Ease and speed in doing a thing do not give the work lasting solidity or exactness of beauty. Plutarch More Quotes by Plutarch More Quotes From Plutarch While Leonidas was preparing to make his stand, a Persian envoy arrived. The envoy explained to Leonidas the futility of trying to resist the advance of the Great King's army and demanded that the Greeks lay down their arms and submit to the might of Persia. Leonidas laconically told Xerxes, "Come and get them. Plutarch army greek kings Among real friends there is no rivalry or jealousy of one another, but they are satisfied and contented alike whether they are equal or one of them is superior. Plutarch rivalry friends real Those who aim at great deeds must also suffer greatly. Plutarch adversity uplifting suffering Do not speak of your happiness to one less fortunate than yourself. Plutarch speak-less happy happiness I confess myself the greatest coward in the world, for I dare not do an ill thing. Plutarch dare coward world It is part of a good man to do great and noble deeds, though he risk everything. Plutarch noble-man integrity men Painting is silent poetry. Plutarch silent painting art Democritus said, words are but the shadows of actions. Plutarch shadow action said Rest is the sweet sauce of labor. Plutarch fitness relaxation sweet The man who is completely wise and virtuous has no need of glory, except so far as it disposes and eases his way to action by the greater trust that it procures him. Plutarch wise ease men Courage stands halfway between cowardice and rashness, one of which is a lack, the other an excess of courage. Plutarch courage success life What sort of tree is there which will not, if neglected, grow crooked and unfruitful; what but Will, if rightly ordered, prove productive and bring its fruit to maturity? What strength of body is there which will not lose its vigor and fall to decay by laziness, nice usage, and debauchery? Plutarch maturity nice fall The new king [Alexander the Great] should perform acts so important and glorious as would make the poets and musicians of future ages labour and sweat to describe and celebrate him. Plutarch future sweat kings Nature without learning is blind, learning apart from nature is fractional, and practice in the absence of both is aimless. Plutarch blind practice education Nothing exists in the intellect that has not first gone through the senses. Plutarch intellect gone firsts The process may seem strange and yet it is very true. I did not so much gain the knowledge of things by the words, as words by the experience I had of things. Plutarch gains strange may There is no stronger test of a person's character than power and authority, exciting as they do every passion, and discovering every latent vice. Plutarch passion power character 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 wealth enough sea Character is inured habit. Plutarch habit character Even a nod from a person who is esteemed is of more force than a thousand arguments or studied sentences from others. Plutarch argument force thousand
