Quotes from Plutarch

For it may happen to the commonwealth, as to the serpent in the fable, whose tail, rising in rebellion against the head, complained, as of a great grievance, that it was always forced to follow, and required that it should be permitted by turns to lead the way. And taking the command accordingly, it soon inflicted , by its senseless courses, mischiefs in abundance upon itself, while the head was torn and lacerated with following, contrary to nature, a guide that was deaf and blind.

There is nothing so imperfect, so helpless, so naked, so shapeless, so foul, as man observed at birth, to whom alone, one might almost say, Nature has given not a clean passage to the light; but, defiled with blood and covered with filth, and resembling more one just slain than one just born, he is an object for none to touch or lift up or kiss or embrace except for someone who loves with a natural affection.

Some, too, have made banishment and loss of property a means of leisure and philosophic study, as did Diogenes and Crates. And Zeno, on learning that the ship which bore his venture had been wrecked, exclaimed, "A real kindness, O Fortune, that thou, too, dost join in driving us to the philosopher's cloak!

Apollo], whose oracle is in Delphi, neither speaks nor suppresses, but indicates.

When therefore we once begin so to love good men, as not only (according to Plato) to esteem the wise man himself happy, and him who hears his discourses sharer in his felicity, but also to admire and love his habit, gait, look, and very smile, so as to wish ourselves to be that very person, then we may be assured that we have made very good proficiency.

That best and justest fabric of things was of no long continuance, because it wanted that cement which should have kept all together, education.

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

I don't need a friend who changes when I change and who nods when I nod; my shadow does that much better.

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

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

To find fault is easy; to do better may be difficult.

When Alexander saw the breadth of his domain, he wept for there were no more worlds to conquer. (Technically a misquote, but I like the misquote better)

The poor go to war, to fight and die for the delights, riches, and superfluities of others.

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.

Neither blame or praise yourself.

Adversity is the only balance to weigh friends.

The whole of life is but a moment of time. It is our duty, therefore to use it, not to misuse it.

Do not speak of your happiness to one less fortunate than yourself.

Character is simply habit long continued.

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.

Books delight to the very marrow of one's bones. They speak to us, consult with us, and join with us in a living and intense intimacy.

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

It is certainly desirable to be well descended, but the glory belongs to our ancestors.

To be ignorant of the lives of the most celebrated men of antiquity is to continue in a state of childhood all our days