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| Plutarch
A few vices are sufficient to darken many virtues. A sage thing is timely silence, and better than any speech. All men whilst they are awake are in one common world: but each of them, when he is asleep, is in a world of his own. Also the two-edged tongue of mighty Zeno, who, say what one would, could argue it untrue. An imbalance between rich and poor is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all republics. An old doting fool, with one foot already in the grave. Another such victory over the Romans and we are undone. Antisthenes says that in a certain faraway land the cold is so intense that words freeze as soon as they are uttered, and after some time then thaw and become audible, so that words spoken in winter go unheard until the next summer. As Caesar was at supper the discourse was of death – which sort was the best, "That," said he, "which is unexpected." Character is simply habit long continued. Courage consists not in hazarding without fear; but being resolutely minded in a just cause. Demosthenes overcame and rendered more distinct his inarticulate and stammering pronunciation by speaking with pebbles in his mouth. Do not speak of your happiness to one less fortunate than yourself. For to err in opinion, though it be not the part of wise men, is at least human. God is the brave man's hope, and not the coward's excuse. He who cheats with an oath acknowledges that he is afraid of his enemy, but that he thinks little of God. He who reflects on another man's want of breeding, shows he wants it as much himself. I don't need a friend who changes when I change and who nods when I nod; my shadow does that much better. I would rather excel in the knowledge of what is excellent, than in the extent of my power and possessions. If all the world were just, there would be no need of valor. If I were not alexander, I would be Diogenes. If you live with a cripple, you will learn to limp. In words are seen the state of mind and character and disposition of the speaker. It is a hard matter, my fellow citizens, to argue with the belly, since it has no ears. It is better to have no opinion of God at all than such as one as is unworthy of him; for the one is only unbelief – the other is contempt. It is certainly desirable to be well descended, but the glory belongs to our ancestors. It is indeed a desirable thing to be well descended, but the glory belongs to our ancestors. It is part of a good man to do great and noble deeds, though he risk everything. It is the admirer of himself, and not the admirer of virtue, that thinks himself superior to others. It were better to have no opinion of God at all than such a one as is unworthy of him; for the one is only belief – the other contempt. Know how to listen, and you will profit even from those who talk badly. Learn to be pleased with everything; with wealth, so far as it makes us beneficial to others; with poverty, for not having much to care for; and with obscurity, for being unenvied. Let us carefully observe those good qualities wherein our enemies excel us; and endeavor to excel them, by avoiding what is faulty, and imitating what is excellent in them. Medicine to produce health must examine disease; and music, to create harmony must investigate discord. Memory: what wonders it performs in preserving and storing up things gone by – or rather, things that are Moral habits, induced by public practices, are far quicker in making their way into menŐs private lives, than the failings and faults of individuals are in infecting the city at large. Neither blame or praise yourself. No beast is more savage than man when possessed with power answerable to his rage. No man ever wetted clay and then left it, as if there would be bricks by chance and fortune. Nothing is cheap which is superfluous, for what one does not need, is dear at a penny. Nothing is harder to direct than a man in prosperity; nothing more easily managed that one is adversity. Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is painting that speaks. Perseverance is more prevailing than violence; and many things which cannot be overcome when they are together, yield themselves up when taken little by little. Pittacus said, "Every one of you hath his particular plague, and my wife is mine; and he is very happy who hath this only." Prosperity is no just scale; adversity is the only balance to weigh friends. Pythagoras, when he was asked what time was, answered that it was the soul of this world. Reason speaks and feeling bites. Rest: the sweet sauce of labor Socrates said, "Bad men live that they may eat and drink, whereas good men eat and drink that they may live." Socrates thought that if all our misfortunes were laid in one common heap, whence every one must take an equal portion, most persons would be contented to take their own and depart. Someone praising a man for his foolhardy bravery, Cato, the elder, said, "There is a wide difference between true courage and a mere contempt of life." The giving of riches and honors to a wicked man is like giving strong wine to him that hath a fever. The man who is completely wise and virtuous has no need of glory, except so far as it disposes and eases his way to action by the greater trust that it procures him. The measure of a man is the way he bears up under misfortune. The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.The omission of good is no less reprehensible than the commission of evil. The real destroyer of the liberties of the people is he who spreads among them bounties, donations and benefits. The richest soil, if cultivated, produces the rankest weeds. The state of life is most happy when superfluities are not required and necessities are not wanting. The very spring and root of honesty and virtue lie in good education. The whole life is but a point of time; let us enjoy it, therefore, while it lasts, and not spend it to no purpose. The whole life of man is but a point of time; let us enjoy it. The wildest colts make the best horses. Themosticles said "The athenians govern the Greeks; I govern the athenians; you, my wife, govern me; your son governs you." There are two sentences inscribed upon the Delphic oracle, hugely accommodated to the usage of man's life: "Know thyself," and "Nothing too much"; and upon these all other precepts depend. They named it Ovation from the Latin ovis [a Sheep]. Those who aim at great deeds must also suffer greatly. Time is the wisest of all counselors. To be ignorant of the lives of the most celebrated men of antiquity is to continue in a state of childhood all our days. To find a fault is easy; to do better may be difficult. 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. We are more sensible of what is done against custom than against nature. What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality. When Demosthenes was asked what were the three most important aspects of oratory, he answered, "action, action, action." When one told Plistarchus that a notorious railer spoke well of him, "I'll lay my life," said he, "somebody hath told him I am dead, for he can speak well of no man living." When the candles are out all women are fair. When the strong box contains no more, both friends and flatterers shun the door. [Solon] being asked, namely, what city was best to live in, "That city," he replied, "in which those who are not wronged, no less than those who are wronged, exert themselves to punish the wrongdoers." |
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