Said Quotes by Plutarch

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

— Plutarch

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

— Plutarch

Lysander, when Dionysius sent him two gowns, and bade him choose which he would carry to his daughter, said, "She can choose…

— Plutarch

Demosthenes told Phocion, "The Athenians will kill you some day when they once are in a rage." "And you," said he, "if…

— Plutarch

Cicero said loud-bawling orators were driven by their weakness to noise, as lame men to take horse.

— Plutarch

Once when Phocion had delivered an opinion which pleased the people, he turned to his friend and said, "Have I not unawares…

— Plutarch

Someone praising a man for his foolhardy bravery, Cato, the elder, said, ''There is a wide difference between true courage and a…

— Plutarch

King Agis said, "The Lacedæmonians are not wont to ask how many, but where the enemy are."

— Plutarch

There were two brothers called Both and Either; perceiving Either was a good, understanding, busy fellow, and Both a silly fellow and…

— Plutarch

When Darius offered him ten thousand talents, and to divide Asia equally with him, "I would accept it," said Parmenio, "were I…

— Plutarch

As to Caesar, when he was called upon, he gave no testimony against Clodius, nor did he affirm that he was certain…

— Plutarch

Lycurgus the Lacedæmonian brought long hair into fashion among his countrymen, saying that it rendered those that were handsome more beautiful, and…

— Plutarch

When Eudæmonidas heard a philosopher arguing that only a wise man can be a good general, "This is a wonderful speech," said…

— Plutarch

After the battle in Pharsalia, when Pompey was fled, one Nonius said they had seven eagles left still, and advised to try…

— Plutarch

Themistocles being asked whether he would rather be Achilles or Homer, said, "Which would you rather be, a conqueror in the Olympic…

— Plutarch

When Philip had news brought him of divers and eminent successes in one day, "O Fortune!" said he, "for all these so…

— Plutarch

Democritus said, words are but the shadows of actions.

— Plutarch

Socrates said he was not an Athenian or a Greek, but a citizen of the world.

— Plutarch

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

— Plutarch

He who first called money the sinews of the state seems to have said this with special reference to war.

— Plutarch

Lysander said that the law spoke too softly to be heard in such a noise of war.

— Plutarch

Remember what Simonides said, that he never repented that he had held his tongue, but often that he had spoken.

— Plutarch

Pittacus said, "Every one of you hath his particular plague, and my wife is mine; and he is very happy who hath…

— Plutarch

Cicero called Aristotle a river of flowing gold, and said of Plato's Dialogues, that if Jupiter were to speak, it would be…

— Plutarch

A traveller at Sparta, standing long upon one leg, said to a Lacedaemonian, "I do not believe you can do as much."…

— Plutarch

To one that promised to give him hardy cocks that would die fighting, "Prithee," said Cleomenes, "give me cocks that will kill…

— Plutarch

Epaminondas is reported wittily to have said of a good man that died about the time of the battle of Leuctra, "How…

— Plutarch

Aristodemus, a friend of Antigonus, supposed to be a cook's son, advised him to moderate his gifts and expenses. "Thy words," said…

— Plutarch

To Harmodius, descended from the ancient Harmodius, when he reviled Iphicrates [a shoemaker's son] for his mean birth, "My nobility," said he,…

— Plutarch

Pompey had fought brilliantly and in the end routed Caesar's whole force... but either he was unable to or else he feared…

— Plutarch

Thrasyllus the Cynic begged a drachm of Antigonus. "That," said he, "is too little for a king to give." "Why, then," said…

— Plutarch

When Anaxagoras was told of the death of his son, he only said, "I knew he was mortal." So we in all…

— Plutarch

Whenever anything is spoken against you that is not true, do not pass by or despise it because it is false; but…

— Plutarch

Antagoras the poet was boiling a conger, and Antigonus, coming behind him as he was stirring his skillet, said, "Do you think,…

— Plutarch

Alcibiades had a very handsome dog, that cost him seven thousand drachmas; and he cut off his tail, "that," said he, "the…

— Plutarch

When one told Plistarchus that a notorious railer spoke well of him, "I'll lay my life," said he, "somebody hath told him…

— Plutarch