Plutarch quotes - page 5

It is no great wonder if in long process of time, while fortune takes her course hither and thither, numerous coincidences should spontaneously occur. If the number and variety of subjects to be wrought upon be infinite, it is all the more easy for fortune, with such an abundance of material, to effect this similarity of results. (Plutarch)

A soldier told Pelopidas, "We are fallen among the enemies." Said he, "How are we fallen among them more than they among us?"

Plutarch

King Agis said, "The Lacedæmonians are not wont to ask how many, but where the enemy are."

Plutarch

Socrates said, 'Bad men live that they may eat and drink, whereas good men eat and drink that they may live.'

Plutarch

Valour, however unfortunate, commands great respect even from enemies: but the Romans despise cowardice, even though it be prosperous.

Plutarch

When men are arrived at the goal, they should not turn back.

Plutarch

It is a difficult task, O citizens, to make speeches to the belly, which has no ears.

Plutarch

One made the observation of the people of Asia that they were all slaves to one man, merely because they could not pronounce that syllable No.

Plutarch

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.

Plutarch

Cato requested old men not to add the disgrace of wickedness to old age, which was accompanied with many other evils.

Plutarch

Fate, however, is to all appearance more unavoidable than unexpected. (Plutarch)

Athenodorus says hydrophobia, or water-dread, was first discovered in the time of Asclepiades.

Plutarch

Thrasyllus the Cynic begged a drachm of Antigonus. "That," said he, "is too little for a king to give." "Why, then," said the other, "give me a talent." "And that," said he, "is too much for a Cynic (or, for a dog) to receive."

Plutarch

Socrates said he was not an Athenian or a Greek, but a citizen of the world.

Plutarch

Themistocles said that a man's discourse was like to a rich Persian carpet, the beautiful figures and patterns of which can be shown only by spreading and extending it out; when it is contracted and folded up, they are obscured and lost.

Plutarch

Agesilaus was very fond of his children; and it is reported that once toying with them he got astride upon a reed as upon a horse, and rode about the room; and being seen by one of his friends, he desired him not to speak of it till he had children of his own.

Plutarch

Both Empedocles and Heraclitus held it for a truth that man could not be altogether cleared from injustice in dealing with beasts as he now does.

Plutarch

Alexander wept when he heard from Anaxarchus that there was an infinite number of worlds; and his friends asking him if any accident had befallen him, he returns this answer: "Do you not think it a matter worthy of lamentation that when there is such a vast multitude of them, we have not yet conquered one?"

Plutarch

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.

Plutarch

Extraordinary rains pretty generally fall after great battles.

Plutarch

As Meander says, "For our mind is God;" and as Heraclitus, "Man's genius is a deity." (Plutarch)

A prating barber asked Archelaus how he would be trimmed. He answered, "In silence."

Plutarch

What is bigger than an elephant? But this also is become man's plaything, and a spectacle at public solemnities; and it learns to skip, dance, and kneel.

Plutarch

Demosthenes overcame and rendered more distinct his inarticulate and stammering pronunciation by speaking with pebbles in his mouth.

Plutarch

Archimedes had stated, that given the force, any given weight might be moved; and even boasted that if there were another earth, by going into it he could remove this.

Plutarch

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Plutarch

Plutarch - Image

Photo: Odysses, CC BY-SA 3.0

Occupation: Greek Philosopher
Quotes count: 308
Wikipedia: Plutarch

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