It is a thing of no great difficulty to raise objections against another man's oration, it is a very easy matter; but to produce a better in it's place is a work extremely troublesome.
— Parallel Lives
Plutarch was a Greek, and later Roman, Middle Platonist philosopher, historian, biographer and essayist, and a priest at the Temple of Apollo in Delphi. When he became a Roman citizen he may have taken the name Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus.
He is known mainly for his Parallel Lives, a series of biographies of illustrious Greeks and Romans, and for the Moralia, a collection of essays and speeches. Several volumes of his Lives, including The Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans, are his most quoted works in our library, followed by the Moralia.
He is known mainly for his Parallel Lives, a series of biographies of illustrious Greeks and Romans, and for the Moralia, a collection of essays and speeches. Several volumes of his Lives, including The Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans, are his most quoted works in our library, followed by the Moralia.
Most quoted works
- Plutarch's Lives, Vol 2 5
- Plutarch's Lives, Vol 1 3
- The Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans, Vol 1 3
- Moralia 2
But the Lacedaemonians, who make it their first principle of action to serve their country's interest, know not any thing to be just or unjust by any measure but that.
— Lives of the Noble Greeks
For there is no virtue, the honor and credit for which procures a man more odium than that of justice; and this, because more than any other, it acquires a man power and authority among the common people.
— Lives of the Noble Romans
Small, therefore, can we think the progress we have made, as long as our admiration for those who have done noble things is barren, and does not of itself incite us to imitate them.
— Moralia
That which is chiefly the office of a general, to force the enemy into fighting when he finds himself the stronger, and to avoid being driven into it himself when he is the weaker...
— Plutarch's Lives, Vol 2
He who least likes courting favour, ought also least to think of resenting neglect; to feel wounded at being refused a distinction can only arise from an overweening appetite to have it.
— The Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans, Vol 1
So long as he was personally present, [Alcibiades] had the perfect mastery of his political adversaries; calumny only succeeded in his absence.
— The Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans, Vol 1
For fortune having hitherto seconded him in his designs, made him resolute and firm in his opinions, and the boldness of his temper raised a sort of passion in him for surmounting difficulties; as if it were not enough to be always victorious in the field, unless places and seasons and nature herself submitted to him.
— Plutarch's Lives, Vol 2
Good fortune will elevate even petty minds, and gives them the appearance of a certain greatness and stateliness, as from their high place they look down upon the world; but the truly noble and resolved spirit raises itself, and becomes more conspicuous in times of disaster and ill fortune...
— Plutarch's Lives, Vol 2
These things sensibly affected Theseus, who, thinking it but just not to disregard, but rather partake of, the sufferings of his fellow citizens, offered himself for one without any lot. All else were struck with admiration for the nobleness and with love for the goodness of the act.
— Plutarch's Lives, Vol 1
It is a true proverb, that if you live with a lame man, you will learn to limp.