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
selfish grief dishonor
Immoderate grief is selfish, harmful, brings no advantage to either the mourner or the mourned, and dishonors the dead.
liars lying
Playing the Cretan with the Cretans (i.e. lying to liars).
plato sacrifice grace
Plato used to say to Xenocrates the philosopher, who was rough and morose, "Good Xenocrates, sacrifice to the Graces.
war special firsts
He who first called money the sinews of the state seems to have said this with special reference to war.
determination mind noble
A remorseful change of mind renders even a noble action base, whereas the determination which is grounded on knowledge and reason cannot change even if its actions fail.
strong teaching son
Scilurus on his death-bed, being about to leave four-score sons surviving, offered a bundle of darts to each of them, and bade them break them. When all refused, drawing out one by one, he easily broke them, thus teaching them that if they held together, they would continue strong; but if they fell out and were divided, they would become weak.
leisure should elders
Dionysius the Elder, being asked whether he was at leisure, he replied, "God forbid that it should ever befall me!
kings two earth
When Darius offered him ten thousand talents, and to divide Asia equally with him, "I would accept it," said Parmenio, "were I Alexander." "And so truly would I," said Alexander, "if I were Parmenio." But he answered Darius that the earth could not bear two suns, nor Asia two kings.
mean son birth
To Harmodius, descended from the ancient Harmodius, when he reviled Iphicrates [a shoemaker's son] for his mean birth, "My nobility," said he, "begins in me, but yours ends in you.
pain grief medical
Grief is like a physical pain which must be allowed to subside somewhat on its own before medical treatment is applied.
mind add dignity
The generous mind adds dignity to every act, and nothing misbecomes it.
firsts gone intellect
Nothing exists in the intellect that has not first gone through the senses.
wall
Words will build no walls.
moving passion men
Authority and place demonstrate and try the tempers of men, by moving every passion and discovering every frailty.