts the best and most important means of forming an opinion about them. "What greater pleasure could'st thou gain than this?" What more valuable for the elevation of our own character?

Character, Mean, Men

Plutarch (2012). “Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans: Complete”, p.330, Simon and Schuster

We ought to give our friend pain if it will benefit him, but not to the extent of breaking off our friendship; but just as we make use of some biting medicine that will save and preserve the life of the patient. And so the friend, like a musician, in bringing about an improvement to what is good and expedient, sometimes slackens the chords, sometimes tightens them, and is often pleasant, but always useful.

Friends, Pain, Medicine

Plutarch (1888). “Morals: Ethical Essays. Translated, with Notes and Index. by Arthur Richard Shilleto”

Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is painting that speaks.

Art, Poetry, Greek

Dionysius the Elder, being asked whether he was at leisure, he replied, "God forbid that it should ever befall me!"

Leisure, Should, Elders

"Apophthegms of Kings and Great Commanders". Book by Plutarch. "32 Dionysius". "Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th edition", 1919.

Pompey bade Sylla recollect that more worshipped the rising than the setting sun.

Rising, Pompey, Sun

Plutarch (2000). “The Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans, Volume II: (A Modern Library E-Book)”, p.133, Modern Library

Demosthenes overcame and rendered more distinct his inarticulate and stammering pronunciation by speaking with pebbles in his mouth.

Mouths, Speech, Pebbles

"Parallel Lives". "Life of Demosthenes" by Plutarch,

He who first called money the sinews of the state seems to have said this with special reference to war.

War, Special, Firsts

Lycurgus the Lacedæmonian brought long hair into fashion among his countrymen, saying that it rendered those that were handsome more beautiful, and those that were deformed more terrible. To one that advised him to set up a democracy in Sparta, "Pray," said Lycurgus, "do you first set up a democracy in your own house."

Beautiful, Fashion, Hair

"Apophthegms of Kings and Great Commanders". 57 Lycurgus. "Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th edition", 1919.

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."

Pulse, Physicians, Use

"Bartlett's Familiar Quotations". Book by John Bartlett, 1919.

Being conscious of having done a wicked action leaves stings of remorse behind it, which, like an ulcer in the flesh, makes the mind smart with perpetual wounds; for reason, which chases away all other pains, creates repentance, shames the soul with confusion, and punishes it with torment.

Pain, Smart, Confusion

Whenever anything is spoken against you that is not true, do not pass by or despise it because it is false; but forthwith examine yourself, and consider what you have said or done that may administer a just occasion of reproof.

Done, May, Despise

The belly has no ears.

Ears, Gluttony, Belly

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.

Military, Ocean, Political

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.

Weight, Earth, Might

Plutarch (2013). “Plutarch's Lives”, p.186, Cosimo, Inc.

Children are to be won to follow liberal studies by exhortations and rational motives, and on no account to be forced thereto by whipping.

Children, Study, Whipping

Plutarch (1871). “Plutarch's Morals”, p.20

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."

Dog, Kings, Giving

"Apophthegms of Kings and Great Commanders". 45 Antigonus I. "Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th edition", 1919.

A Spartan woman, as she handed her son his shield, exhorted him saying, "As a warrior of Sparta come back with your shield or on it."

Warrior, Son, Sparta

You May Also Like: