521 Quotes by Plutarch

Where two discourse, if the anger of one rises, he is the wise man who lets the contest fall.

Phocion compared the speeches of Leosthenes to cypress-trees. "They are tall," said he, "and comely, but bear no fruit.

When Demaratus was asked whether he held his tongue because he was a fool or for want of words, he replied, "A fool cannot hold his tongue.

Archimedes had stated, that given the force, any given weight might be moved; and even boasted that if there were another earth, by going into it he could remove this.

Pythias once, scoffing at Demosthenes, said that his arguments smelt of the lamp.

The pilot cannot mitigate the billows or calm the winds.

When Eudæmonidas heard a philosopher arguing that only a wise man can be a good general, "This is a wonderful speech," said he; "but he that saith it never heard the sound of trumpets.

A soldier told Pelopidas, "We are fallen among the enemies." Said he, "How are we fallen among them more than they among us?

Courage and wisdom are, indeed, rarities amongst men, but of all that is good, a just man it would seem is the most scarce.