Plutarch Quotes & Sayings

Menestheus, the son of Peteus, grandson of Orneus, and the great-grandson to Erechtheus, the first man that is recorded to have affected popularity and ingratiated himself with the multitude, stirred up and exasperated the most eminent men of the city, who had long borne a secret grudge to Theseus, conceiving that he had robbed them of their several little kingdoms and lordships, and, having pent them all up in one city, was using them as his subjects and slaves. He put also the meaner people into commotion, telling them, that, deluded with a mere dream of liberty, though indeed they were deprived both of that and of their proper homes and religious usages, instead of many good and gracious kings of their own, they had given themselves up to be lorded over by a new-comer and a stranger. — Plutarch

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? — Plutarch

Authority and place demonstrate and try the tempers of men, by moving every passion and discovering every frailty. — Plutarch

Character is inured habit. — Plutarch

No man ever wetted clay and then left it, as if there would be bricks by chance and fortune. — Plutarch

Why does pouring Oil on the Sea make it Clear and Calm? Is it that the winds, slipping the smooth oil, have no force, nor cause any waves? — Plutarch

Where the lion's skin will not reach, you must patch it out with the fox's. — Plutarch

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. — Plutarch

take care, in reading the writings of philosophers or hearing their speeches, that you do not attend to words more than things, nor get attracted more by what is difficult and curious than by what is serviceable and solid and useful. — Plutarch

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. — Plutarch

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. — Plutarch

There are two sentences inscribed upon the Ancient oracle ... "Know thyself" and "Nothing too much"; and upon these all other precepts depend. — Plutarch

Even so the more a vicious man denies his vice, the more does it insinuate itself and master him: as those people really poor who pretend to be rich get still more poor from their false display. — Plutarch

And that which is often said of the volume and power of the human voice was then apparent to the eye. For ravens which chanced to be flying overhead fell down into the stadium. The cause of this was the rupture of the air; for when the voice is borne aloft loud and strong, the air is rent asunder by it and will not support flying creatures, but lets them fall, as if they were over a vacuum, unless, indeed, they are transfixed by a sort of blow, as of a weapon, and fall down dead. It is possible, too, that in such cases there is a whirling motion of the air, which becomes like a waterspout at sea with a refluent flow of the surges caused by their very volume. — Plutarch

For though all persons are equally subject to the caprice of fortune, yet all good men have one advantage she cannot deny, which is this, to act reasonably under misfortunes. — Plutarch

Mothers ought to bring up and nurse their own children; for they bring them up with greater affection and with greater anxiety, as loving them from the heart, and so to speak, every inch of them. — Plutarch

For dealing with blessings which come to us from outside we need a firm foundation based on reason and education; without this foundation, people keep on seeking these blessings and heaping them up but can never satisfy the insatiable appetites of their souls. — Plutarch

Pittacus said, "Every one of you hath his particular plague, and my wife is mine; and he is very happy who hath this only". — Plutarch

When Demosthenes was asked what were the three most important aspects of oratory, he answered, 'Action, Action, Action.' — Plutarch

For there is no virtue, the honor and credit for which procures a man more odium than that of justice; and this, because more than any other, it acquires a man power and authority among the common people. — Plutarch

Courage and wisdom are, indeed, rarities amongst men, but of all that is good, a just man it would seem is the most scarce. — Plutarch

The malicious humor of men, though perverse and refractory, is not so savage and invincible but it may be wrought upon by kindness, and altered by repeated obligations. — Plutarch

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

He [Caesar] loved the treason, but hated the traitor. — Plutarch

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. — Plutarch

I would rather excel in the knowledge of what is excellent, than in the extent of my power and possessions. — Plutarch

Fortune had favoured me in this war that I feared, the rather, that some tempest would follow so favourable a gale. — Plutarch

A mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be lighted. — Plutarch

For it is not Histories that I am writing, but Lives; and in the most illustrious deeds there is not always a manifestation of virtue or vice, nay, a slight thing like a phrase or a jest often makes a greater revelation of character than battles where thousands fall, or the greatest armaments, or sieges of cities. — Plutarch

When the candles are out all women are fair. — Plutarch

But the Lacedaemonians, who make it their first principle of action to serve their country's interest, know not any thing to be just or unjust by any measure but that. — Plutarch

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. — Plutarch

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

Agesilaus being invited once to hear a man who admirably imitated the nightingale, he declined, saying he had heard the nightingale itself. — Plutarch

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. — Plutarch

As those that pull down private houses adjoining to the temples of the gods, prop up such parts as are contiguous to them; so, in undermining bashfulness, due regard is to be had to adjacent modesty, good-nature and humanity. — Plutarch

Cicero said loud-bawling orators were driven by their weakness to noise, as lame men to take horse. — Plutarch

As in the case of painters, who have undertaken to give us a beautiful and graceful figure, which may have some slight blemishes, we do not wish then to pass over such blemishes altogether, nor yet to mark them too prominently. The one would spoil the beauty, and the other destroy the likeness of the picture. — Plutarch

He who cheats with an oath acknowledges that he is afraid of his enemy, but that he thinks little of God. — Plutarch

Courage consists not in hazarding without fear; but being resolutely minded in a just cause. — Plutarch

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

As bees extract honey from thyme, the strongest and driest of herbs, so sensible men often get advantage and profit from the most awkward circumstances. — Plutarch

Once when Phocion had delivered an opinion which pleased the people, ... he turned to his friend and said, Have I not unawares spoken some mischievous thing or other? — Plutarch

When men are arrived at the goal, they should not turn back. — Plutarch

Our nature holds so much envy and malice that our pleasure in our own advantages is not so great as our distress at others'. — Plutarch

For it was not so much that by means of words I came to a complete understanding of things, as that from things I somehow had an experience which enabled me to follow the meaning of words. — Plutarch

It is a difficult task, O citizens, to make speeches to the belly, which has no ears. — Plutarch

What All The World Knows Water is the principle, or the element, of things. All things are water. — Plutarch

He is a fool who leaves things close at hand to follow what is out of reach. — Plutarch

For the rich men without scruple drew the estate into their own hands, excluding the rightful heirs from their succession; and all the wealth being centred upon the few, the generality were poor and miserable. Honourable pursuits, for which there was no longer leisure, were neglected; the state was filled with sordid business, and with hatred and envy of the rich. — Plutarch

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. — Plutarch

Lysander said that the law spoke too softly to be heard in such a noise of war. — Plutarch

When Eudaemonidas heard a philosopher arguing that only a wise man can be a good general, "This is a wonderful speech," said he; "but he that saith it never heard the sound of trumpets. — Plutarch

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. — Plutarch

The truly pious must negotiate a difficult course between the precipice of godlessness and the marsh of superstition. — Plutarch

To do an evil action is base; to do a good action without incurring danger is common enough; but it is the part of a good man to do great and noble deeds, though he risks every thing. — Plutarch

Evidence of trust begets trust, and love is reciprocated by love. — Plutarch

The process may seem strange and yet it is very true. I did not so much gain the knowledge of things by the words, as words by the experience I had of things. — Plutarch

Sertorius rose up and spoke to his army, "You see, fellow soldiers, that perseverance is more prevailing than violence, and that many things which cannot be overcome when they are together, yield themselves up when taken little by little. Assiduity and persistence are irresistible, and in time overthrow and destroy the greatest powers whatever. Time being the favorable friend and assistant of those who use their judgment to await his occasions, and the destructive enemy of those who are unseasonably urging and pressing forward. — Plutarch

And Archimedes, as he was washing, thought of a manner of computing the proportion of gold in King Hiero's crown by seeing the water flowing over the bathing-stool. He leaped up as one possessed or inspired, crying, "I have found it! Eureka!". — Plutarch

He who reflects on another man's want of breeding, shows he wants it as much himself — Plutarch

A healer of others, himself diseased. — Plutarch

The same intelligence is required to marshal an army in battle and to order a good dinner. The first must be as formidable as possible, the second as pleasant as possible, to the participants. — Plutarch

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. — Plutarch

The crowns of kings do not prevent those who wear them from being tormented sometimes by violent headaches. — Plutarch

Empire may be gained by gold, not gold by empire. It used, indeed, to be a proverb that It is not Philip, but Philip's gold that takes the cities of Greece. — Plutarch

Either is both, and Both is neither. — Plutarch

It is a thing of no great difficulty to raise objections against another man's oration, it is a very easy matter; but to produce a better in it's place is a work extremely troublesome. — Plutarch

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

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. — Plutarch

There is no stronger test of a person's character than power and authority, exciting as they do every passion, and discovering every latent vice. — Plutarch

He who least likes courting favour, ought also least to think of resenting neglect; to feel wounded at being refused a distinction can only arise from an overweening appetite to have it. — Plutarch

Alexander wept when he heard from Anaxarchus that there was an infinite number of worlds; and his friends asking him if any accident had befallen him, he returns this answer: Do you not think it a matter worthy of lamentation that when there is such a vast multitude of them, we have not yet conquered one? — Plutarch

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

Caesar once, seeing some wealthy strangers at Rome, carrying up and down with them in their arms and bosoms young puppy-dogs and monkeys, embracing and making much of them, took occasion not unnaturally to ask whether the women in their country were not used to bear children; by that prince-like reprimand gravely reflecting upon persons who spend and lavish upon brute beasts that affection and kindness which nature has implanted in us to be bestowed on those of our own kind. With like reason may we blame those who misuse that love of inquiry and observation which nature has implanted in our souls, by expending it on objects unworthy of the attention either of their eyes or their ears, while they disregard such as are excellent in themselves, and would do them good. — Plutarch

Nor is drunkenness censured for anything so much as its intemperate and endless talk. — Plutarch

He is a fool who lets slip a bird in the hand for a bird in the bush. — Plutarch

Small, therefore, can we think the progress we have made, as long as our admiration for those who have done noble things is barren, and does not of itself incite us to imitate them. — Plutarch

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. — Plutarch

A Roman divorced from his wife, being highly blamed by his friends, who demanded, "Was she not chaste? Was she not fair? Was she not fruitful?" holding out his shoe, asked them whether it was not new and well made. "Yet," added he, "none of you can tell where it pinches me.' — Plutarch

For the correct analogy for the mind is not a vessel that needs filling, but wood that needs igniting. — Plutarch

Moral good is a practical stimulus; it is no sooner seen than it inspires an impulse to practice. — Plutarch

The future bears down upon each one of us with all the hazards of the unknown. The only way out is through. — Plutarch

Democritus said, words are but the shadows of actions. — Plutarch

Talkativeness has another plague attached to it, even curiosity; for praters wish to hear much that they may have much to say. — Plutarch

When the strong box contains no more both friends and flatterers shun the door. — Plutarch

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

In Springtime, O Dionysos,
To thy holy temple come,
To Elis with thy Graces,
Rushing with thy bull-foot, come,
Noble Bull, Noble Bull — Plutarch

I am whatever was, or is, or will be; and my veil no mortal ever took up. — Plutarch

Nothing is harder to direct than a man in prosperity; nothing more easily managed that one is adversity. — Plutarch

Vultures are the most righteous of birds: they do not attack even the smallest living creature. — Plutarch

And the most glorious exploits do not always furnish us with the clearest discoveries of virtue or vice in men; sometimes a matter of less moment, an expression or a jest, informs us better of their characters and inclinations, than the most famous sieges, the greatest armaments, or the bloodiest battles whatsoever. Therefore as portrait-painters are more exact in the lines and features of the face, in which the character is seen, than in the other parts of the body, so I must be allowed to give my more particular attention to the marks and indications of the souls of men, and while I endeavor by these to portray their lives, may be free to leave more weighty matters and great battles to be treated of by others. — Plutarch

They fought indeed and were slain, but it was to maintain the luxury and the wealth of other men. — Plutarch

To the Greeks, the supreme function of music was to "praise the gods and educate the youth". In Egypt ... Initiatory music was heard only in Temple rites because it carried the vibratory rhythms of other worlds and of a life beyond the mortal. — Plutarch

That proverbial saying, Ill news goes quick and far. — Plutarch

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

Pompey had fought brilliantly and in the end routed Caesar's whole force ... but either he was unable to or else he feared to push on. Caesar [said] to his friends: 'Today the enemy would have won, if they had had a commander who was a winner. — Plutarch

It does not follow, that because a particular work of art succeeds in charming us, its creator also deserves our admiration. — Plutarch

When Anaxagoras was told of the death of his son, he only said, "I knew he was mortal." So we in all casualties of life should say "I knew my riches were uncertain, that my friend was but a man." Such considerations would soon pacify us, because all our troubles proceed from their being unexpected. — Plutarch

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. — Plutarch