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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Plutarch <strong>and</strong> the Greece <strong>of</strong> His Age<br />
an early age to take notes on what he read; in this<br />
way he accumulated the large stock <strong>of</strong> quotations so<br />
pr<strong>of</strong>usely scattered through his writings. In fact this<br />
practice <strong>of</strong> depending upon others for his information<br />
must have done a good deal toward weakening his<br />
power <strong>of</strong> original thought, <strong>and</strong> he usually enforces a<br />
precept by an apt quotation rather than by arguments<br />
that he has himself elaborated. On the other h<strong>and</strong>,<br />
his frequent reference to older authors has given a<br />
special value to his writings in the eyes <strong>of</strong> the<br />
moderns. Though not quoted by any extant Roman<br />
writer <strong>and</strong> rarely by a Greek he must have been much<br />
read soon after his death, <strong>and</strong> at no time was he<br />
wholly forgotten. His early <strong>and</strong> continued popular<br />
ity doubtless contributed not a little to the preserva<br />
tion <strong>of</strong> so large a portion <strong>of</strong> his writings; but it also<br />
put into circulation under his name a number <strong>of</strong> spu<br />
rious works just how many cannot be determined.<br />
Yet it is certain that some genuine writings have been<br />
lost. Among the earliest printed books were portions<br />
<strong>of</strong> Plutarch.<br />
Plutarch is a prolix but not a pedantic nor a tedi<br />
ous writer. Though he displays immense erudition<br />
he does so without effort. An apt quotation from<br />
one <strong>of</strong> the poets, a telling anecdote <strong>of</strong> some celebrated<br />
man or w r oman, or historical incident seems always<br />
ready to his h<strong>and</strong>, <strong>and</strong> waiting for a suitable place to<br />
be used. He is completely master <strong>of</strong> the extensive<br />
stock <strong>of</strong> knowledge stored up in his mind or his notes.<br />
He is a capital story-teller. He knows how to seize<br />
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