Plutarch
Plutarch
Plutarch; c. AD 46 – AD 120) was a Greek historian, biographer, and essayist, known primarily for his Parallel Lives and Moralia. He is classified as a Middle Platonist. Plutarch's surviving works were written in Greek, but intended for both Greek and Roman readers...
NationalityGreek
ProfessionPhilosopher
friends experts affection
So also it is good not always to make a friend of the person who is expert in twining himself around us; but, after testing them, to attach ourselves to those who are worthy of our affection and likely to be serviceable to us.
friends pain medicine
We ought to give our friend pain if it will benefit him, but not to the extent of breaking off our friendship; but just as we make use of some biting medicine that will save and preserve the life of the patient. And so the friend, like a musician, in bringing about an improvement to what is good and expedient, sometimes slackens the chords, sometimes tightens them, and is often pleasant, but always useful.
friendship heart men
Friendship is the most pleasant of all things, and nothing more glads the heart of man.
friendship character uniforms
Friendship requires a steady, constant, and unchangeable character, a person that is uniform in his intimacy.
god want needs
God alone is entirely exempt from all want of human virtues, that which needs least is the most absolute and divine.
opinion should carthage
He (Cato) never gave his opinion in the Senate upon any other point whatever, without adding these words, "And, in my opinion Carthage should be destroyed." ["Delenda est Carthago."]
wise politics matter
The conduct of a wise politician is ever suited to the present posture of affairs. Often by foregoing a part he saves the whole, and by yielding in a small matter secures a greater.
men political politics
There is no perfecter endowment in man than political virtue.
healer diseased
A healer of others, himself diseased.
wisdom gold wealth
Wisdom is neither gold, nor silver, nor fame, nor wealth, nor health, nor strength, nor beauty.
matter difficult
So very difficult a matter is it to trace and find out the truth of anything by history.
atheist believe men
The superstitious man wishes he did not believe in gods, as the atheist does not, but fears to disbelieve in them.
pain mean occupation
He who busies himself in mean occupations, produces in the very pains he takes about things of little or no use, an evidence against himself of his negligence and indisposition to what is really good
men awkward thyme
As bees extract honey from thyme, the strongest and driest of herbs, so sensible men often get advantage and profit from the most awkward circumstances.