Plebeians Quotes

• The usual picture of Socrates is of an ugly little plebeian who inspired a handsome young nobleman to write long dialogues on large topics.

  Richard Rorty

  Beauty, Writing, Long

  Richard Rorty (1989). “Contingency, Irony, and Solidarity”, p.127, Cambridge University Press

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• When you're a plebeian you want success, and when you're successful you want to be a plebeian again

  Paula Cole

  Successful, Want

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• Nobility is defined by the demands it makes on us - by obligations, not by rights. Noblesse oblige. 'To live as one likes is plebeian; the noble man aspires to order and law.'

  Jose Ortega y Gasset

  Men, Rights, Noble Man

  Jose Ortega Y Gasset (1960). “the Revolt of the Masses”

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• PLEBEIAN, n. An ancient Roman who in the blood of his country stained nothing but his hands. Distinguished from the Patrician, who was a saturated solution.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Country, Blood, Hands

  Ambrose Bierce (2016). “The Devil's Dictionary: The Devil World”, p.165, 谷月社

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• Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.

  William Shakespeare

  Rome, Cassius, Ides Of March

  'Julius Caesar' (1599) act 3, sc. 2, l. [22]

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• Words have their own hierarchy, their own protocol, their own artistic titles, their own plebeian stigmas.

  Jose Saramago

  Hierarchy, Titles, Artistic

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• The feelings of our heart, the agitation of our passions, the vehemence of our affections, dissipate all its conclusions, and reduce the profound philosopher to a mere plebeian

  David Hume

  Passion, Heart, Profound

  David Hume (1772). “An inquiry concerning human understanding. A dissertation on the passions. An. inquiry concerning the principles of morals. The natural history of religion”, p.5

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• Ask creative people where they get their ideas, and they will roll their eyes. It's the most common question, but it's also a bad one because the answer is inevitably disappointing. From the inside, creativity seems like an arduous task, often involving plebeian, imperfect choices, driven less by inspiration than by deadline.

  Gene Weingarten

  Inspiration, Creativity, Eye

  Gene Weingarten (2010). “The Fiddler in the Subway: The Story of the World-Class Violinist Who Played for Handouts. . . And Other Virtuoso Performances by America's Foremost Feature Writer”, p.243, Simon and Schuster

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• Now let it work. Mischief, thou art afoot. Take thou what course thou wilt.

  William Shakespeare

  Art, Work, Mischief

  'Julius Caesar' (1599) act 3, sc. 2, l. [265]

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• Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears.

  Mark Antony

  Ambition, Loss, Dogs Of War

  "Fictional character: Mark Anthony". "Mark Anthony’s Speech at Funeral in Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare", www.cbsenext.com. October 17, 2013.

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• There is a rabble among the gentry as well as the commonalty; a sort of plebeian heads whose fancy moves with the same wheel as these men?in the same level with mechanics, though their fortunes do sometimes gild their infirmities and their purses compound for their follies.

  Thomas Browne

  Moving, Men, Levels

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• A statue lies hid in a block of marble, and the art of the statuary only clears away the superfluous matter and removes the rubbish. The figure is in the stone; the sculptor only finds it. What sculpture is to a block of marble, education is to a human soul. The philosopher, the saint, or the hero,--the wise, the good, or the great man,--very often lies hid and concealed in a plebeian, which a proper education might have disinterred, and have brought to light.

  Joseph Addison

  Education, Wise, Art

  Joseph Addison (1856). “The works of ... Joseph Addison, with notes by R. Hurd”, p.96

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• The modern picture of the artist began to form: The poor, but free spirit, plebeian but aspiring only to be classless, to cut himself forever free from the bonds of the greedy bourgeoisie, to be whatever the fat burghers feared most, to cross the line wherever they drew it, to look at the world in a way they couldn't see, to be high, live low, stay young forever -- in short, to be the bohemian.

  Thomas Wolfe

  Cutting, Artist, Forever

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• The emancipation of the scholars and scientists from philosophy is according to [Nietzsche] only a part of the democratic movement, i.e. of the emancipation of the low from subordination to the high. ... The plebeian character of the contemporary scholar or scientist is due to the fact that he has no reverence for himself.

  Leo Strauss

  Philosophy, Character, Movement

  Leo Strauss (1985). “Studies in Platonic Political Philosophy”, p.186, University of Chicago Press

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• Val, I'm on Bourbon—” “I will not venture down that street of crass iniquities and plebeian horror, Acheron. It is the cesspit of humanity. Don‟t even ask it.” Ash rolled his eyes at the Roman‟s arrogant tone. “I need you in the swamp.” Silence answered him. "We have a situation." “Where do you need me?

  Sherrilyn Kenyon

  Eye, Silence, Humanity

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• If you have tears, prepare to shed them now.

  William Shakespeare

  Love, Strength, Tears

  'Julius Caesar' (1599) act 3, sc. 2, l. [174]

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• Ambition should be made of sterner stuff.

  William Shakespeare

  Ambition, Stuff, Ides Of March

  'Julius Caesar' (1599) act 3, sc. 2, l. [97]

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• Val- I’m on Bourbon– (Acheron) I will not venture down that street of crass iniquities and plebeian horror, Acheron. It is the cesspit of humanity. (Valerius)

  Sherrilyn Kenyon

  Humanity, Venture, Horror

  Sherrilyn Kenyon (2009). “Bad Moon Rising: A Dark-Hunter Novel”, p.91, St. Martin's Press

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• The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones.

  William Shakespeare

  Life, Wisdom, Men

  1599 Antony. Julius Caesar, act 3, sc.2, l.74-86.

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• Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.

  William Shakespeare

  Tragedy, Cassius, Ears

  Julius Caesar act 3, sc. 2, l. 74 (1599)

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• Pride is a fault that great men blush not to own: it is the ennobled offspring of self-love; though, it must be confessed, grave and pompous vanity, Iike a fat plebeian in a rove of office, does very often assume its name.

  Joanna Baillie

  Pride, Men, Names

  Joanna Baillie (1851). “The Dramatic and Poetical Works of Joanna Baillie ; Complete in One Volume”, p.209

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