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
heart hearing consideration
The human heart becomes softened by hearing of instances of gentleness and consideration.
mother children heart
Mothers ought to bring up and nurse their own children; for they bring them up with greater affection and with greater anxiety, as loving them from the heart, and so to speak, every inch of them.
pain grief heart
Not by lamentations and mournful chants ought we to celebrate the funeral of a good man, but by hymns; for, ion ceasing to be numbered with mortals, he enters upon the heritage of a diviner life. Since he is gone where he feels no pain, let us not indulge in too much grief. The soul is incapable of death. And he, like a bird not long enough in his cage to become attached to it, is free to fly away to a purer air. . . . Since we cherish a trust like this, let our outward actions be in accord with it, and let us keep our hearts pure and our minds calm.
friendship heart men
Friendship is the most pleasant of all things, and nothing more glads the heart of man.
god heart cheerful
The worship most acceptable to God comes from a thankful and cheerful heart.
enjoy life man point purpose spend
The whole life of man is but a point of time; let us enjoy it, therefore, while it lasts, and not spend it to no purpose
enjoy life point purpose spend
The whole life is but a point of time; let us enjoy it, therefore, while it lasts, and not spend it to no purpose.
produces richest weeds
The richest soil, if cultivated, produces the rankest weeds
beneficial care far learn pleased
Learn to be pleased with everything; with wealth, so far as it makes us beneficial to others; with poverty, for not having much to care for, and with obscurity, for being unenvied.
act common deeds evil good great man noble risk risks though
To do an evil act is base. To do a good one without incurring danger, is common enough. But it is part of a good man to do great and noble deeds though he risks everything in doing them.
excel extent greek-philosopher knowledge power
I would rather excel in the knowledge of what is excellent, than in the extent of my power and possessions.
romans victory
Another such victory over the Romans and we are undone.
command finding forces hands keen leave orders ready rest taking talkative though
Paulus Aemilius, on taking command of the forces in Macedonia, and finding them talkative and impertinently busy, as though they were all commanders, issued out his orders that they should have only ready hands and keen swords, and leave the rest to
bears man measure misfortune
The measure of a man is way he bears up under misfortune