Ancient Quote by Plutarch
![“To Harmodius, descended from the ancient Harmodius, when he reviled Iphicrates [a shoemaker's son] for his mean birth, "My nobility," said he, "begins in me, but yours ends in you.” quote by Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6df/plutarch-597_ancient_to-harmodius-descended-from-the-ancient_2292427.jpg)
“To Harmodius, descended from the ancient Harmodius, when he reviled Iphicrates [a shoemaker's son] for his mean birth, "My nobility," said he, "begins in me, but yours ends in you.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Parallel Lives, Plutarch, c. 100 AD
True worth comes from personal virtue, not lineage; status is earned, not inherited.
In simple terms: Character matters more than birth.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate personal excellence.
Themes
virtue
status
character
Mood
reflective
inspirational
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- leadership
- education
- career advancement
- family dynamics
Key Concepts
ethics
social hierarchy
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you define personal nobility?
- Can status be earned without privilege?
A Different Perspective
Noble birth does not guarantee moral superiority.
![“My friend Patroclus, whom I loved, is dead. I loved him more than any other comrade. I loved him like my head, my life, myself. I lost him, killed him. [. . .] . . .my Patroclus, son of Menoetius.” quote by Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/423/homer-357_achilles_my-friend-patroclus-whom-i-loved-is-dead_557116.jpg)
