An old doting fool, with one foot already in the grave. Plutarch More Quotes by Plutarch More Quotes From Plutarch I had rather men should ask why my statue is not set up, than why it is. Plutarch asksshouldmen We rich men count our felicity and happiness to lie in these superfluities, and not in those necessary things. Plutarch happinessmenlying After he routed Pharnaces Ponticus at the first assault, he wrote thus to his friends: "I came, I saw, I conquered. Plutarch sawsassaultfirsts We ought to give our friend pain if it will benefit him, but not to the extent of breaking off our friendship; but just as we make use of some biting medicine that will save and preserve the life of the patient. And so the friend, like a musician, in bringing about an improvement to what is good and expedient, sometimes slackens the chords, sometimes tightens them, and is often pleasant, but always useful. Plutarch friendsmedicinepain Ought a man to be confident that he deserves his good fortune, and think much of himself when he has overcome a nation, or city, or empire; or does fortune give this as an example to the victor also of the uncertainty of human affairs, which never continue in one stay? For what time can there be for us mortals to feel confident, when our victories over others especially compel us to dread fortune, and while we are exulting, the reflection that the fatal day comes now to one, now to another, in regular succession, dashes our joy. Plutarch reflectionmenthinking Lycurgus being asked why he, who in other respects appeared to be so zealous for the equal rights of men, did not make his government democratical rather than oligarchical, "Go you," replied the legislator, "and try a democracy in your own house. Plutarch rightshousemen There is no debt with so much prejudice put off as that of justice. Plutarch debtprejudicejustice Immoderate grief is selfish, harmful, brings no advantage to either the mourner or the mourned, and dishonors the dead. Plutarch advantageselfishgrief What most of all enables a man to serve the public is not wealth, but content and independence; which, requiring no superfluity at home, distracts not the mind from the common good. Plutarch independencehomemen Athenodorus says hydrophobia, or water-dread, was first discovered in the time of Asclepiades. Plutarch dreadwaterfirsts The saying of old Antigonus, who when he was to fight at Andros, and one told him, "The enemy's ships are more than ours," replied, "For how many then wilt thou reckon me? Plutarch shipsfightingenemy Once when Phocion had delivered an opinion which pleased the people, he turned to his friend and said, "Have I not unawares spoken some mischievous thing or other?" Plutarch opinionsaidpeople A physician, after he had felt the pulse of Pausanias, and considered his constitution, saying, "He ails nothing," "It is because, sir," he replied, "I use none of your physic." Plutarch physicianspulseuse Spintharus, speaking in commendation of Epaminondas, says he scarce ever met with any man who knew more and spoke less. Plutarch spokesmetsmen When Eudæmonidas heard a philosopher arguing that only a wise man can be a good general, "This is a wonderful speech," said he; "but he that saith it never heard the sound of trumpets. Plutarch wisesoundmen A soldier told Pelopidas, "We are fallen among the enemies." Said he, "How are we fallen among them more than they among us?" Plutarch soldiersaidenemy Pompey bade Sylla recollect that more worshipped the rising than the setting sun. Plutarch pompeyrisingsun Anaximander says that men were first produced in fishes, and when they were grown up and able to help themselves were thrown up, and so lived upon the land. Plutarch ablelandmen Cicero said loud-bawling orators were driven by their weakness to noise, as lame men to take horse. Plutarch horseweaknessmen If Nature be not improved by instruction, it is blind; if instruction be not assisted by Nature, it is maimed; and if exercise fail of the assistance of both, it is imperfect. Plutarch imperfectexerciseeducation
