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Lying Is A Most Disgraceful Vice; It First Despises God, And Then Fears Men.
-Plutarch
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Lying Is A Most

Plutarch
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Lying Is A Most Disgraceful Vice; It First Despises God, And Then Fears Men.

Understanding the Quote: "lying is a most disgraceful vice; it first despises god, and then..."

This quote by Plutarch reflects deeply on the theme of lying. It connects to the universal human journey of purpose, motivation, and reflection. Often categorized under Lying, Men, Vices, the quote offers insight, emotional clarity, and intellectual inspiration to readers worldwide.

Whether you’re a student exploring new ideas, a leader trying to motivate your team, or someone seeking direction in life — this quote provides value. It resonates because it’s more than words — it’s a bridge between experience and wisdom. It shows how Plutarch interprets life's core challenges and triumphs.

Lessons From the Quote

This quote teaches resilience and focus. It reminds readers that no matter where they stand in life, reflection and self-awareness lead to growth. Each word has meaning, and when studied, it becomes clear how impactful thoughtful language can be.

About Plutarch

Plutarch is celebrated for insightful thoughts on lying and men. Their legacy lives on through writings that guide, comfort, and inspire. Discover more on their profile page.

Actionable Takeaways

  • Reflect on how this quote applies to your current life path.
  • Share the message with someone who needs inspiration.
  • Write your thoughts on this quote in a journal or blog post.
  • Use it as a daily affirmation or reminder.

Closing Thoughts

Quotes like this endure because they capture universal truths. They comfort us in solitude and empower us in groups. Carry this quote forward — live by its wisdom, share its message, and keep its essence alive.

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Topic
Lying
Men
Vices
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Fool
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Men
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Men
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Life
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Aging
Increase
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People
Democracy
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Firsts
Assault
Rather I Fear On The Contrary That While We Banish Painful Thoughts We May Banish Memory As Well.
Memories
May
Painful
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Advice
Way
Mines
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.
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People
Asia
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Should
Elders
Cicero Called Aristotle A River Of Flowing Gold, And Said Of Plato's Dialogues, That If Jupiter Were To Speak, It Would Be In Language Like Theirs.
Plato
Rivers
Gold
I Am All That Hath Been, And Is, And Shall Be; And My Veil No Mortal Has Hitherto Raised.
Veils
Raised
Mortals
These Macedonians Are A Rude And Clownish People; They Call A Spade A Spade.
People
Rude
Spades
In Human Life There Is Constant Change Of Fortune; And It Is Unreasonable To Expect An Exemption From The Common Fate. Life Itself Decays, And All Things Are Daily Changing.
Life
Change
Fate
Demosthenes, When Taunted By Pytheas That All His Arguments "smelled Of The Lamp," Replied, "yes, But Your Lamp And Mine, My Friend, Do Not Witness The Same Labours.
Lamps
Argument
Witness
Knavery Is The Best Defense Against A Knave.
Knavery
Defense
Knaves
Abstruse Questions Must Have Abstruse Answers.
Answers
Speech
In Words Are Seen The State Of Mind And Character And Disposition Of The Speaker.
Character
Mind
States
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."
Dog
Kings
Giving
A Few Vices Are Sufficient To Darken Many Virtues.
Reality
Vices
Virtue
It Is A Difficult Task, O Citizens, To Make Speeches To The Belly, Which Has No Ears.
Tasks
Citizens
Ears
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Wise
Adversity
Men
A Lover's Soul Lives In The Body Of His Mistress.
Life
Soul
Mistress
Archimedes Had Stated, That Given The Force, Any Given Weight Might Be Moved; And Even Boasted That If There Were Another Earth, By Going Into It He Could Remove This.
Weight
Earth
Might
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Should
Carthage
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Firsts
Intellect
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Talking
People
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Life
Men
Practice
The Crowns Of Kings Do Not Prevent Those Who Wear Them From Being Tormented Sometimes By Violent Headaches.
Kings
Crowns
Sometimes
Wickedness Is A Wonderfully Diligent Architect Of Misery, Of Shame, Accompanied With Terror, And Commotion, And Remorse, And Endless Perturbation.
Wickedness
Misery
Shame
A Prating Barber Asked Archelaus How He Would Be Trimmed. He Answered, "in Silence."
Silence
Would Be
Barbers
Poverty Is Never Dishonourable In Itself, But Only When It Is A Mark Of Sloth, Intemperance, Extravagance, Or Thoughtlessness. When, On The Other Hand, It Is The Handmaid Of A Sober, Industrious, Righteous, And Brave Man, Who Devotes All His Powers To The Service Of The People, It Is The Sign Of A Lofty Spirit That Harbours No Mean Thoughts
Mean
Men
Hands
Playing The Cretan With The Cretans (i.e. Lying To Liars).
Liars
Lying
The Measure Of A Man Is The Way He Bears Up Under Misfortune.
Motivation
Crazy
Inspiration
There Is Never The Body Of A Man, How Strong And Stout Soever, If It Be Troubled And Inflamed, But Will Take More Harm And Offense By Wine Being Poured Into It.
Strong
Wine
Men
Man Is Neither By Birth Nor Disposition A Savage, Nor Of Unsocial Habits, But Only Becomes So By Indulging In Vices Contrary To His Nature.
Men
Vices
Savages
I Do Not Think That Shoemaker A Good Workman That Makes A Great Shoe For A Little Foot.
Thinking
Shoes
Feet
Real Excellence, Indeed, Is Most Recognized When Most Openly Looked Into.
Real
Excellence
Goodness
Pythias Once, Scoffing At Demosthenes, Said That His Arguments Smelt Of The Lamp.
Lamps
Argument
Scoffing
What All The World Knows Water Is The Principle, Or The Element, Of Things. All Things Are Water.
Water
Principles
Elements
Socrates Said He Was Not An Athenian Or A Greek, But A Citizen Of The World.
Patriotic
Greek
Patriotism
Lycurgus Being Asked Why He, Who In Other Respects Appeared To Be So Zealous For The Equal Rights Of Men, Did Not Make His Government Democratical Rather Than Oligarchical, "go You," Replied The Legislator, "and Try A Democracy In Your Own House.
Men
Rights
House
A Friend Should Be Like Money, Tried Before Being Required, Not Found Faulty In Our Need.
Friends
Needs
Should
Even A Nod From A Person Who Is Esteemed Is Of More Force Than A Thousand Arguments Or Studied Sentences From Others.
Argument
Force
Thousand
Good Birth Is A Fine Thing, But The Merit Is Our Ancestors.
Merit
Birth
Fine Things
The Richest Soil, If Uncultivated, Produces The Rankest Weeds.
Weed
Hard Work
Garden
A Spartan Woman, As She Handed Her Son His Shield, Exhorted Him Saying, "as A Warrior Of Sparta Come Back With Your Shield Or On It."
Warrior
Son
Sparta
Painting Is Silent Poetry.
Art
Painting
Silent
A Traveller At Sparta, Standing Long Upon One Leg, Said To A Lacedaemonian, "i Do Not Believe You Can Do As Much." "true," Said He, "but Every Goose Can."
Believe
Long
Sparta
It Is No Disgrace Not To Be Able To Do Everything; But To Undertake, Or Pretend To Do, What You Are Not Made For, Is Not Only Shameful, But Extremely Troublesome And Vexatious.
Able
Made
Disgrace
He Is A Fool Who Lets Slip A Bird In The Hand For A Bird In The Bush.
Hands
Bird
Fool
The Process May Seem Strange And Yet It Is Very True. I Did Not So Much Gain The Knowledge Of Things By The Words, As Words By The Experience I Had Of Things.
May
Gains
Strange
Evidence Of Trust Begets Trust, And Love Is Reciprocated By Love.
Love Is
And Love
Love And Trust
For, In The Language Of Heraclitus, The Virtuous Soul Is Pure And Unmixed Light, Springing From The Body As A Flash Of Lightning Darts From The Cloud. But The Soul That Is Carnal And Immersed In Sense, Like A Heavy And Dank Vapor, Can With Difficulty Be Kindled, And Caused To Raise Its Eyes Heavenward.
Eye
Clouds
Light
Medicine To Produce Health Must Examine Disease; And Music, To Create Harmony Must Investigate Discord.
Music
Medicine
Disease
Words Will Build No Walls.
Wall
It Is A Hard Matter, My Fellow Citizens, To Argue With The Belly, Since It Has No Ears.
Inspiring
Food
Loss
Nothing Is Cheap Which Is Superfluous, For What One Does Not Need, Is Dear At A Penny.
Doe
Needs
Pennies
Not By Lamentations And Mournful Chants Ought We To Celebrate The Funeral Of A Good Man, But By Hymns; For, Ion Ceasing To Be Numbered With Mortals, He Enters Upon The Heritage Of A Diviner Life. Since He Is Gone Where He Feels No Pain, Let Us Not Indulge In Too Much Grief. The Soul Is Incapable Of Death. And He, Like A Bird Not Long Enough In His Cage To Become Attached To It, Is Free To Fly Away To A Purer Air. . . . Since We Cherish A Trust Like This, Let Our Outward Actions Be In Accord With It, And Let Us Keep Our Hearts Pure And Our Minds Calm.
Life
Pain
Grief
A Remorseful Change Of Mind Renders Even A Noble Action Base, Whereas The Determination Which Is Grounded On Knowledge And Reason Cannot Change Even If Its Actions Fail.
Determination
Mind
Noble
Water And Our Necessary Food Are The Only Things That Wise Men Must Fight For.
Wise
Healing
Fighting
As Small Letters Hurt The Sight, So Do Small Matters Him That Is Too Much Intent Upon Them; They Vex And Stir Up Anger, Which Begets An Evil Habit In Him In Reference To Greater Affairs.
Hurt
Sight
Evil
As Geographers, Sosius, Crowd Into The Edges Of Their Maps Parts Of The World Which They Do Not Know About, Adding Notes In The Margin To The Effect That Beyond This Lies Nothing But Sandy Deserts Full Of Wild Beasts, And Unapproachable Bogs.
Lying
Desert
World
When One Is Transported By Rage, It Is Best To Observe Attentively The Effects On Those Who Deliver Themselves Over To The Same Passion.
Passion
Rage
Effects
The First Evil Those Who Are Prone To Talk Suffer, Is That They Hear Nothing.
Evil
Suffering
Firsts
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.
Son
Smell
Aprons
Lysander Said That The Law Spoke Too Softly To Be Heard In Such A Noise Of War.
War
Law
Noise
Whenever Alexander Heard Philip Had Taken Any Town Of Importance, Or Won Any Signal Victory, Instead Of Rejoicing At It Altogether, He Would Tell His Companions That His Father Would Anticipate Everything, And Leave Him And Them No Opportunities Of Performing Great And Illustrious Actions.
Father
Taken
Opportunity
He Who Least Likes Courting Favour, Ought Also Least To Think Of Resenting Neglect; To Feel Wounded At Being Refused A Distinction Can Only Arise From An Overweening Appetite To Have It.
Thinking
Likes
Favour
For The Correct Analogy For The Mind Is Not A Vessel That Needs Filling, But Wood That Needs Igniting.
Inspirational
Mind
Needs
Rome Was In The Most Dangerous Inclination To Change On Account Of The Unequal Distribution Of Wealth And Property, Those Of Highest Rank And Greatest Spirit Having Impoverished Themselves By Shows, Entertainments, Ambition Of Offices, And Sumptuous Buildings, And The Riches Of The City Having Thus Fallen Into The Hands Of Mean And Low-born Persons. So That There Wanted But A Slight Impetus To Set All In Motion, It Being In The Power Of Every Daring Man To Overturn A Sickly Commonwealth.
Wisdom
Ambition
Mean
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