Plutarch taught me high thoughts; he elevated me above the wretched sphere of my own reflections, to admire and love the heroes of past ages. Many things I read surpassed my understanding and experience. I had a very confused knowledge of kingdoms, wide extents of country, mighty rivers, and boundless seas. This book developed new and mightier scenes of action. I read of men concerned in public affairs, governing or massacring their species. I felt the greatest ardour for virtue rise within me, and abhorrence for vice. Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
About This Quote

Plutarch taught me high thoughts.  Plutarch was a Greek historian, biographer and essayist of the first century CE. He is known for his Parallel Lives , which contrasts and analyzes the lives of famous men and women throughout history.  He was a man who had a great influence on me when I was young and read his works.

Plutarch taught me about the great men and women who lived in the past and the lessons that we can learn from them.  The men and women he wrote about were able to master their shortcomings and overcome their mistakes to become better people.  They went through many hardships but persevered until they were able to reach their goals.

 This is my belief about what greatness is: to persevere in spite of difficulty or adversity.

Source: Frankenstein

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More Quotes By Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
  1. Life, although it may only be an accumulation of anguish, is dear to me, and I will defend it.

  2. No man chooses evil because it is evil; he only mistakes it for happiness, the good he seeks.

  3. There was a considerable difference between the ages of my parents, but this circumstance seemed to unite them only closer in bonds of devoted affection.

  4. Seek happiness in tranquility and avoid ambition even if it be only the apparently innocent one of distinguishing yourself in science and discoveries.

  5. One as deformed and horrible as myself, could not deny herself to me. My companion must be of the same species, and have the same defects... with whom I can live in the interchange of those sympathies necessary for my being...

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