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.

Filter quotes by topic

All Men Said Ifs Firsts Mind World Character Should Action Giving Wise Life Doe Littles Made People Politics Soul Virtue Enemy

Famous Plutarch Quotes

“For, in the language of Heraclitus, the virtuous soul is pure and unmixed light, springing from the body as a flash of lightning darts from the cloud. But the soul that is carnal and immersed in sense, like a heavy and dank vapor, can with difficulty be kindled, and caused to raise its eyes heavenward.”

Soul Body Light Eye Language Pure Difficulty Raises Clouds Heavy Sensuality Virtuous Flash Lightning Vapor Darts Dank

Author:Plutarch

“The soul of man... is a portion or a copy of the soul of the Universe and is joined together on principles and in proportions corresponding to those which govern the Universe.”

Men Soul Together Universe Principles Proportion Copies Portions Corresponding

Book:Delphi Complete Works of Plutarch (Illustrated)

Source: Delphi Complete Works of Plutarch (Illustrated)

“I, for my part, wonder of what sort of feeling, mind or reason that man was possessed who was first to pollute his mouth with gore, and to allow his lips to touch the flesh of a murdered being: who spread his table with the mangled forms of dead bodies, and claimed as daily food and dainty dishes what but now were beings endowed with movement, perception and with voice. …but for the sake of some little mouthful of flesh, we deprive a soul of the sun and light, and of that portion of life and time it had been born in to the world to enjoy.”

“Being conscious of having done a wicked action leaves stings of remorse behind it, which, like an ulcer in the flesh, makes the mind smart with perpetual wounds; for reason, which chases away all other pains, creates repentance, shames the soul with confusion, and punishes it with torment.”

Mind Soul Reason Done Action Pain Behinds Smart Conscious Shame Flesh Wounds Confusion Wicked Repentance Perpetual Torment Remorse Ulcers

Author:Plutarch

“Of all the disorders in the soul, envy is the only one no one confesses to.”

Soul Envy Disorder

Author:Plutarch

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

Life Soul Body Lovers Mistress Soul Life

Book:Plutarch's Lives: Tr. from the Original Greek; with Notes, Historical & Critical; & a Life of Plutarch

Source: Plutarch's Lives: Tr. from the Original Greek; with Notes, Historical & Critical; & a Life of Plutarch

“Pythagoras, when he was asked what time was, answered that it was the soul of this world.”

World Soul Time This World Eternity

Author:Plutarch

“But for the sake of some little mouthful of flesh we deprive a soul of the sun and light, and of that proportion of life and time it had been born into the world to enjoy.”

Source: Plutarch's essays and miscellanies, comprising all the works collected under the title of

“Not by lamentations and mournful chants ought we to celebrate the funeral of a good man, but by hymns; for, ion ceasing to be numbered with mortals, he enters upon the heritage of a diviner life. Since he is gone where he feels no pain, let us not indulge in too much grief. The soul is incapable of death. And he, like a bird not long enough in his cage to become attached to it, is free to fly away to a purer air. . . . Since we cherish a trust like this, let our outward actions be in accord with it, and let us keep our hearts pure and our minds calm.”

“Prosperity has this property, it puffs up narrow Souls, makes them imagine themselves high and mighty, and look down upon the World with Contempt; but a truly noble and resolved Spirit appears greatest in Distress, and then becomes more bright and conspicuous.”

World Looks Soul Spirit Imagine Property Prosperity Noble Contempt Distress Puff

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

“Nothing can produce so great a serenity of life as a mind free from guilt and kept untainted, not only from actions, but purposes that are wicked. By this means the soul will be not only unpolluted but also undisturbed. The fountain will run clear and unsullied.”

Mind Mean Soul Running Action Purpose Peace Clear Produce Guilt Wicked Serenity Fountain Mind Free

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

Similar Authors

Jean de la BruyereBrowse related quotes
SophoclesBrowse related quotes
EuripidesBrowse related quotes
Thomas CarlyleBrowse related quotes
Joseph AddisonBrowse related quotes
Seneca the YoungerBrowse related quotes
Francis BaconBrowse related quotes
Michel de MontaigneBrowse related quotes
Ralph Waldo EmersonBrowse related quotes
EpictetusBrowse related quotes