"Fate, however, is to all appearance more unavoidable than unexpected."
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Plutarch quotes (page 5 of 20)
392 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"Since, during storms, flames leap from the humid vapors and dark clouds emit deafening noises, is it surprising the lightning, when it strikes the ground, gives rise to truffles, which do not resemble plants?"
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"The first man . . . ventured to call food and nourishment the parts that had a little before bellowed and cried, moved and lived. How could his eyes endure the slaughter when throats were slit and hides flayed and limbs torn from limb? How could his nose endure the stench? How was it that the pollution did not turn away his taste, which made contact with the sores of others and sucked juices and serums from mortal wounds?"
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"The drop hollows out the stone not by strength, but by constant falling."
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"A fool cannot hold his tongue."
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"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."
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"Either is both, and Both is neither."
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"In words are seen the state of mind and character and disposition of the speaker."
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"Nothing is cheap which is superfluous, for what one does not need, is dear at a penny."
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"Come back with your shield - or on it"
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"It was not important how many enemies there are, but where the enemy is"
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"Character is simply habit long continued."
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"Knavery is the best defense against a knave."
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"When Anaxagoras was told of the death of his son, he only said, "I knew he was mortal." So we in all casualties of life should say "I knew my riches were uncertain, that my friend was but a man." Such considerations would soon pacify us, because all our troubles proceed from their being unexpected."
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"A prating barber asked Archelaus how he would be trimmed. He answered, "In silence.""
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"Cato used to assert that wise men profited more by fools than fools by wise men; for that wise men avoided the faults of fools, but that fools would not imitate the good examples of wise men."
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"Vos vestros servate, meos mihi linquite mores You keep to your own ways, and leave mine to me"
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"Foreign lady once remarked to the wife of a Spartan commander that the women of Sparta were the only women in the world who could rule men. "We are the only women who raise men," the Spartan lady replied."
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"While Leonidas was preparing to make his stand, a Persian envoy arrived. The envoy explained to Leonidas the futility of trying to resist the advance of the Great King's army and demanded that the Greeks lay down their arms and submit to the might of Persia. Leonidas laconically told Xerxes, "Come and get them."
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"Not by lamentations and mournful chants ought we to celebrate the funeral of a good man, but by hymns, for in ceasing to be numbered with mortals he enters upon the heritage of a diviner life."
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