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Cost of Glory

34 - Harry Truman on Plutarch

May 10, 2022
Harry Truman, a great admirer of Plutarch's lives, discusses his fascination with Plutarch and how it shaped his views. He believed in the value of reading Plutarch's lives and used them as a source of wisdom and guidance throughout his political career. Truman shares anecdotes about recommending Plutarch to young protégés and highlights the importance of learning from history and biography to improve interpersonal skills.
06:35

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Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Plutarch's lives provide valuable insights into human nature and can serve as a guide for understanding mankind.
  • Truman emphasized the importance of learning from both heroic figures and villains, as understanding human character is essential for dealing with different personalities and solving people problems.

Deep dives

The Value of Reading Plutarch's Lives

Plutarch's lives provide valuable insights into human nature and can serve as a guide for understanding mankind. Harry Truman, the 33rd President of the United States, recommended reading Plutarch's lives to gain a deeper understanding of war and its connection to human behavior. Truman believed that understanding war was crucial for preventing conflicts. He himself found parallels between Plutarch's accounts and real-life situations, using the lessons learned to overcome political challenges. Truman emphasized the importance of learning from both heroic figures and villains, as understanding human character is essential for dealing with different personalities and solving people problems.

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