Plutarch Quotes

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A man assumes that wealth is the greatest good. This falsehood contains venom; it feeds upon the soul, distracts him, does not allow him to sleep, fills him with stinging desires, pushes him over precipices, chokes him and takes from him his freedom of speech.

Plutarch (Moralia)

There is a false belief that enjoying good fortune and enjoying happiness are the same. However, good fortune comes to a man from without, whereas happiness is a kind of doing well that comes from within and is only found in a man when he has reached his full development.

Plutarch (Moralia)

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 (Parallel Lives - Aemilius Paulus)

Once you acquire the habit of bearing an enemy's abuse in silence, you will easily bear up under a wife's attack when she rails at you; you will hear without discomposure the bitterest words of friend and brother; you will bear the blows of father or mother without passion or wrath.

Plutarch (Moralia)

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 (Parallel Lives - Eumenes)

We should never overlook the common things, but take account of them and be grateful that we are alive and well. Imagine them gone and remember how important health is to the sick, peace to those at war, reputation and friends to one unknown in a foreign city, and what it is to be without these things.

Plutarch (Moralia)

A man should not allow himself to hate even his enemies; because if you indulge this passion on some occasions, it will rise of itself in others; if you hate your enemies, you will contract such a vicious habit of mind as by degrees will break out upon those who are your friends, or those who are indifferent to you.

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 (Parallel Lives - Timoleon)

Ought a man to be confident that he deserves his good fortune, and think much of himself when he has overcome a nation, or city, or empire; or does fortune give this as an example to the victor also of the uncertainty of human affairs, which never continue in one stay? For what time can there be for us mortals to feel confident, when our victories over others especially compel us to dread fortune, and while we are exulting, the reflection that the fatal day comes now to one, now to another, in regular succession, dashes our joy.

Plutarch (Parallel Lives - Aemilius Paulus)

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Plutarch Biography

Born: 46
Died: 120

Plutarch or Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus was an Greek historian and famous biographer. He is best known for his highly influential works such as "Parallel Lives" and "Moralia"

Notable Works

Parallel Lives
Moralia

Picture Quotes