Plutarch's essays range from sharp moral exhortation to playful banquet talk, moving with ease between public virtue, private conduct, and the hidden workings of nature. He argues against "living concealed," insisting that character should be exposed to scrutiny so vice can be corrected, and explores exile, brotherly love, forgiveness, family duty, and the dignity of misfortune with the same ethical seriousness. At the dinner table, the mood shifts to wit and inquiry as guests debate seating, stewards, wine, digestion, drunkenness, and the old saying about drinking "five or three, but not four," linking moderation to harmony of soul. The collection widens further into questions of prophecy at Delphi, the changing voice of the Pythian oracle, and the nature of inspiration. It surveys the universe from first principles to stars, weather, comets, earthquakes, and the Nile, then turns inward to the soul, the senses, dreams, generation, health, sickness, and death. Throughout, Plutarch blends classical learning, anecdote, skepticism, and moral reflection, presenting conversation itself as a route to wisdom, balance, and a fuller understanding of human life. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.

À propos de l'auteur

Plutarch

Plutarch, the Greek writer, philosopher, and moralist of the early Roman Empire, was born in Chaeronea in Boeotia around the first century CE and spent much of his life balancing public service, teaching, and writing. Educated in the traditions of Greek learning, he traveled widely, studied philosophy in Athens, and later served as a priest at Delphi, a role that deepened his lifelong interest in religion, ethics, and the character of human beings. He became one of antiquity’s most admired essayists and biographers by combining historical knowledge with a keen eye for moral insight, producing works that explore virtue, vice, leadership, friendship, ambition, and the unpredictable turns of fortune. His writing is especially valued for its vivid comparisons of great public figures, his lively essays on everyday conduct and philosophical questions, and his ability to make the ancient world feel immediate and personal. What keeps Plutarch relevant today is his conviction that history is not just a record of events but a guide to character: he asks how power shapes the soul, how habits form moral life, and how private choices echo in public consequences. Readers still turn to him for his humane wisdom, his balanced judgment, and his belief that self-knowledge is essential to a meaningful life. He remains especially rewarding for readers who enjoy philosophy, history, biography, and thoughtful reflections on what it means to live well.