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 More Quotes by Plutarch More Quotes From Plutarch It is the admirer of himself, and not the admirer of virtue, that thinks himself superior to others. Plutarch admirer virtue thinking Friendship requires a steady, constant, and unchangeable character, a person that is uniform in his intimacy. Plutarch uniforms friendship character Zeno first started that doctrine, that knavery is the best defence against a knave. Plutarch knaves doctrine knavery The soul of man... is a portion or a copy of the soul of the Universe and is joined together on principles and in proportions corresponding to those which govern the Universe. Plutarch soul together men Learn to be pleased with everything, with wealth so far as it makes us beneficial to others; with poverty, for not having much to care for; and with obscurity, for being unenvied. Plutarch obscurity contentment balance 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 notorious speak men I, for my own part, had much rather people should say of me that there neither is nor ever was such a man as Plutarch, than that they should say, "Plutarch is an unsteady, fickle, froward, vindictive, and touchy fellow. Plutarch fickle men people These Macedonians are a rude and clownish people; they call a spade a spade. Plutarch spades rude people It is no disgrace not to be able to do everything; but to undertake, or pretend to do, what you are not made for, is not only shameful, but extremely troublesome and vexatious. Plutarch disgrace able made A warrior carries his shield for the sake of the entire line. Plutarch warrior lines sake When malice is joined to envy, there is given forth poisonous and feculent matter, as ink from the cuttle-fish. Plutarch envy ink matter Seeing the lightest and gayest purple was then most in fashion, he would always wear that which was the nearest black; and he would often go out of doors, after his morning meal, without either shoes or tunic; not that he sought vain-glory from such novelties, but he would accustom himself to be ashamed only of what deserves shame, and to despise all other sorts of disgrace. Plutarch fashion doors morning Though others before him had triumphed three times, Pompeius, by having gained his first triumph over Libya, his second over Europe, and this the last over Asia, seemed in a manner to have brought the whole world into his three triumphs. Plutarch triumph three europe The wildest colts make the best horses. Plutarch horse teaching children Wise men are able to make a fitting use even of their enmities. Plutarch adversity wise men As small letters hurt the sight, so do small matters him that is too much intent upon them; they vex and stir up anger, which begets an evil habit in him in reference to greater affairs. Plutarch hurt evil sight Custom is almost a second nature. Plutarch customs tradition Beauty is the flower of virtue. Plutarch virtue flower beauty Silence is an answer to a wise man. Plutarch silence wise men He is a fool who lets slip a bird in the hand for a bird in the bush. Plutarch fool bird hands
