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We sometimes find ourselves changing our minds without any resistance or heavy emotion, but if we are told we are wrong, we resent the imputation and harden our hearts. We are incredibly heedless in the formation of our beliefs, but find
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“Whenever two notes are sounded in accord the tune is carried by the bass; and in like manner every activity in a virtuous household is carried on by both parties in agreement, but discloses the husband’s leadership and preferences.”
― The Complete Works of Plutarch. Illustrated: Parallel Lives. Moralia
― The Complete Works of Plutarch. Illustrated: Parallel Lives. Moralia
“But it seems to have eluded all these philosophers in what way each of us is truly two fold and composite. For that other two fold nature of ours they have not discerned, but merely the more obvious one, the blend of soul and body. But that there is some element of composition, some two fold nature and dissimilarity of the very soul within itself, since the irrational, as though it were another substance, is mingled and joined with reason by some compulsion of Nature — E this, it is likely, was not unknown even to Pythagoras, if we may judge by the man’s enthusiasm for the study of music, which he introduced to enchant and assuage the soul, perceiving that the soul has not every part of itself in subjection to discipline and study, and that not every part can be changed from vice by reason, but that the several parts have need of some other kind of persuasion to co operate with them, to mould them, and to tame them, if they are not to be utterly intractable and obstinate to the teaching of philosophy.”
― The Complete Works of Plutarch. Illustrated: Parallel Lives. Moralia
― The Complete Works of Plutarch. Illustrated: Parallel Lives. Moralia
“And yet,” said he, “how can a man take care of his own horse or furbish up his spear and helmet, if he is unaccustomed to using his hands on his own dear person? Know ye not,” said he, “that the end and object of conquest is to avoid doing the same thing as the conquered?”
― The Complete Works of Plutarch. Illustrated: Parallel Lives. Moralia
― The Complete Works of Plutarch. Illustrated: Parallel Lives. Moralia
“For if they do not receive the seed of good doctrines and share with their husbands in intellectual advancement, they, left to themselves, conceive many untoward ideas and low designs and emotions.”
― The Complete Works of Plutarch. Illustrated: Parallel Lives. Moralia
― The Complete Works of Plutarch. Illustrated: Parallel Lives. Moralia
“So is it with women also; if they subordinate themselves to their husbands, they are commended, but if they want to have control, they cut a sorrier figure than the subjects of their control. And control ought to be exercised by the man over the woman, not as the owner has control over a piece of property, but, as the soul colonists the body, by entering into her feelings and being knit to her through goodwill. As, therefore, it is possible to exercise care over the body without being a slave to its pleasures and desires, so it is possible to govern a wife, and at the same time to delight and gratify her.”
― The Complete Works of Plutarch. Illustrated: Parallel Lives. Moralia
― The Complete Works of Plutarch. Illustrated: Parallel Lives. Moralia
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