Plutarch

Plutarch later named, on his becoming a Roman citizen, Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus (c. 46 – 120 AD),[1] was a Greek historian, biographer, and essayist, known primarily for his Parallel Lives and Moralia.

“The real destroyers of the liberties of the people is he who spreads among them bounties, donations, and benefits.” Plutarch

Plutarch was a Platonist, but was open to the influence of the Peripatetics, and even to Stoicism. He was more interested in moral and religious questions.

Plutarch's writings had an enormous influence on English and French literature. Shakespeare paraphrased parts of Thomas North's translation of selected Lives in his plays, and occasionally quoted from them verbatim.

Ralph Waldo Emerson and the Transcendentalists were greatly influenced by the Moralia and even Montaigne's Essays draw extensively from it.

Moralia

"The soul, being eternal, after death is like a caged bird that has been released. If it has been a long time in the body, and has become tame by many affairs and long habit, the soul will immediately take another body and once again become involved in the troubles of the world. The worst thing about old age is that the soul's memory of the other world grows dim, while at the same time its attachment to things of this world becomes so strong that the soul tends to retain the form that it had in the body. But that soul which remains only a short time within a body, until liberated by the higher powers, quickly recovers its fire and goes on to higher things." Plutarch (The Consolation, Moralia)

Parallel Lives

His soldiers showed such good will and zeal in his service that those who in their previous campaigns had been in no way superior to others were invincible and irresistible in confronting every danger to enhance Caesar's fame. Such a man, for instance, was Acilius, who, in the sea-fight at Massalia, boarded a hostile ship and had his right hand cut off with a sword, but clung with the other hand to his shield, and dashing it into the faces of his foes, routed them all and got possession of the vessel. Such a man, again, was Cassius Scaeva, who, in the battle at Dyrrhachium, had his eye struck out with an arrow, his shoulder transfixed with one javelin and his thigh with another, and received on his shield the blows of one hundred and thirty missiles. In this plight, he called the enemy to him as though he would surrender. Two of them, accordingly, coming up, he lopped off the shoulder of one with his sword, smote the other in the face and put him to flight, and came off safely himself with the aid of his comrades. Again, in Britain, when the enemy had fallen upon the foremost centurions, who had plunged into a watery marsh, a soldier, while Caesar in person was watching the battle, dashed into the midst of the fight, displayed many conspicuous deeds of daring, and rescued the centurions, after the Barbarians had been routed. Then he himself, making his way with difficulty after all the rest, plunged into the muddy current, and at last, without his shield, partly swimming and partly wading, got across. Caesar and his company were amazed and came to meet the soldier with cries of joy; but he, in great dejection, and with a burst of tears, cast himself at Caesar's feet, begging pardon for the loss of his shield. Again, in Africa, Scipio captured a ship of Caesar's in which Granius Petro, who had been appointed quaestor, was sailing. Of the rest of the passengers Scipio made booty, but told the quaestor that he offered him his life. Granius, however, remarking that it was the custom with Caesar's soldiers not to receive but to offer mercy, killed himself with a blow of his sword.

Life of Caesar, XVI

"It is not histories I am writing, but lives; and in the most glorious deeds there is not always an indication of virtue or vice, indeed a small thing like a phrase or a jest often makes a greater revelation of a character than battles where thousands die." Plutarch (Life of Alexander/Life of Julius Caesar, Parallel Lives, [tr. E.L. Bowie])

Quotes

I don't need a friend who changes when I change and who nods when I nod; my shadow does that much better. Plutarch

The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled. Plutarch

An imbalance between rich and poor is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all republics. Plutarch

Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is painting that speaks. Plutarch

The real destroyer of the liberties of the people is he who spreads among them bounties, donations and benefits. Plutarch

We ought not to treat living creatures like shoes or household belongings, which when worn with use we throw away. Plutarch

To make no mistakes is not in the power of man; but from their errors and mistakes the wise and good learn wisdom for the future. Plutarch

Do not speak of your happiness to one less fortunate than yourself. Plutarch

Know how to listen, and you will profit even from those who talk badly. Plutarch

It is part of a good man to do great and noble deeds, though he risk everything. Plutarch

Character is long-standing habit. Plutarch

In words are seen the state of mind and character and disposition of the speaker. Plutarch

Fate leads him who follows it, and drags him who resist. Plutarch

The very spring and root of honesty and virtue lie in good education. Plutarch

I would rather excel in the knowledge of what is excellent, than in the extent of my power and possessions. Plutarch

To find fault is easy; to do better may be difficult. Plutarch

Prosperity is no just scale; adversity is the only balance to weigh friends. Plutarch

A few vices are sufficient to darken many virtues. Plutarch

Silence at the proper season is wisdom, and better than any speech. Plutarch

The wildest colts make the best horses. Plutarch

Neither blame or praise yourself. Plutarch

Courage consists not in hazarding without fear; but being resolutely minded in a just cause. Plutarch

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. Plutarch

Medicine to produce health must examine disease; and music, to create harmony must investigate discord. Plutarch

For to err in opinion, though it be not the part of wise men, is at least human. Plutarch

It were better to have no opinion of God at all than such a one as is unworthy of him; for the one is only belief - the other contempt. Plutarch

The omission of good is no less reprehensible than the commission of evil. Plutarch

If I were not Alexander, I would be Diogenes. Plutarch

It is indeed a desirable thing to be well-descended, but the glory belongs to our ancestors. Plutarch

No man ever wetted clay and then left it, as if there would be bricks by chance and fortune. Plutarch

To be ignorant of the lives of the most celebrated men of antiquity is to continue in a state of childhood all our days. Plutarch

All men whilst they are awake are in one common world: but each of them, when he is asleep, is in a world of his own. Plutarch

Character is simply habit long continued. Plutarch

Those who aim at great deeds must also suffer greatly. Plutarch

When the strong box contains no more both friends and flatterers shun the door. Plutarch

Courage stands halfway between cowardice and rashness, one of which is a lack, the other an excess of courage. Plutarch

Nothing is harder to direct than a man in prosperity; nothing more easily managed that one is adversity. Plutarch

Perseverance is more prevailing than violence; and many things which cannot be overcome when they are together, yield themselves up when taken little by little. Plutarch

Moral habits, induced by public practices, are far quicker in making their way into men's private lives, than the failings and faults of individuals are in infecting the city at large. Plutarch