Plutarch Quotes
Top 100 wise famous quotes and sayings by Plutarch
Plutarch Famous Quotes & Sayings
Discover top inspirational quotes from Plutarch on Wise Famous Quotes.
Demosthenes told Phocion, "The Athenians will kill you some day when they once are in a rage." "And you," said he, "if they are once in their senses.
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?
Cato requested old men not to add the disgrace of wickedness to old age, which was accompanied with many other evils.
Spintharus, speaking in commendation of Epaminondas, says he scarce ever met with any man who knew more and spoke less.
A Spartan, seeing a man taking up a collection for the gods, said that he did not think much of gods who were poorer than himself.
Our nature holds so much envy and malice that our pleasure in our own advantages is not so great as our distress at others'.
When Demaratus was asked whether he held his tongue because he was a fool or for want of words, he replied, A fool cannot hold his tongue.
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.
Phocion compared the speeches of Leosthenes to cypress-trees. "They are tall," said he, "and comely, but bear no fruit.
The man who first brought ruin upon the Roman people was he who pampered them by largesses and amusements.
Plato used to say to Xenocrates the philosopher, who was rough and morose, Good Xenocrates, sacrifice to the Graces.
When malice is joined to envy, there is given forth poisonous and feculent matter, as ink from the cuttle-fish.
Talkativeness has another plague attached to it, even curiosity; for praters wish to hear much that they may have much to say.
I would rather excel in the knowledge of what is excellent, than in the extent of my power and possessions.
Friendship requires a steady, constant, and unchangeable character, a person that is uniform in his intimacy.
Courage and wisdom are, indeed, rarities amongst men, but of all that is good, a just man it would seem is the most scarce.
I have heard that Tiberius used to say that that man was ridiculous, who after sixth years, appealed to a physician.
Let a prince be guarded with soldiers, attended by councillors, and shut up in forts; yet if his thoughts disturb him, he is miserable.
The most glorious exploits do not always furnish us with the clearest discoveries of virtue or vice in men.
He who first called money the sinews of the state seems to have said this with special reference to war.
Immoderate grief is selfish, harmful, brings no advantage to either the mourner or the mourned, and dishonors the dead.
[It was] better to set up a monarchy themselves than to suffer a sedition to continue that must certainly end in one.
Man is neither by birth nor disposition a savage, nor of unsocial habits, but only becomes so by indulging in vices contrary to his nature.
Nothing is harder to direct than a man in prosperity; nothing more easily managed that one is adversity.
It is no flattery to give a friend a due character; for commendation is as much the duty of a friend as reprehension.
Demosthenes overcame and rendered more distinct his inarticulate and stammering pronunciation by speaking with pebbles in his mouth.
Agesilaus being invited once to hear a man who admirably imitated the nightingale, he declined, saying he had heard the nightingale itself.
Justice makes the life of such as are in prosperity, power and authority the life of a god, and injustice turns it to that of a beast.
Wickedness is a wonderfully diligent architect of misery, of shame, accompanied with terror, and commotion, and remorse, and endless perturbation.
I don't need a friend who change when I change, who nod when I nod. This is something than my own shadow can do.