Plutarch quotes - page 3

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.' (Plutarch)

Pythagoras, when he was asked what time it was, answered that it was the soul of this world.

Plutarch

After the battle in Pharsalia, when Pompey was fled, one Nonius said they had seven eagles left still, and advised to try what they would do. "Your advice," said Cicero, "were good if we were to fight jackdaws."

Plutarch

Lampis, the sea commander, being asked how he got his wealth, answered, "My greatest estate I gained easily enough, but the smaller slowly and with much labour."

Plutarch

Xenophon says that there is no sound more pleasing than one's own praises.

Plutarch

Anacharsis coming to Athens, knocked at Solon's door, and told him that he, being a stranger, was come to be his guest, and contract a friendship with him; and Solon replying, "It is better to make friends at home," Anacharsis replied, "Then you that are at home make friendship with me."

Plutarch

When one told Plistarchus that a notorious railer spoke well of him, "I 'll lay my life," said he, "somebody hath told him I am dead, for he can speak well of no man living."

Plutarch

Cicero called Aristotle a river of flowing gold, and said of Plato's Dialogues, that if Jupiter were to speak, it would be in language like theirs.

Plutarch

These Macedonians," said he, "are a rude and clownish people, that call a spade a spade.

Plutarch

Cato used to assert that wise men profited more by fools than fools by wise men; for that wise men avoided the faults of fools, but that fools would not imitate the good examples of wise men.

Plutarch

After he routed Pharnaces Ponticus at the first assault, he wrote thus to his friends: "I came, I saw, I conquered." (Plutarch)

That proverbial saying, "Ill news goes quick and far."

Plutarch

Antiphanes said merrily that in a certain city the cold was so intense that words were congealed as soon as spoken, but that after some time they thawed and became audible; so that the words spoken in winter articulated next summer.

Plutarch

Remember what Simonides said,-that he never repented that he had held his tongue, but often that he had spoken.

Plutarch

For ease and speed in doing a thing do not give the work lasting solidity or exactness of beauty.

Plutarch

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

Plutarch

If I were not Alexander, I would be Diogenes.

Plutarch

Music, to create harmony, must investigate discord.

Plutarch

When Demaratus was asked whether he held his tongue because he was a fool or for want of words, he replied, "A fool cannot hold his tongue."

Plutarch

Even a nod from a person who is esteemed is of more force than a thousand arguments or studied sentences from others.

Plutarch

Pythias once, scoffing at Demosthenes, said that his arguments smelt of the lamp. (Plutarch)

But for the sake of some little mouthful of flesh we deprive a soul of the sun and light, and of that proportion of life and time it had been born into the world to enjoy.

Plutarch

As Caesar was at supper the discourse was of death - which sort was the best, That, said he, which is unexpected.

Plutarch

The old proverb was now made good, "the mountain had brought forth a mouse."

Plutarch

Spintharus, speaking in commendation of Epaminondas, says he scarce ever met with any man who knew more and spoke less.

Plutarch

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Plutarch

Plutarch - Image

Photo: Odysses, CC BY-SA 3.0

Occupation: Greek Philosopher
Quotes count: 308
Wikipedia: Plutarch

Related authors

Plato 332

Greek Philosopher

Thucydides 99

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Cicero 490

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Aristotle 463

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Herodotus 80

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Alexander the Great 32

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Livy 76

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Julius Caesar 44

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Seneca 610

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