rouver aux sophistes leur
futilite!" {radion gar estai} (sub. {emoi}) {mempsasthai outois
takhu (to) me} (sous-entendu) {gegraphthai orthos} (Gail). "Zwar
entgeht mir nicht, dass es schon say die Worte kunstvoll zu
ordnen, denn leichter wird ihnen sonst, schnell, aber mit Unrecht
zu tadeln" (Lenz). "Aussi leur sera-t-il facile de me reprocher
d'ecrire vite et sans ordre" (Talbot). As if {takhu me orthos}
were the reproachful comment of the sophist on the author's
treatise.
(11) i.e. "the arguments to be blameless at once and irrefutable for
all time."
That is my point of view. The sophist has quite another--words with him
are for the sake of deception, writing for personal gain; to benefit any
other living soul at all is quite beside his mark. There never was
nor is there now a sage among them to whom the title "wise" could be
applied. No! the appellation "sophist" suffices for each and all, which
among men of common sense (12) sounds like a stigma. My advice then is
to mistrust the sonorous catch-words (13) of the sophist, and not
to despise the reasoned conclusions (14) of the philosopher; for the
sophist is a hunter after the rich and young, the philosopher is the
common friend of all; he neither honours nor despises the fortunes of
men.
(12) L. Dind. cf. Eur. "Heracl." 370, {tou tauta kalos an eie} | {para
g' eu phronousin}.
(13) {paraggelmata}. Cf. Aesch. "Ag." 480, "telegraph"; Lys. 121. 32;
Dem. 569. 1; "words of command"; Dion. H. "De Comp." 248,
"instructions, precepts."
(14) {enthumemata}.
Nor would I have you envy or imitate those either who recklessly pursue
the path of self-aggrandisement, (15) whether in private or in public
life; but consider well (16) that the best of men, (17) the true
nobility, are discovered by their virtues; (18) they are a laborious
upwards-striving race; whilst the base are in evil plight (19) and are
discovered by their demerits. (20) Since in proportion as they rob the
private citizen of his means and despoil the state (21) they are less
serviceable with a view to the public safety than any private citizen;
(22) and what can be worse or more disgraceful for purposes of war than
the bodily form of people so incapable of toil? (23) Think of huntsmen
by contrast, surrendering to the common weal person and property alike
in perfect condition for service of the citizens. They have both a
battle to wage certainly: only
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