Between Heathenism and Christianity - College of Stoic Philosophers
Between Heathenism and Christianity - College of Stoic Philosophers
Between Heathenism and Christianity - College of Stoic Philosophers
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"<br />
Plutarch <strong>and</strong> the Greece <strong>of</strong> His Age<br />
closely the best that is in the old philosophy ap<br />
proached the new religion; or, to state the case some<br />
what differently, that the old philosophy <strong>and</strong> the new<br />
religion are in many points identical.<br />
The French have, almost from the beginning <strong>of</strong><br />
their national literature, been ardent admirers <strong>of</strong><br />
Plutarch. Amyot reduced some <strong>of</strong> his precepts to<br />
rhyme in order that they might the more readily be<br />
taught to children, <strong>and</strong> regarded his writings as more<br />
pr<strong>of</strong>itable than any other except the Scriptures.<br />
Gui-Patin makes Pliny, Aristotle, Plutarch, <strong>and</strong><br />
Seneca constitute an entire family, father, mother,<br />
older <strong>and</strong> younger brother <strong>and</strong> thus in a sense<br />
represent the whole circle <strong>of</strong> literature. Rollin copies<br />
his Parallel Lives almost literally into his Ancient<br />
History. Rousseau cites him among the few authors<br />
that he read in his old age. He is the last consola<br />
tion <strong>of</strong> St. Pierre. Laharpe regards him as by nature<br />
the most moral man that ever lived; <strong>and</strong> Joubert<br />
calls him the Herodotus <strong>of</strong> Philosophy, <strong>and</strong> deems<br />
his Lives the wisdom <strong>of</strong> antiquity in its entirety.<br />
Montaigne says, never settled myself to the read<br />
"I<br />
ing <strong>of</strong> any authors but Plutarch <strong>and</strong> Seneca."<br />
Again.<br />
Plutarch had rather we should applaud his judg<br />
ment than commend his knowledge, <strong>and</strong> had rather<br />
leave us with an appetite to read more, than glutted<br />
with that we have already read.<br />
that a man may say too much even upon<br />
He knew very well<br />
the best<br />
subjects, <strong>and</strong> that Alex<strong>and</strong>rides did justly reproach<br />
him who made very elegant but too long speeches to<br />
ill