enched. Since then the danger is so great, we
must cautiously enter into such intimacies with those of the common
sort, and remember that it is impossible that a man can keep company
with one who is covered with soot without being partaker of the soot
himself. For what will you do if a man speaks about gladiators, about
horses, about athletes, or what is worse about men? Such a person is
bad, such a person is good; this was well done, this was done badly.
Further, if he scoff, or ridicule, or show an ill-natured disposition?
Is any man among us prepared like a lute-player when he takes a lute, so
that as soon as he has touched the strings, he discovers which are
discordant, and tunes the instrument? Such a power as Socrates had who
in all his social intercourse could lead his companions to his own
purpose? How should you have this power? It is therefore a necessary
consequence that you are carried about by the common kind of people.

Why then are they more powerful than you? Because they utter these
useless words from their real opinions; but you utter your elegant words
only from your lips; for this reason they are without strength and dead,
and it is nauseous to listen to your exhortations and your miserable
virtue, which is talked of everywhere (up and down). In this way the
vulgar have the advantage over you; for every opinion ([Greek: dogma])
is strong and invincible. Until then the good ([Greek: chompsai])
sentiments ([Greek: hupolaepseis]) are fixed in you, and you shall have
acquired a certain power for your security, I advise you to be careful
in your association with common persons; if you are not, every day like
wax in the sun there will be melted away whatever you inscribe on your
minds in the school. Withdraw then yourselves far from the sun so long
as you have these waxen sentiments. For this reason also philosophers
advise men to leave their native country, because ancient habits
distract them and do not allow a beginning to be made of a different
habit; nor can we tolerate those who meet us and say: See such a one is
now a philosopher, who was once so and so. Thus also physicians send
those who have lingering diseases to a different country and a different
air; and they do right. Do you also introduce other habits than those
which you have; fix you opinions and exercise yourselves in them. But
you do not so; you go hence to a spectacle, to a show of gladiators, to
a place of exercise ([Greek: chuston]), t