--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Valour, however unfortunate, commands…" description: "\"Valour, however unfortunate, commands great respect even from enemies: but the Romans despise cowardice, even though it be prosperous.\" — Plutarch" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fe/plutarch-597_command_valour-however-unfortunate-commands-grea_2114973.jpg" --- # Valour, however unfortunate, commands great respect even… ![“Valour, however unfortunate, commands great respect even from enemies: but the Romans despise cowardice, even though it be prosperous.” quote by Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fe/plutarch-597_command_valour-however-unfortunate-commands-grea_2114973.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fe/plutarch-597_command_valour-however-unfortunate-commands-grea_2114973.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fe/plutarch-597_command_valour-however-unfortunate-commands-grea_2114973.jpg) > “Valour, however unfortunate, commands great respect even from enemies: but the Romans despise cowardice, even though it be prosperous.” [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. He argues that bravery earns respect even from foes, while cowardice is despised despite any short‑term gain. **In simple terms:** Courage commands respect; cowardice is scorned. Key Takeaway Honor over convenience. Themes honor courage respect Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical historical When to use this quote - leadership - conflict resolution - public service - personal conduct Key Concepts virtue reputation military ethics Questions to Reflect On - When is bravery necessary? - Can cowardice ever be justified? A Different Perspective Courage may lead to loss or danger. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cowardice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowardice/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Great respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-respect/) [Prosperous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prosperous/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Valour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/valour/) ## Related quotes > [“You are not that kind of man Pekkala. You are not the monster that your enemies once believed you to be. If you were,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-eastland/you-are-not-that-kind-of-man-pekkala-you-are-not-the-monster-that/) Sam Eastland > [“We do not respect our enemies; we despair of them. Your struggle, your fierce will to prevail in spite of all, we do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-tchaikovsky/we-do-not-respect-our-enemies-we-despair-of-them-your-struggle-your/) [Adrian Tchaikovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-tchaikovsky/) > [Be loyal to those who are loyal to you. And respect everyone, even your enemies and competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cena/be-loyal-to-those-who-are-loyal-to-you-and-respect-everyone-even-your/) [John Cena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cena/) > [“know a thing or two about war, and I can tell you there are only two ways to get your enemies off the battlefield:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/know-a-thing-or-two-about-war-and-i-can-tell-you-there-are-only-two/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [“Valour begot respect, whether in life or in the aftermath of death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amish-tripathi/valour-begot-respect-whether-in-life-or-in-the-aftermath-of-death/) [Amish Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amish-tripathi/) > [“Can you not see that we still might win? We lost a battle, not a war.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-essex/can-you-not-see-that-we-still-might-win-we-lost-a-battle-not-a-war/) [Karen Essex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-essex/) > [Indeed, the crowning proof of their valour and their strength is that they keep up their superiority without harm to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/indeed-the-crowning-proof-of-their-valour-and-their-strength-is-that/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [These idle disputants overlooked the invariable laws of nature, which have connected peace with innocence, plenty with industry, and safety with valour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/these-idle-disputants-overlooked-the-invariable-laws-of-nature-which/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [“Let me say this about courage under fire. 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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 Command quotes > [Why couldn't Jesus command us to obsess over everything, to try to control and manipulate people, to try not to breathe at all, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/why-couldn-t-jesus-command-us-to-obsess-over-everything-to-try-to/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [Geometry, which should only obey Physics, when united with it sometimes commands it. 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But if even that cannot be, command…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-ask-one-thing-only-i-ask-for-the-right-to-hope-to-suffer-as-i-do/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [When you're in command, command.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-w-nimitz/when-you-re-in-command-command/) [Chester W. Nimitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-w-nimitz/) > [No one holds command over me. No man. No god. No Prince. What is a claim of age for ones who are immortal? What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/no-one-holds-command-over-me-no-man-no-god-no-prince-what-is-a-claim/) [Hunter S. 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Branscomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-m-branscomb/) Browse all 1,694 Command quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Valour, however unfortunate, commands great respect even from enemies: but the Romans despise cowardice, even though it be prosperous.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Plutarch" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/valour-however-unfortunate-commands-great-respect-even-from-enemies/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Command" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/valour-however-unfortunate-commands-great-respect-even-from-enemies/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fe/plutarch-597_command_valour-however-unfortunate-commands-grea_2114973.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fe/plutarch-597_command_valour-however-unfortunate-commands-grea_2114973.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fe/plutarch-597_command_valour-however-unfortunate-commands-grea_2114973.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Valour, however unfortunate, commands great respect even from enemies: but the Romans despise cowardice…” — Plutarch", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Plutarch", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Valour, however unfortunate, commands great respect...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/valour-however-unfortunate-commands-great-respect-even-from-enemies/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/valour-however-unfortunate-commands-great-respect-even-from-enemies/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```