Plutarch, named Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus after becoming Roman citizen

When the strong box contains no more, both friends and flatterers shun the door.

When men are arrived at the goal, they should not turn back.

What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality.

We ought not to treat living creatures like shoes or household belongings, which when worn with use we throw away.

We must eradicate self-love and conceit, because by flattering us beforehand they render us less resistant to flatterers.

Valor, however unfortunate, commands great respect even from enemies: but the Romans despise cowardice, even though it be prosperous.

To find a fault is easy to do; better may be difficult.

To fail to do good is as bad as doing harm.

To do an evil act is base. To do a good one without incurring danger is common enough. But it is part of a good man to do great and noble deeds though he risks everything in doing them.

To be ignorant of the lives of the most celebrated men of antiquity is to continue in a state of childhood all our days.

Tis a wise saying, Drive on your own track.

Thus they let their anger and fury take from them the sense of humanity, and demonstrated that no beast is more savage than man when possessed with power answerable to his rage.

Thus our judgments, if they do not borrow from reason and philosophy a fixity and steadiness of purpose in their acts, are easily swayed and influenced by the praise or blame of others, which make us distrust our own opinions.

There is no doubt that the real destroyer of the liberties of any people is he who spreads among them bounties, donations and largess.

The worship most acceptable to God comes from a thankful and cheerful heart.

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.

The very spring and root of honesty and virtue lie in good education.

The poor go to war, to fight and die for the delights, riches, and superfluities of others.

The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.

The measure of a man is the way he bears up under misfortune.

The man who first brought ruin upon the Roman people was he who pampered them by largesses and amusements.

The good man takes no less delight in his friends than the bad man in his flatterers.

The flatterer thinks he ought to do anything to be agreeable, while the friend by always doing what he ought to do is ofttimes agreeable and sometimes disagreeable not from any desire to be disagreeable. He is like the physician who administers an unpleasant remedy.

The flatterer is unable to help another with words or money or to back him in a quarrel, yet he makes no excuses when it comes to underhand actions.

The flatterer is always covertly on the watch for some emotion to pamper. Are you angry? Punish them. Do you crave anything? Buy it. Are you afraid? Flee. Are you suspicious? Give it credence.