Do As I Say and As I Do: Lessons on the Use of History for the Civic Statesman in Plutarch’s Praecepta*

In the Praecepta, Plutarch uses historical anecdote to redefine the roles of Greek civic politikoi and emphasizes the need for statesmen to shun the factionalism that invites Roman intervention into Greek affairs. Furthermore, he explicitly condemns the careless use of history in the civic political arena and implicitly models the appropriate use of selective historical exempla throughout the essay. Plutarch’s selectivity is most striking when illustrating his directive to avoid factionalism. This interpretation adds insight into Plutarch’s moral and historical program and suggests that we ought to expect the same critical reader for this essay as we do for his Lives.