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Plutarch Quotes

Powerful Plutarch for Daily Growth

About Plutarch

Plutarch (Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus), born around 46 AD in Boeotia, Greece, was a renowned historian, philosopher, and biographer of the Roman Empire's early years. His birth name was Titus Aurelius Plautius Quintus Adelphus, but he is best known by his Greek name, Plutarch. Plutarch was deeply influenced by Pythagorean philosophy and Stoicism. He served as a priest at Delphi, the ancient Greek oracle, where he gained much of his wisdom and insight. His most significant work, the Parallel Lives, is a collection of biographies of famous Greeks and Romans, paired to illustrate similar virtues and vices in their lives. Plutarch's works often explore moral and political themes, reflecting his deep interest in ethics and governance. He wrote during the Roman Empire's Pax Romana (Roman Peace), a period of relative stability that allowed him to travel and gather material for his biographies. In addition to Parallel Lives, Plutarch is known for works such as Moralia (Moraliae), a series of essays on various topics, and Quaestiones conviviales (Table Talk), a collection of philosophical discussions. His writings have had a profound impact on Western literature and thought, influencing figures such as Machiavelli, Shakespeare, and Voltaire. Plutarch's death is not definitively known, but it is believed to have occurred between 119 and 127 AD. Despite the passage of nearly two thousand years, his works continue to captivate readers with their insightful portrayals of historical figures and enduring wisdom about human nature.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

This quote by Plutarch emphasizes the importance of proper guidance and education during childhood, as it shapes a person's future character and decisions. The idea is that by instilling values, principles, and good habits in children from an early age, they are more likely to adhere to those teachings as they grow older, leading to a life well-lived according to those values. In essence, this quote suggests that how we raise our children will significantly impact their choices and character in the future.

"Whoever is contented with his condition is neither ambitious nor envious."

This quote by Plutarch suggests that contentment with one's circumstances prevents both ambition and envy. When a person is satisfied with their situation, they no longer feel the need to strive for more (ambition) or resent those who have more (envy). Contentment fosters inner peace and self-acceptance. It implies that happiness comes from within, not from external possessions or achievements.

"Virtue is not purchased; it comes to us daily as the product of virtuous actions."

This quote by Plutarch emphasizes that virtue, or moral excellence, cannot be bought with money or possessions. Instead, it is something that is cultivated over time through consistent and virtuous actions. Essentially, one must live a virtuous life to gain virtue. The more good actions we perform, the stronger our character becomes, fostering greater virtue within us.

"We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light."

This quote highlights that fear, particularly fear of the unknown or unfamiliar, is a natural human emotion. Children may fear the dark due to their lack of understanding, but as adults we have the capacity to overcome such fears and embrace knowledge and enlightenment. The tragedy is when individuals allow fear to hinder their personal growth and development, preventing them from seeking truth, understanding, and progress in life. Essentially, it's a call to courage, encouraging us to face our fears and step into the light of truth and wisdom.

"It is better to know nothing than to doubt everything; but among these two evils, the less is to be preferred."

This quote by Plutarch suggests that having no knowledge is preferable to a constant state of doubt, yet he acknowledges that choosing between ignorance and doubt can often be challenging. It implies that while questioning is valuable in seeking truth, excessive skepticism can lead to uncertainty and paralysis. A balanced approach is important: strive for knowledge by questioning, but avoid becoming so skeptical that you fail to make progress or decisions.

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

- Plutarch

Character, Mind, Speaker, Disposition

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

- Plutarch

Other, Stands, Which, Halfway

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

More, Prevailing, Which, Yield

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

- Plutarch

Deeds, Part, Though, A Good Man

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

Own, Awake, Them, Whilst

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

- Plutarch

Intelligence, Mind, Fire, Vessel

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

Habits, Making, Private, Practices

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

Learning, Wise, Learn, Errors

A few vices are sufficient to darken many virtues.

- Plutarch

Virtues, Few, Sufficient, Vices

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

- Plutarch

Speech, Better, Than, Season

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

- Plutarch

Education, Spring, Very, Good Education

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

Childhood, Most, Lives, Celebrated

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

- Plutarch

Music, Harmony, Disease, Discord

Those who aim at great deeds must also suffer greatly.

- Plutarch

Aim, Deeds, Suffer, Greatly

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

- Plutarch

Good, Less, Than, Commission

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

- Plutarch

Treat, Living, Which, Ought

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

- Plutarch

Will, How, Badly, Profit

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

Opinion, Him, Other, Unworthy

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

- Plutarch

Most, Imbalance, Oldest, Between

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

- Plutarch

Adversity, Nothing, More, Harder

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

Excellent, Carefully, Good Qualities

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

- Plutarch

Belongs, Desirable, Indeed, Ancestors

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

- Plutarch

Strong, Door, Contains, Shun

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

- Plutarch

Cause, Resolutely, Consists, Minded

The wildest colts make the best horses.

- Plutarch

Best, Horses, Make, Wildest

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

- Plutarch

Chance, Bricks, Ever, Clay

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

- Plutarch

Knowledge, Extent, Excel

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

- Plutarch

Wise, Err, Though, Wise Men

If I were not Alexander, I would be Diogenes.

- Plutarch

Would, Were, Alexander

Neither blame or praise yourself.

- Plutarch

Yourself, Blame, Praise, Neither

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