Plutarch Wise Quotations

To make no mistakes is not in the power of man; but from their errors and mistakes the wise and good learn wisdom for the future.

For to err in opinion, though it be not the part of wise men, is at least human.

The man who is completely wise and virtuous has no need of glory, except so far as it disposes and eases his way to action by the greater trust that it procures him.

Water and our necessary food are the only things that wise men must fight for.

The conduct of a wise politician is ever suited to the present posture of affairs. Often by foregoing a part he saves the whole, and by yielding in a small matter secures a greater.

Euripides was wont to say, silence was an answer to a wise man; but we seem to have greater occasion for it in our dealing with fools and unreasonable persons; for men of breeding and sense will be satisfied with reason and fair words.

It is wise to be silent when occasion requires, and better than to speak, though never so well.

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.

Wise men are able to make a fitting use even of their enmities.

To please the many is to displease the wise.

For the wise man, every day is a festival.

Silence is an answer to a wise man.

For there is no virtue, the honour and credit for which procures a man more odium from the elite than that of justice; and this, because more than any other, it acquires a man power and authority among the common people. For they only honour the valiant and admire the wise, while in addition they also love just men, and put entire trust and confidence in them.

When Eudæmonidas heard a philosopher arguing that only a wise man can be a good general, "This is a wonderful speech," said he; "but he that saith it never heard the sound of trumpets.

Where two discourse, if the anger of one rises, he is the wise man who lets the contest fall.