Plutarch
Plutarch
Plutarch; c. AD 46 – AD 120) was a Greek historian, biographer, and essayist, known primarily for his Parallel Lives and Moralia. He is classified as a Middle Platonist. Plutarch's surviving works were written in Greek, but intended for both Greek and Roman readers...
NationalityGreek
ProfessionPhilosopher
men political politics
There is no perfecter endowment in man than political virtue.
healer diseased
A healer of others, himself diseased.
men savages vices
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.
wisdom gold wealth
Wisdom is neither gold, nor silver, nor fame, nor wealth, nor health, nor strength, nor beauty.
matter difficult
So very difficult a matter is it to trace and find out the truth of anything by history.
atheist believe men
The superstitious man wishes he did not believe in gods, as the atheist does not, but fears to disbelieve in them.
pain mean occupation
He who busies himself in mean occupations, produces in the very pains he takes about things of little or no use, an evidence against himself of his negligence and indisposition to what is really good
men awkward thyme
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.
plato people age
Most people do not understand until old age what Plato tells them when they are young.
men soul together
The soul of man... is a portion or a copy of the soul of the Universe and is joined together on principles and in proportions corresponding to those which govern the Universe.
listening foundation
Proper listening is the foundation of proper living.
skins foxes lions
Where the lion's skin will not reach, you must patch it out with the fox's.
horse kings eye
Nothing made the horse so fat as the king's eye.
men discovery vices
The most glorious exploits do not always furnish us with the clearest discoveries of virtue or vice in men.