Plutarch Quotes

Music, to create harmony, must investigate discord.

Those who aim at great deeds must also suffer greatly.

So also it is good not always to make a friend of the person who is expert in twining himself around us; but, after testing them, to attach ourselves to those who are worthy of our affection and likely to be serviceable to us.

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

Caesar's wife should be above suspicion.

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.''

Fate, however, is to all appearance more unavoidable than unexpected.

We ought to regard books as we do sweetmeats, not wholly to aim at the pleasantest, but chiefly to respect the wholesomest; not forbidding either, but approving the latter most.

Custom is almost a second nature.

Not by lamentations and mournful chants ought we to celebrate the funeral of a good man, but by hymns, for in ceasing to be numbered with mortals he enters upon the heritage of a diviner life.

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.

Socrates said he was not an Athenian or a Greek, but a citizen of the world.

I confess myself the greatest coward in the world, for I dare not do an ill thing.

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

A traveller at Sparta, standing long upon one leg, said to a Lacedaemonian, "I do not believe you can do as much." "True," said he, "but every goose can."

It is not the most distinguished achievements that men's virtues or vices may be best discovered; but very often an action of small note. An casual remark or joke shall distinguish a person's real character more than the greatest sieges, or the most important battles.

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.

Choose what is best, and habit will make it pleasant and easy.

The measure of a man's life is the well spending of it, and not the length.

Either is both, and Both is neither.

Words will build no walls.

To fail to do good is as bad as doing harm.

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.

I do not think that shoemaker a good workman that makes a great shoe for a little foot.

We are more sensible of what is done against custom than against nature.

Wisdom is neither gold, nor silver, nor fame, nor wealth, nor health, nor strength, nor beauty.

Perseverance is more prevailing than violence; and many things which cannot be overcome when they are together, yield themselves up when taken little by little.

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

Instead of using medicine, better fast today.

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

Rather I fear on the contrary that while we banish painful thoughts we may banish memory as well.

It is circumstance and proper measure that give an action its character, and make it either good or bad.

Themistocles replied that a man's discourse was like to a rich Persian carpet, the beautiful figures and patterns of which can only be shown by spreading and extending it out; when it is contracted and folded up, they are obscured and lost.

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

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

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

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.

Since, during storms, flames leap from the humid vapors and dark clouds emit deafening noises, is it surprising the lightning, when it strikes the ground, gives rise to truffles, which do not resemble plants?

Knavery is the best defense against a knave.

Lycurgus being asked why he, who in other respects appeared to be so zealous for the equal rights of men, did not make his government democratical rather than oligarchical, "Go you," replied the legislator, "and try a democracy in your own house.

Poverty is not dishonorable in itself, but only when it comes from idleness, intemperance, extravagance, and folly.

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

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.

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

The Epicureans, according to whom animals had no creation, doe suppose that by mutation of one into another, they were first made; for they are the substantial part of the world; like as Anaxagoras and Euripides affirme in these tearmes: nothing dieth, but in changing as they doe one for another they show sundry formes.

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

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

The conduct of a wise politician is ever suited to the present posture of affairs. Often by foregoing a part he saves the whole, and by yielding in a small matter secures a greater.