Speech is like cloth of Arras opened and put abroad, whereby the imagery doth appear in figure; whereas in thoughts they lie but as packs.

Plutarch

Categorized in : Lying Figures Speech

Wickedness frames the engines of her own torment. She is a wonder... by Plutarch

Wickedness frames the engines of her own torment. She is a wonderful artisan of a miserable life.

wickedness miserable wonderful

From Themistocles began the saying, "He is a second Hercules." by Plutarch

From Themistocles began the saying, "He is a second Hercules."

There were two brothers called Both and Either; perceiving Either was a good, understanding, busy fellow, and Both a silly fellow and good for little, Philip said, "Either is both, and Both is neither.

brother silly two

Pompey had fought brilliantly and in the end routed Caesar's whole force... but either he was unable to or else he feared to push on. Caesar [said] to his friends: 'Today the enemy would have won, if they had had a commander who was a winner.'

pompey today enemy

Pythias once, scoffing at Demosthenes, said that his arguments sm... by Plutarch

Pythias once, scoffing at Demosthenes, said that his arguments smelt of the lamp.

scoffing argument lamps

Epaminondas is reported wittily to have said of a good man that died about the time of the battle of Leuctra, "How came he to have so much leisure as to die, when there was so much stirring?

good-man battle men

That we may consult concerning others, and not others concerning... by Plutarch

That we may consult concerning others, and not others concerning us.

may

The first man . . . ventured to call food and nourishment the parts that had a little before bellowed and cried, moved and lived. How could his eyes endure the slaughter when throats were slit and hides flayed and limbs torn from limb? How could his nose endure the stench? How was it that the pollution did not turn away his taste, which made contact with the sores of others and sucked juices and serums from mortal wounds?

eye animal men

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

solemnity elephants men

Demosthenes told Phocion, "The Athenians will kill you some day when they once are in a rage." "And you," said he, "if they are once in their senses."

athenians rage said

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

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

opinion wise men

Plato used to say to Xenocrates the philosopher, who was rough and morose, "Good Xenocrates, sacrifice to the Graces.

sacrifice plato grace

This excerpt is presented as reproduced by Copernicus in the preface to De Revolutionibus: "Some think that the earth remains at rest. But Philolaus the Pythagorean believes that, like the sun and moon, it revolves around the fire in an oblique circle. Heraclides of Pontus and Ecphantus the Pythagorean make the earth move, not in a progressive motion, but like a wheel in rotation from west to east around its own center."

moon believe moving

A lover's soul lives in the body of his mistress. by Plutarch

A lover's soul lives in the body of his mistress.

mistress soul life

It is not the most distinguished achievements that men's virtues or vices may be best discovered; but very often an action of small note. An casual remark or joke shall distinguish a person's real character more than the greatest sieges, or the most important battles.

real character men

The generous mind adds dignity to every act, and nothing misbecom... by Plutarch

The generous mind adds dignity to every act, and nothing misbecomes it.

dignity mind add

The man who first brought ruin upon the Roman people was he who pampered them by largesses and amusements.

ruins men people

And Archimedes, as he was washing, thought of a manner of computing the proportion of gold in King Hiero's crown by seeing the water flowing over the bathing-stool. He leaped up as one possessed or inspired, crying, "I have found it! Eureka!".

inspiration kings water

When a man's struggle begins within oneself, the man is worth som... by Plutarch

When a man's struggle begins within oneself, the man is worth something.

he-man struggle men

The superstitious man wishes he did not believe in gods, as the atheist does not, but fears to disbelieve in them.

atheist men believe