Plutarch's Lives

Explore 15 quotes from Plutarch's Lives

I came, I saw, I conquered.

Julius Caesar

Quoted in Plutarch's Lives, by Plutarch

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Topic

Victory Domination

Speaker

Julius Caesar

Author

Plutarch

Source

Julius Caesar Plutarch's Lives

Genre

Biography Historical literature

Statement Type

Boast

Language

Latin

Time

46 BC 40s BC 1st century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Caesar, Julius. Quoted in "Julius Caesar." Parallel Lives by Plutarch. c. 2nd century BC, ch. 50, sect. 2.

Current Citation

Caesar, Julius. Quoted in "Julius Caesar." Parallel Lives by Plutarch. Oxford University Press, 2009, ch. 50, sect. 2.

Old to grow, but ever learning.

Solon

Quoted in Plutarch's Lives, by Plutarch

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Topic

Learning Wisdom Aging Old age

Speaker

Solon

Author

Plutarch

Source

Solon Plutarch's Lives

Genre

Historical literature

Language

Greek

Time

119 110s 2nd century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Plutarch. Βίοι Παράλληλοι [Parallel Lives]. Rome, 1470.

One more such victory over the Romans and we are lost.

Pyrrhus

Quoted in Plutarch's Lives, by Plutarch

On the defeat of the Romans at Asculum, 279 BC, a battle in which his army suffered heavy losses at the hands of the Romans.

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Topic

Pyrrhic victory Victory

Speaker

Pyrrhus

Author

Plutarch

Source

Plutarch's Lives

Genre

Biography

Statement Type

Paradox Prophecies and predictions

Language

Greek

Time

279 BC 270s BC 3rd century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Pyrrhus. Quoted in "Pyrrhus." Parallel Lives by Plutarch. c. 2nd century BC, ch. 21, sect. 9.

Current Citation

Pyrrhus. Quoted in "Pyrrhus." Parallel Lives by Plutarch. Oxford University Press, 2009, ch. 21, sect. 9.

Carthage must be destroyed.

Cato the Elder

Quoted in Plutarch's Lives, by Plutarch

Cato ended several of his speeches with this phrase after his visit to Carthage in 152 BC.

More information about this quote

Topic

War

Speaker

Cato the Elder

Author

Plutarch

Source

Plutarch's Lives

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Statement Type

Declaration

Language

Latin

Time

149 BC 140s BC 2nd century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Cato the Elder. Speech within the Roman Senate prior to the Third Punic War. c. 149 BC, Rome, Italy.

Those who aim at great deeds must also suffer greatly.

Marcus Licinus Crassus

Quoted in Plutarch's Lives, by Plutarch

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Topic

Price of greatness Greatness

Speaker

Marcus Licinus Crassus

Author

Plutarch

Source

Plutarch's Lives

Genre

Historical literature

Language

Greek

Time

119 110s 2nd century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Crassus. Quoted in "Crassus." Parallel Lives by Plutarch. c. 2nd century BC, ch. 26.

Current Citation

Crassus. Quoted in "Crassus." Parallel Lives by Plutarch. Oxford University Press, 2009, ch. 26.

It is circumstance and proper timing that give an action its character and make it either good or bad.

Plutarch

Plutarch's Lives

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Topic

Moral theory Timing

Author

Plutarch

Source

Plutarch's Lives

Genre

Historical literature

Language

Greek

Time

119 110s 2nd century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Plutarch. "Agesilaus." Βίοι Παράλληλοι [Parallel Lives]. c. 2nd century.

Current Citation

Plutarch. "Agesilaus." Roman Lives: A Selection of Eight Roman Lives, translated by Robin Waterfield. Oxford University Press, 2009.

Written laws are like spiders' webs; they will catch, it is true, the weak and poor, but would be torn in pieces by the rich and powerful.

Anacharsis

Quoted in Plutarch's Lives, by Plutarch

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Topic

Rich vs. poor Nature of law Law

Speaker

Anacharsis

Author

Plutarch

Source

Plutarch's Lives

Genre

Historical literature

Language

Greek

Time

6th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Anacharsis. Quoted in "Solon." Lives of the Noble Greeks and Romans. c. 120.

Current Citation

Anacharsis. Quoted in "Solon." Greek Lives, written by Plutarch, translated by Robin Waterfield. Oxford University Press, 2009.

A Roman divorced from his wife, being highly blamed by his friends, who demanded, "Was she not chaste? Was she not fair? Was she not fruitful? Holding out his shoe, asked them whether it was not new and well made. "Yet," added he, "none of you can tell where it pinches me."

Plutarch

Plutarch's Lives

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Topic

Challenges of marriage Marriage

Author

Plutarch

Source

Plutarch's Lives

Genre

Historical literature

Language

Greek

Time

119 110s 2nd century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Plutarch. "Aemilius Paulus." Βίοι Παράλληλοι [Parallel Lives]. c. 2nd century.

Current Citation

Plutarch. "Aemilius." Roman Lives: A Selection of Eight Roman Lives, translated by Robin Waterfield. Oxford University Press, 2009.

Many evil men are rich, and good men poor,
But we shall not exchange with them our excellence for riches.

Solon

Quoted in Plutarch's Lives, by Plutarch

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Topic

Virtue Wealth

Speaker

Solon

Author

Plutarch

Source

Solon Plutarch's Lives

Language

Greek

Time

560 BC 560s BC 6th century BC

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Solon. Quoted in "Solon." Parallel Lives by Plutarch. c. 2nd century BC, ch. 3.

Current Citation

Solon. Quoted in "Solon." Greek Lives, written by Plutarch, translated by Robin Waterfield. Oxford University Press, 2009.

To break a treaty is contempt for the gods. But to outwit an enemy is not only just and glorious-but profitable and sweet.

Plutarch

Plutarch's Lives

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Topic

Treaties Enemies

Author

Plutarch

Source

Plutarch's Lives

Genre

Biography

Language

Greek

Time

100 100s 2nd century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Plutarch. "Agesilaus." Βίοι Παράλληλοι [Parallel Lives]. c. 2nd century.

Current Citation

Plutarch. "Agesilaus." Roman Lives: A Selection of Eight Roman Lives, translated by Robin Waterfield. Oxford University Press, 2009.

Tuning the lyre and handling the harp are no accomplishments of mine, but rather taking in hand a city that was small and inglorious and making it glorious and great.

Themistocles

Quoted in Plutarch's Lives, by Plutarch

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Topic

Political leadership Statecraft

Speaker

Themistocles

Author

Plutarch

Source

Plutarch's Lives

Genre

Historical literature

Language

Greek

Time

119 110s 2nd century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Themistocles. Quoted in "Themistocles." Parallel Lives by Plutarch. c. 2nd century BC, ch. 2, sect. 3.

Current Citation

Themistocles. Quoted in "Themistocles." Parallel Lives by Plutarch. Oxford University Press, 2009, ch. 2, sect. 3.

Wait for the wisest of all counsellors, Time.

Pericles

Quoted in Plutarch's Lives, by Plutarch

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Topic

Patience Time

Speaker

Pericles

Author

Plutarch

Source

Plutarch's Lives

Genre

Biography

Statement Type

Advice

Language

Greek

Time

100 100s 2nd century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Pericles. Quoted in "Pericles." Parallel Lives by Plutarch. c. 2nd century BC, ch. 18, sect. 2.

Current Citation

Pericles. Quoted in "Pericles." Parallel Lives by Plutarch. Oxford University Press, 2009, ch. 18, sect. 2.

How strongly does this bear out the truth of Plato's maxim, that he who wishes to be really rich ought to lessen his desires rather than increase his property, because if a man places no bounds to his covetousness, he never will be free from want and misery.

Plutarch

Plutarch's Lives

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Topic

Wealth Contentment Desire Appetite Freedom

Author

Plutarch

Source

Demetrius Plutarch's Lives

Genre

Biography Historical literature

Language

Greek

Time

2nd century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Plutarch. "Demetrius." Βίοι Παράλληλοι [Parallel Lives]. c. 2nd century.

Current Citation

Plutarch. "Demetrius." Roman Lives: A Selection of Eight Roman Lives, translated by Robin Waterfield. Oxford University Press, 2009.

Anacharsis laughed at Solon for imagining the dishonesty and covetousness of his countrymen could be restrained by written laws, which were like spiders' webs, and would catch, it is true, the weak and poor, but easily be broken by the mighty and rich.

Plutarch

Plutarch's Lives

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Topic

Nature of law Law Rich vs. poor

Author

Plutarch

Source

Plutarch's Lives

Genre

Historical literature

Language

Greek

Time

119 110s 2nd century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Anacharsis. Quoted in "Solon." Lives of the Noble Greeks and Romans. c. 120.

Current Citation

Anacharsis. Quoted in "Solon." Greek Lives, written by Plutarch, translated by Robin Waterfield. Oxford University Press, 2009.

It is not reasonable that he who does not shoot should hit the mark, nor that he who does not stand fast at his post should win the day, or that the helpless man should succeed or the coward prosper.

Plutarch

Plutarch's Lives

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Topic

Taking action

Author

Plutarch

Source

Aemilius Plutarch's Lives

Genre

Biography Historical literature

Language

Greek

Time

2nd century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Plutarch. "Aemilius Paulus." Βίοι Παράλληλοι [Parallel Lives]. c. 2nd century.

Current Citation

Plutarch. "Aemilius." Roman Lives: A Selection of Eight Roman Lives, translated by Robin Waterfield. Oxford University Press, 2009.