--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The most glorious exploits do not always…" description: "\"The most glorious exploits do not always furnish us with the clearest discoveries of virtue or vice in men.\" — Plutarch" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66e/plutarch-597_character_the-most-glorious-exploits-do-not-always_1679647.jpg" --- # The most glorious exploits do not always furnish us with… ![“The most glorious exploits do not always furnish us with the clearest discoveries of virtue or vice in men.” quote by Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66e/plutarch-597_character_the-most-glorious-exploits-do-not-always_1679647.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66e/plutarch-597_character_the-most-glorious-exploits-do-not-always_1679647.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66e/plutarch-597_character_the-most-glorious-exploits-do-not-always_1679647.jpg) > “The most glorious exploits do not always furnish us with the clearest discoveries of virtue or vice in men.” [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Great deeds may not reveal a person's true moral character, as virtue or vice can be hidden behind impressive actions. **In simple terms:** Actions can mask true character. Key Takeaway Look beyond achievements to judge character. Themes morality character perception Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical historical When to use this quote - leadership assessment - historical analysis - personal reflection Key Concepts Ethics human nature Questions to Reflect On - How do you assess someone's character beyond their successes? - What hidden traits might be revealed over time? A Different Perspective Great acts can be deceptive, requiring deeper evaluation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Discovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovery/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Vices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vices/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [It cannot be a vice in men to be sensible of their strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/it-cannot-be-a-vice-in-men-to-be-sensible-of-their-strength/) [Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/) > [Somehow strangely the vice of men gets well represented and protected but their virtue has none to plead its cause - nor any charter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/somehow-strangely-the-vice-of-men-gets-well-represented-and-protected/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [In plain truth, lying is an accursed vice. We are not men, nor have any other tie upon another, but by our word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/in-plain-truth-lying-is-an-accursed-vice-we-are-not-men-nor-have-any/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [It is not histories I am writing, but lives; and in the most glorious deeds there is not always an indication of virtue or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/it-is-not-histories-i-am-writing-but-lives-and-in-the-most-glorious/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Antagoras the poet was boiling a conger, and Antigonus, coming behind him as he was stirring his skillet, said, "Do you think, Antagoras, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/antagoras-the-poet-was-boiling-a-conger-and-antigonus-coming-behind/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Sometimes small incidents, rather than glorious exploits, give us the best evidence of character. So, as portrait painters are more exact in doing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/sometimes-small-incidents-rather-than-glorious-exploits-give-us-the/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [ The new king \[Alexander the Great\] should perform acts so important and glorious as would make the poets and musicians of future ages labour… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/the-new-king-alexander-the-great-should-perform-acts-so-important-and/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [“There is no virtue or vice in a transitive verb, everything depends on the direct object. 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The first is a virtue; the other,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-edgeworth/there-are-two-sorts-of-content-one-is-connected-with-exertion-the/) [Maria Edgeworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-edgeworth/) > [Chastity is a virtue with some, but with many it is almost a vice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/chastity-is-a-virtue-with-some-but-with-many-it-is-almost-a-vice/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) ## More by Plutarch > [When Eudæmonidas heard a philosopher arguing that only a wise man can be a good general, "This is a wonderful speech," said he; "but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/when-eud-monidas-heard-a-philosopher-arguing-that-only-a-wise-man-can/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [The generous mind adds dignity to every act, and nothing misbecomes it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/the-generous-mind-adds-dignity-to-every-act-and-nothing-misbecomes-it/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Painting is silent poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/painting-is-silent-poetry/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [King Agis said, "The Lacedæmonians are not wont to ask how many, but where the enemy are."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/king-agis-said-the-laced-monians-are-not-wont-to-ask-how-many-but/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Alexander wept when he heard from Anaxarchus that there was an infinite number of worlds; and his friends asking him if any accident had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/alexander-wept-when-he-heard-from-anaxarchus-that-there-was-an/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Proper listening is the foundation of proper living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/proper-listening-is-the-foundation-of-proper-living/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is painting that speaks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/painting-is-silent-poetry-and-poetry-is-painting-that-speaks/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Speech is like cloth of Arras opened and put abroad, whereby the imagery doth appear in figure; whereas in thoughts they lie but as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/speech-is-like-cloth-of-arras-opened-and-put-abroad-whereby-the/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [There were two brothers called Both and Either; perceiving Either was a good, understanding, busy fellow, and Both a silly fellow and good for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/there-were-two-brothers-called-both-and-either-perceiving-either-was/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Why does pouring Oil on the Sea make it Clear and Calm? Is it that the winds, slipping the smooth oil, have no force,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/why-does-pouring-oil-on-the-sea-make-it-clear-and-calm-is-it-that-the/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [This excerpt is presented as reproduced by Copernicus in the preface to De Revolutionibus: "Some think that the earth remains at rest. But Philolaus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/this-excerpt-is-presented-as-reproduced-by-copernicus-in-the-preface/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [It is part of a good man to do great and noble deeds, though he risk everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/it-is-part-of-a-good-man-to-do-great-and-noble-deeds-though-he-risk/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [I am whatever was, or is, or will be; and my veil no mortal ever took up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/i-am-whatever-was-or-is-or-will-be-and-my-veil-no-mortal-ever-took-up/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [The pilot cannot mitigate the billows or calm the winds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/the-pilot-cannot-mitigate-the-billows-or-calm-the-winds/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [“In Springtime, O Dionysos, To thy holy temple come, To Elis with thy Graces, Rushing with thy bull-foot, come, Noble Bull, Noble Bull”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/in-springtime-o-dionysos-to-thy-holy-temple-come-to-elis-with-thy/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) [Explore all 451 Plutarch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. 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But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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