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
fashion morning doors
Seeing the lightest and gayest purple was then most in fashion, he would always wear that which was the nearest black; and he would often go out of doors, after his morning meal, without either shoes or tunic; not that he sought vain-glory from such novelties, but he would accustom himself to be ashamed only of what deserves shame, and to despise all other sorts of disgrace.
argument force thousand
Even a nod from a person who is esteemed is of more force than a thousand arguments or studied sentences from others.
rage said ifs
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.
wife said very-happy
Pittacus said, "Every one of you hath his particular plague, and my wife is mine; and he is very happy who hath this only".
men mind deities
As Meander says, "For our mind is God;" and as Heraclitus, "Man's genius is a deity.
thinking enemy littles
He who cheats with an oath acknowledges that he is afraid of his enemy, but that he thinks little of God.
europe three world
Though others before him had triumphed three times, Pompeius, by having gained his first triumph over Libya, his second over Europe, and this the last over Asia, seemed in a manner to have brought the whole world into his three triumphs.
winning men coward
It is not reasonable that he who does not shoot should hit the mark, nor that he who does not stand fast at his post should win the day, or that the helpless man should succeed or the coward prosper.
enemy cowardice despise
Valour, however unfortunate, commands great respect even from enemies: but the Romans despise cowardice, even though it be prosperous.
silence would-be barbers
A prating barber asked Archelaus how he would be trimmed. He answered, "In silence.
news ill proverbial
That proverbial saying, "Ill news goes quick and far.
anger men angry-man
Lamentation is the only musician that always, like a screech-owl, alights and sits on the roof of any angry man.
pain smart confusion
Being conscious of having done a wicked action leaves stings of remorse behind it, which, like an ulcer in the flesh, makes the mind smart with perpetual wounds; for reason, which chases away all other pains, creates repentance, shames the soul with confusion, and punishes it with torment.
enemy quality excellent
Let us carefully observe those good qualities wherein our enemies excel us; and endeavor to excel them, by avoiding what is faulty, and imitating what is excellent in them.