anciently the choice of the officers of state was made by beans.
_Of the Training of Children._
When men are arrived at the goal, they should not turn
back.[729-2]
_Of the Training of Children._
The whole life of man is but a point of time; let us enjoy it,
therefore, while it lasts, and not spend it to no purpose.
_Of the Training of Children._
An old doting fool, with one foot already in the grave.[729-3]
_Of the Training of Children._
Xenophanes said, "I confess myself the greatest coward in the
world, for I dare not do an ill thing."
_Of Bashfulness._
One made the observation of the people of Asia that they were all
slaves to one man, merely because they could not pronounce that
syllable No.
_Of Bashfulness._
Euripides was wont to say, "Silence is an answer to a wise man."
_Of Bashfulness._
Zeno first started that doctrine that knavery is the best defence
against a knave.[730-1]
_Of Bashfulness._
Alexander wept when he heard from Anaxarchus that there was an
infinite number of worlds; and his friends asking him if any
accident had befallen him, he returns this answer: "Do you not
think it a matter worthy of lamentation that when there is such a
vast multitude of them, we have not yet conquered one?"
_On the Tranquillity of the Mind._
Like the man who threw a stone at a bitch, but hit his
step-mother, on which he exclaimed, "Not so bad!"
_On the Tranquillity of the Mind._
Pittacus said, "Every one of you hath his particular plague, and
my wife is mine; and he is very happy who hath this only."
_On the Tranquillity of the Mind._
He was a man, which, as Plato saith, is a very inconstant
creature.[730-2]
_On the Tranquillity of the Mind._
The pilot cannot mitigate the billows or calm the winds.[730-3]
_On the Tranquillity of the Mind._
I, for my own part, had much rather people should say of me that
there neither is nor ever was such a man as Plutarch, than that
they should say, "Plutarch is an unsteady, fickle, froward,
vindictive, and touchy fellow."
_Of Superstition._
Scilurus on his death-bed, being about to leave fourscore sons
surviving, offered a bundle of darts to each of them, and bade
them break them. When all refused, drawing out one by one, he
easily broke them,--thus teaching them that if they held
together, they would continue strong; but if they fell out and
were divided, they would become weak.
_Apophthegms of Kings and Great Commanders._[731-1] _Scilurus._
Dionysius the Elder, being asked whether he was at leisure, he
replied, "God forbid that it should ever befall me!"
_Apophthegms of Kings and Great Commanders. Dionysius._
A prating barber asked Archelaus how he would be trimmed. He
answered, "In silence."
_Apophthegms of Kings and Great Commanders. Archelaus._
When Philip had news brought him of divers and eminent successes
in one day, "O Fortune!" said he, "for all these so great
kindnesses do me some small mischief."
_Apophthegms of Kings and Great Commanders. Philip._
There were two brothers called Both and Either; perceiving Either
was a good, understanding, busy fellow, and Both a silly fellow
and good for little, Philip said, "Either is both, and Both is
neither."
_Apophthegms of Kings and Great Commanders. Philip._
Philip being arbitrator betwixt two wicked persons, he commanded
one to fly out of Macedonia and the other to pursue him.
_Apophthegms of Kings and Great Commanders. Philip._
Being about to pitch his camp in a likely place, and hearing
there was no hay to be had for the cattle, "What a life," said
he, "is ours, since we must live according to the convenience of
asses!"
_Apophthegms of Kings and Great Commanders. Philip._
"These Macedonians," said he, "are a rude and clownish people,
that call a spade a spade."[731-2]
_Apophthegms of Kings and Great Commanders. Philip._
He made one of Antipater's recommendation a judge; and perceiving
afterwards that his hair and beard were coloured, he removed him,
saying, "I could not think one that was faithless in his hair
could be trusty in his deeds."
_Apophthegms of Kings and Great Commanders. Philip._
Being nimble and light-footed, his father encouraged him to run
in the Olympic race. "Yes," said he, "if there were any kings
there to run with me."
_Apophthegms of Kings and Great Commanders. Alexander._
When Darius offered him ten thousand talents, and to divide Asia
equally with him, "I would accept it," said Parmenio, "were I
Alexander." "And so truly would I," said Alexander, "if I were
Parmenio." But he answered Darius that the earth could not bear
two suns, nor Asia two kings.
_Apophthegms of Kings and Great Commanders. Alexander._
When he was wounded with an arrow in the ankle, and many ran to
him that were wont to call him a god, he said smiling, "That is
blood, as you see, and not, as Homer saith, 'such humour as
distils from blessed gods.'"
_Apophthegms of Kings and Great Commanders. Alexander._
Aristodemus, a friend of Antigonus, supposed to be a cook's son,
advised him to moderate his gifts and expenses. "Thy words," said
he, "Aristodemus, smell of the apron."
_Apophthegms of Kings and Great Commanders. Antigonus I._
Thrasyllus the Cynic begged a drachm of Antigonus. "That," said
he, "is too little for a king to give." "Why, then," said the
other, "give me a talent." "And that," said he, "is too much for
a Cynic (or, for a dog) to receive."
_Apophthegms of Kings and Great Commanders. Antigonus I._
Antagoras the poet was boiling a conger, and Antigonus, coming
behind him as he was stirring his skillet, said, "Do you think,
Antagoras, that Homer boiled congers when he wrote the deeds of
Agamemnon?" Antagoras replied, "Do you think, O king, that
Agamemnon, when he did such exploits, was a peeping in his army
to see who boiled congers?"
_Apophthegms of Kings and Great Commanders. Antigonus I._
Pyrrhus said, "If I should overcome the Romans in another fight,
I were undone."
_Apophthegms of Kings and Great Commanders. Pyrrhus._
Themistocles being asked whether he would rather be Achilles or
Homer, said, "Which would you rather be,--a conqueror in the
Olympic games, or the crier that proclaims who are conquerors?"
_Apophthegms of Kings and Great Commanders. Themistocles._
He preferred an honest man that wooed his daughter, before a rich
man. "I would rather," said Themistocles, "have a man that wants
money than money that wants a man."
_Apophthegms of Kings and Great Commanders. Themistocles._
Alcibiades had a very handsome dog, that cost him seven thousand
drachmas; and he cut off his tail, "that," said he, "the
Athenians may have this story to tell of me, and may concern
themselves no further with me."
_Apophthegms of Kings and Great Commanders. Alcibiades._
Being summoned by the Athenians out of Sicily to plead for his
life, Alcibiades absconded, saying that that criminal was a fool
who studied a defence when he might fly for it.
_Apophthegms of Kings and Great Commanders. Alcibiades._
Lamachus chid a captain for a fault; and when he had said he
would do so no more, "Sir," said he, "in war there is no room for
a second miscarriage." Said one to Iphicrates, "What are ye
afraid of?" "Of all speeches," said he, "none is so dishonourable
for a general as 'I should not have thought of it.'"
_Apophthegms of Kings and Great Commanders. Iphicrates._
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."[733-1]
_Apophthegms of Kings and Great Commanders. Iphicrates._
Once when Phocion had delivered an opinion which pleased the
people, . . . he turned to his friend and said, "Have I not
unawares spoken some mischievous thing or other?"
_Apophthegms of Kings and Great Commanders. Phocion._
Phocion compared the speeches of Leosthenes to cypress-trees.
"They are tall," said he, "and comely, but bear no fruit."
_Apophthegms of Kings and Great Commanders. Phocion._
Lycurgus the Lacedæmonian brought long hair into fashion among
his countrymen, saying that it rendered those that were handsome
more beautiful, and those that were deformed more terrible. To
one that advised him to set up a democracy in Sparta, "Pray,"
said Lycurgus, "do you first set up a democracy in your own
house."
_Apophthegms of Kings and Great Commanders. Lycurgus._
King Agis said, "The Lacedæmonians are not wont to ask how many,
but where the enemy are."
_Apophthegms of Kings and Great Commanders. Agis._
Lysander said, "Where the lion's skin will not reach, it must be
pieced with the fox's."[734-1]
_Apophthegms of Kings and Great Commanders. Lysander._
To one that promised to give him hardy cocks that would die
fighting, "Prithee," said Cleomenes, "give me cocks that will
kill fighting."
_Apophthegms of Kings and Great Commanders. Cleomenes._
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."
_Apophthegms of Kings and Great Commanders. Eudæmonidas._
A soldier told Pelopidas, "We are fallen among the enemies." Said
he, "How are we fallen among them more than they among us?"
_Apophthegms of Kings and Great Commanders. Pelopidas._
Cato the elder wondered how that city was preserved wherein a
fish was sold for more than an ox.
_Roman Apophthegms. Cato the Elder._
Cato instigated the magistrates to punish all offenders, saying
that they that did not prevent crimes when they might, encouraged
them.[734-2] Of young men, he liked them that blushed better than
those who looked pale.
_Roman Apophthegms. Cato the Elder._
Cato requested old men not to add the disgrace of wickedness to
old age, which was accompanied with many other evils.
_Roman Apophthegms. Cato the Elder._
He said they that were serious in ridiculous matters would be
ridiculous in serious affairs.
_Roman Apophthegms. Cato the Elder._
Cicero said loud-bawling orators were driven by their weakness to
noise, as lame men to take horse.
_Roman Apophthegms. Cicero._
After the battle in Pharsalia, when Pompey was fled, one Nonius
said they had seven eagles left still, and advised to try what
they would do. "Your advice," said Cicero, "were good if we were
to fight jackdaws."
_Roman Apophthegms. Cicero._
After he routed Pharnaces Ponticus at the first assault, he wrote
thus to his friends: "I came, I saw, I conquered."[735-1]
_Roman Apophthegms. Cæsar._
As Cæsar was at supper the discourse was of death,--which sort
was the best. "That," said he, "which is unexpected."
_Roman Apophthegms. Cæsar._
As Athenodorus was taking his leave of Cæsar, "Remember," said
he, "Cæsar, whenever you are angry, to say or do nothing before
you have repeated the four-and-twenty letters to yourself."
_Roman Apophthegms. Cæsar Augustus._
"Young men," said Cæsar, "hear an old man to whom old men
hearkened when he was young."
_Roman Apophthegms. Cæsar Augustus._
Remember what Simonides said,--that he never repented that he had
held his tongue, but often that he had spoken.[735-2]
_Rules for the Preservation of Health. 7._
Custom is almost a second nature.[735-3]
_Rules for the Preservation of Health. 18._
Epaminondas is reported wittily to have said of a good man that
died about the time of the battle of Leuctra, "How came he to
have so much leisure as to die, when there was so much stirring?"
_Rules for the Preservation of Health. 25._
Have in readiness this saying of Solon, "But we will not give up
our virtue in exchange for their wealth."
_How to profit by our Enemies._
Socrates thought that if all our misfortunes were laid in one
common heap, whence every one must take an equal portion, most
persons would be contented to take their own and depart.
_Consolation to Apollonius._
Diogenes the Cynic, when a little before his death he fell into a
slumber, and his physician rousing him out of it asked him
whether anything ailed him, wisely answered, "Nothing, sir; only
one brother anticipates another,--Sleep before Death."
_Consolation to Apollonius._
About Pontus there are some creatures of such an extempore being
that the whole term of their life is confined within the space of
a day; for they are brought forth in the morning, are in the
prime of their existence at noon, grow old at night, and then
die.
_Consolation to Apollonius._
The measure of a man's life is the well spending of it, and not
the length.
_Consolation to Apollonius._
For many, as Cranton tells us, and those very wise men, not now
but long ago, have deplored the condition of human nature,
esteeming life a punishment, and to be born a man the highest
pitch of calamity; this, Aristotle tells us, Silenus declared
when he was brought captive to Midas.
_Consolation to Apollonius._
There are two sentences inscribed upon the Delphic oracle, hugely
accommodated to the usages of man's life: "Know thyself,"[736-1]
and "Nothing too much;" and upon these all other precepts depend.
_Consolation to Apollonius._
To one commending an orator for his skill in amplifying petty
matters, Agesilaus said, "I do not think that shoemaker a good
workman that makes a great shoe for a little foot."
_Laconic Apophthegms. Of Agesilaus the Great._
"I will show," said Agesilaus, "that it is not the places that
grace men, but men the places."
_Laconic Apophthegms. Of Agesilaus the Great._
When one asked him what boys should learn, "That," said he,
"which they shall use when men."
_Laconic Apophthegms. Of Agesilaus the Great._
Agesilaus was very fond of his children; and it is reported that
once toying with them he got astride upon a reed as upon a horse,
and rode about the room; and being seen by one of his friends, he
desired him not to speak of it till he had children of his own.
_Laconic Apophthegms. Of Agesilaus the Great._
When Demaratus was asked whether he held his tongue because he
was a fool or for want of words, he replied, "A fool cannot hold
his tongue."
_Laconic Apophthegms. Of Demaratus._
Lysander, when Dionysius sent him two gowns, and bade him choose
which he would carry to his daughter, said, "She can choose
best," and so took both away with him.
_Laconic Apophthegms. Of Lysander._
A physician, after he had felt the pulse of Pausanias, and
considered his constitution, saying, "He ails nothing," "It is
because, sir," he replied, "I use none of your physic."
_Laconic Apophthegms. Of Pausanias the Son of Phistoanax._
And when the physician said, "Sir, you are an old man," "That
happens," replied Pausanias, "because you never were my doctor."
_Laconic Apophthegms. Of Pausanias the Son of Phistoanax._
When one told Plistarchus that a notorious railer spoke well of
him, "I 'll lay my life," said he, "somebody hath told him I am
dead, for he can speak well of no man living."
_Laconic Apophthegms. Of Plistarchus._
Anacharsis said a man's felicity consists not in the outward and
visible favours and blessings of Fortune, but in the inward and
unseen perfections and riches of the mind.
_The Banquet of the Seven Wise Men. 11._
Said Periander, "Hesiod might as well have kept his breath to
cool his pottage."[738-1]
_The Banquet of the Seven Wise Men. 14._
Socrates said, "Bad men live that they may eat and drink, whereas
good men eat and drink that they may live."[738-2]
_How a Young Man ought to hear Poems. 4._
And Archimedes, as he was washing, thought of a manner of
computing the proportion of gold in King Hiero's crown by seeing
the water flowing over the bathing-stool. He leaped up as one
possessed or inspired, crying, "I have found it! Eureka!"
_Pleasure not attainable according to Epicurus. 11._
Said Scopas of Thessaly, "We rich men count our felicity and
happiness to lie in these superfluities, and not in those
necessary things."[738-3]
_Of the Love of Wealth._
That proverbial saying, "Ill news goes quick and far."
_Of Inquisitiveness._
A traveller at Sparta, standing long upon one leg, said to a
Lacedæmonian, "I do not believe you can do as much." "True," said
he, "but every goose can."
_Remarkable Speeches._
Spintharus, speaking in commendation of Epaminondas, says he
scarce ever met with any man who knew more and spoke less.
_Of Hearing. 6._
It is a thing of no great difficulty to raise objections against
another man's oration,--nay, it is a very easy matter; but to
produce a better in its place is a work extremely troublesome.
_Of Hearing. 6._
Antiphanes said merrily, that in a certain city the cold was so
intense that words were congealed as soon as spoken, but that
after some time they thawed and became audible; so that the words
spoken in winter were articulated next summer.[739-1]
_Of Man's Progress in Virtue._
As those persons who despair of ever being rich make little
account of small expenses, thinking that little added to a little
will never make any great sum.
_Of Man's Progress in Virtue._
What is bigger than an elephant? But this also is become man's
plaything, and a spectacle at public solemnities; and it learns
to skip, dance, and kneel.
_Of Fortune._
No man ever wetted clay and then left it, as if there would be
bricks by chance and fortune.
_Of Fortune._
Alexander was wont to say, "Were I not Alexander, I would be
Diogenes."
_Of the Fortune or Virtue of Alexander the Great._
When the candles are out all women are fair.[739-2]
_Conjugal Precepts._
Like watermen, who look astern while they row the boat
ahead.[739-3]
_Whether 't was rightfully said, Live Concealed._
Socrates said he was not an Athenian or a Greek, but a citizen of
the world.[739-4]
_Of Banishment._
Anaximander says that men were first produced in fishes, and when
they were grown up and able to help themselves were thrown up,
and so lived upon the land.
_Symposiacs. Book. viii. Question viii._
Athenodorus says hydrophobia, or water-dread, was first
discovered in the time of Asclepiades.
_Symposiacs. Book. viii. Question ix._
Let us not wonder if something happens which never was before, or
if something doth not appear among us with which the ancients
were acquainted.
_Symposiacs. Book viii. Question ix._
Why does pouring oil on the sea make it clear and calm? Is it for
that the winds, slipping the smooth oil, have no force, nor cause
any waves?[740-1]
The great god Pan is dead.[740-2]
_Why the Oracles cease to give Answers._
I am whatever was, or is, or will be; and my veil no mortal ever
took up.[740-3]
_Of Isis and Osiris._
When Hermodotus in his poems described Antigonus as the son of
Helios, "My valet-de-chambre," said he, "is not aware of
this."[740-4]
_Of Isis and Osiris._
There is no debt with so much prejudice put off as that of
justice.
_Of those whom God is slow to punish._
It is a difficult thing for a man to resist the natural necessity
of mortal passions.
_Of those whom God is slow to punish._
He is a fool who lets slip a bird in the hand for a bird in the
bush.[740-5]
_Of Garrulity._
We are more sensible of what is done against custom than against
Nature.
_Of Eating of Flesh. Tract 1._
When Demosthenes was asked what was the first part of oratory, he
answered, "Action;" and which was the second, he replied,
"Action;" and which was the third, he still answered, "Action."
_Lives of the Ten Orators._
Xenophon says that there is no sound more pleasing than one's own
praises.
_Whether an Aged Man ought to meddle in State Affairs._
Lampis, the sea commander, being asked how he got his wealth,
answered, "My greatest estate I gained easily enough, but the
smaller slowly and with much labour."
_Whether an Aged Man ought to meddle in State Affairs._
The general himself ought to be such a one as can at the same
time see both forward and backward.
_Whether an Aged Man ought to meddle in State Affairs._
Statesmen are not only liable to give an account of what they say
or do in public, but there is a busy inquiry made into their very
meals, beds, marriages, and every other sportive or serious
action.
_Political Precepts._
Leo Byzantius said, "What would you do, if you saw my wife, who
scarce reaches up to my knees? . . . Yet," went he on, "as little
as we are, when we fall out with each other, the city of
Byzantium is not big enough to hold us."
_Political Precepts._
Cato said, "I had rather men should ask why my statue is not set
up, than why it is."
_Political Precepts._
It was the saying of Bion, that though the boys throw stones at
frogs in sport, yet the frogs do not die in sport but in
earnest.[741-1]
_Which are the most crafty, Water or Land Animals? 7._
Both Empedocles and Heraclitus held it for a truth that man could
not be altogether cleared from injustice in dealing with beasts
as he now does.
_Which are the most crafty, Water or Land Animals? 7._
For to err in opinion, though it be not the part of wise men, is
at least human.[742-1]
_Against Colotes._
Simonides calls painting silent poetry, and poetry speaking
painting.
_Whether the Athenians were more Warlike or Learned. 3._
As Meander says, "For our mind is God;" and as Heraclitus, "Man's
genius is a deity."
_Platonic Questions. i._
Pythagoras, when he was asked what time was, answered that it was
the soul of this world.
_Platonic Questions. viii. 4._
FOOTNOTES:
[722-5] See Swift, page 289.
[723-1] "Strike," said he, "but hear me."--_Apophthegms of Kings
and Great Commanders._ (_Themistocles._)
[723-2] Diophantus, the young son of Themistocles, made his boast
often and in many companies, that whatsoever pleased him pleased
also all Athens; for whatever he liked, his mother liked; and
whatever his mother liked, Themistocles liked; and whatever
Themistocles liked, all the Athenians liked.--_Of the Training of
Children._
When the son of Themistocles was a little saucy toward his mother,
he said that this boy had more power than all the Grecians; for
the Athenians governed Greece, he the Athenians, his wife him, and
his son his wife.--_Apophthegms of Kings and Great Commanders._
(_Themistocles._)
[723-3] An obscure island.
[723-4] Themistocles said speech was like to tapestry; and like
it, when it was spread it showed its figures, but when it was
folded up, hid and spoiled them.--_Apophthegms of Kings and Great
Commanders._ (_Themistocles._)
[724-1] See Chaucer, page 3.
[725-1] The pilot telling Antigonus the enemy outnumbered him in
ships, he said, "But how many ships do you reckon my presence to
be worth?" _Apophthegms of Kings and Great Commanders._
(_Antigonus II._)
[725-2] The belly has no ears, nor is it to be filled with fair
words.--RABELAIS: _book iv. chap. lxvii._
[725-3] See Bacon, page 165.
[725-4] This has been observed in modern times, and attributed to
the effect of gunpowder.
[725-5] Or cheat against cheat. The Cretans were famous as liars.
[726-1] 'T is one and the same Nature that rolls on her course,
and whoever has sufficiently considered the present state of
things might certainly conclude as to both the future and the
past.--MONTAIGNE: _Essays, book ii. chap. xii. Apology for Raimond
Sebond._
I shall be content if those shall pronounce my History useful who
desire to give a view of events as they did really happen, and as
they are very likely, in accordance with human nature, to repeat
themselves at some future time,--if not exactly the same, yet very
similar.--THUCYDIDES: _Historia, i. 2, 2._
What is this day supported by precedents will hereafter become a
precedent.--_Ibid., Annals, xi. 24._
[726-2] Agesilaus being exhorted to hear one that imitated the
voice of a nightingale, "I have often," said he, "heard
nightingales themselves."--_Apophthegms of Kings and Great
Commanders._ (_Agesilaus._)
[726-3] See Horace, page 706.
[726-4] See Garrick, page 387.
He [Tiberius] upbraided Macro in no obscure and indirect terms
"with forsaking the setting sun and turning to the
rising."--TACITUS: _Annals, book iv. c. 47, 20._
[727-1] While Alexander was a boy, Philip had great success in his
affairs, at which he did not rejoice, but told the children that
were brought up with him, "My father will leave me nothing to
do."--_Apophthegms of Kings and Great Commanders._ (_Alexander._)
[727-2] Cæsar's wife ought to be free from suspicion.--_Roman
Apophthegms._ (_Cæsar._)