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Plutarch

Plutarch Quotes

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Famous Plutarch Quotes

“Poverty is never dishonourable in itself, but only when it is a mark of sloth, intemperance, extravagance, or thoughtlessness. When, on the other hand, it is the handmaid of a sober, industrious, righteous, and brave man, who devotes all his powers to the service of the people, it is the sign of a lofty spirit that harbours no mean thoughts”

PeopleMenMeanHandsSpiritPovertyMarkBraveRighteousSoberLoftySlothBrave ManExtravaganceIndustriousHarbourIntemperanceHandmaidsThoughtlessness
Author:Plutarch
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“Ought a man to be confident that he deserves his good fortune, and think much of himself when he has overcome a nation, or city, or empire; or does fortune give this as an example to the victor also of the uncertainty of human affairs, which never continue in one stay? For what time can there be for us mortals to feel confident, when our victories over others especially compel us to dread fortune, and while we are exulting, the reflection that the fatal day comes now to one, now to another, in regular succession, dashes our joy.”

ThinkingMenGivingFeelsHumansDoeJoyNationsCitiesExampleOughtVictoryReflectionDeserveOvercomingFortuneAffairMortalsUncertaintyEmpiresDreadGood FortuneSuccessionBe Confident
Book:Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans: Complete
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“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?”

MenMindMeanImportantCharacterSeemsPleasureResultsOpinionStudyGreaterGainsValuableGuestsBiographiesAcquaintanceElevation
Book:Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans: Complete
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“For the rich men without scruple drew the estate into their own hands, excluding the rightful heirs from their succession; and all the wealth being centred upon the few, the generality were poor and miserable. Honourable pursuits, for which there was no longer leisure, were neglected; the state was filled with sordid business, and with hatred and envy of the rich.”

MenStatesHandsPoliticsWealthPoorEconomyRichHatredFilledEnvyPursuitMiserableLiberalismLeisureEstatesNeglectedSuccessionRich ManHeirsGeneralitiesScruples
Book:The Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans, Volume II: (A Modern Library E-Book)
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“For there is no virtue, the honour and credit for which procures a man more odium from the elite than that of justice; and this, because more than any other, it acquires a man power and authority among the common people. For they only honour the valiant and admire the wise, while in addition they also love just men, and put entire trust and confidence in them.”

PeopleMenPoliticsJusticeCommonEconomyVirtueWiseAuthorityCreditAdmireLiberalismAcquireHonourElitesValiant
Author:Plutarch
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“Of the land which the Romans gained by conquest from their neighbours, part they sold publicly, and turned the remainder into common; this common land they assigned to such of the citizens as were poor and indigent, for which they were to pay only a small acknowledgment into the public treasury. But when the wealthy men began to offer larger rents, and drive the poorer people out, it was enacted by law that no person whatever should enjoy more than five hundred acres of ground.”

PeopleMenShouldPersonsLawPoliticsEnjoyPoorCommonPayEconomyFiveLandCitizensOffersHundredLiberalismWealthyConquestNeighbourTreasuryAcresAcknowledgment
Book:Plutarch's Lives: The Translation Called Dryden's
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“Rome was in the most dangerous inclination to change on account of the unequal distribution of wealth and property, those of highest rank and greatest spirit having impoverished themselves by shows, entertainments, ambition of offices, and sumptuous buildings, and the riches of the city having thus fallen into the hands of mean and low-born persons. So that there wanted but a slight impetus to set all in motion, it being in the power of every daring man to overturn a sickly commonwealth.”

MenMeanPersonsShowsWisdomHandsWantedSpiritPoliticsBornWealthCitiesEconomyDangerousBuildingOfficeAmbitionHighestLowsAccountsPropertyEntertainmentRichesFallenLiberalismRomeDaringDistributionInclinationCommonwealthImpetusDistribution Of WealthSumptuous
Book:Greek and Roman Lives
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