What did Plutarch write about friendship and flattery?

Plutarch, the Greek biographer and philosopher, addressed the complexities of human relationships in his collection of ethical essays known as the Moralia.

Within these works, he specifically explored the distinction between genuine companionship and insincere behavior in his essay titled "How to Distinguish a Flatterer from a Friend." Additionally, he examined the nature of social connections in his work "On Having Many Friends."

These essays are part of a broader body of his writing that focuses on popular ethical problems, where he often utilized anecdotes and examples from the lives of famous figures to provide moral guidance. Plutarch’s approach to these topics reflects his eclectic philosophical background, which was centered on Platonism but incorporated elements from other schools of thought to navigate the challenges of daily life and civic virtue.12