Plutarch 
HOW TO PROFIT BY ONE’S ENEMIES – Plutarch 

Plutarch (46-119) was a Greek philosopher, historian, and biographer. He studied mathematics and philosophy at the Academy of Athens, the same institution studied by Plato, and dedicated himself to politics, achieving high public offices. Plutarch wrote hundreds of texts, among them Parallel Lives, which consists of a collection of 64 biographies of prominent Greek and Roman figures.
His work, ‘How to Profit from Your Enemies, ‘ teaches us that although they may harm us, our enemies can also aid in our personal and moral development. Plutarch, drawing from other thinkers such as Xenophon and Diogenes, demonstrates that the emotions stirred by them can be excellent motivators for decision-making when used correctly. Written in the first century of the Christian Era, ‘How to Profit from Your Enemies’ remains entirely relevant, as in an increasingly competitive world, knowing how to benefit from adverse situations can be the difference between success and failure.

A propos de l’auteur

Plutarch (46 -119) was a Greek philosopher and biographer born in the city of Chaeronea. He studied mathematics and philosophy at the Academy of Athens (the same institution studied by Plato), where he was under the tutelage of Ammonius and later decided to enter politics, eventually reaching high public offices.

After numerous travels throughout Greece and the Mediterranean, Plutarch decided to acquire Roman citizenship and began teaching philosophy in Rome during the reign of Domitian, with one of his students being the future Roman emperor Trajan. Plutarch wrote over 200 books, the vast majority of which have survived to this day in complete versions. The wide range of subjects covered in his works includes essays on the works of Plato, rhetoric, religion, and comparisons between the intelligence of animals and humans.

His most notable work was ‘Parallel Lives, ‘ which consists of a collection of 64 biographies of prominent Greek and Roman figures, including legendary characters such as Alexander and Caesar, Demosthenes and Cicero, Pericles and Fabius Maximus, among others. Plutarch is one of the greatest Greek philosophers, and his works are of utmost importance for a better understanding of classical culture, politics, and philosophy.