Plutarch Quotes

Biographer

Plutarch, a renowned Greek historian and biographer, was born in 45 AD and died in 120 AD. His works are characterized by rigorous historical research and profound moral contemplation, having a profound impact on later generations.

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Famous Plutarch Quotes

“Demaratus, being asked in a troublesome manner by an importunate fellow, Who was the best man in Lacedaemon? answered at last, 'He, Sir, that is the least like you'.”

Character Greek Status Annoyance Sparta Retort

Book:Plutarch's Lives: Volume I

Source: Plutarch's Lives: Volume I

“By the study of their biographies, we receive each man as a guest into our minds, and we seem to understand their character as the result of a personal acquaintance, because we have obtained from their acts the best and most important means of forming an opinion about them. "What greater pleasure could'st thou gain than this?" What more valuable for the elevation of our own character?”

Men Mind Mean Important Character Seems Pleasure Results Opinion Study Greater Gains Valuable Guests Biographies Acquaintance Elevation

Book:Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans: Complete

Source: Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans: Complete

“Blinded as they are to their true character by self-love, every man is his own first and chiefest flatterer, prepared, therefore, to welcome the flatterer from the outside, who only comes confirming the verdict of the flatterer within.”

Men Firsts Self Character Self Love Prepared Every Man Welcome Flattery Blinded Verdict Flatterer True Character

Author:Plutarch

“It is no flattery to give a friend a due character; for commendation is as much the duty of a friend as reprehension.”

Giving Character Duty Praise Dues Flattery Commendation

Author:Plutarch

“Friendship requires a steady, constant, and unchangeable character, a person that is uniform in his intimacy.”

Persons Character Friendship Constant Intimacy Steady Uniforms Unchangeable

Book:Plutarch's Morals: Ethical Essays

Source: Plutarch's Morals: Ethical Essays

“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.”

Men Character Decision Mistake Wise Errors Making Mistakes Learning From Mistakes My Mistakes I Make Mistakes I Have Made Mistakes Learn From My Mistakes Mistakes And Learning Making Mistakes And Learning From Them Learned From Mistakes

Author:Plutarch

“Character is long-standing habit.”

Long Art Philosophy Character History Habit Standing

Author:Plutarch

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

Mind States Character State Of Mind Speakers Disposition

Book:Plutarch's Morals: Ethical Essays

Source: Plutarch's Morals: Ethical Essays

“Character is simply habit long continued.”

Long Character Habit Perseverance Character Building Good Character Great Character Integrity And Character Integrity Character Building Character

Author:Plutarch

“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.”

Men May Persons Important Real Character Action Virtue Battle Achievement Jokes Notes Vices Remarks Distinguished Casual Siege Real Character

Author:Plutarch

“It is circumstance and proper measure that give an action its character, and make it either good or bad.”

Giving Character Action Personality Circumstances

Book:Plutarch's Lives: The Translation Called Dryden's Corrected from the Greek

Source: Plutarch's Lives: The Translation Called Dryden's Corrected from the Greek

“It is not histories I am writing, but lives; and in the most glorious deeds there is not always an indication of virtue or vice, indeed a small thing like a phrase or a jest often makes a greater revelation of a character than battles where thousands die.”

Writing Character Dies Virtue Greater Battle Vices Deeds Phrases Glorious Revelations Small Things Indication Jest

Author:Plutarch

“Sometimes small incidents, rather than glorious exploits, give us the best evidence of character. So, as portrait painters are more exact in doing the face, where the character is revealed, than the rest of the body, I must be allowed to give my more particular attention to the marks of the souls of men.”

Men Giving Soul Sometimes Character Body Faces Attention Particular Evidence Mark Painter Glorious Portraits Exploits Incidents

Author:Plutarch

“Character is inured habit.”

Character Habit

Author:Plutarch

“It is a high distinction for a homely woman to be loved for her character rather than for beauty.”

Character Women Distinction Homely Women Beauty

Author:Plutarch

“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.”

Persons Character Passion Power Authority Tests Exciting Stronger Vices Discovering Latent

Author:Plutarch

About the Author

Born: 45
Died: 120
Known for: Biographer
Quotes: 416

Books & Sources

Plutarch's MoralsRelated source material

Lives of the noble Grecians and Romans: Top BiographyRelated source material

Delphi Complete Works of Plutarch (Illustrated)Related source material

Plutarch's LivesRelated source material

Plutarch's Complete WorksRelated source material

Plutarch's Lives: Volume IRelated source material

Plutarch's Morals: Ethical EssaysRelated source material

Greek and Roman LivesRelated source material

Plutarch's Lives: Volume IIRelated source material

Plutarch's essays and miscellanies, comprising all the works collected under the title ofRelated source material

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