1. When men make it a habit, Nicocles, to bring to you who are rulers of kingdoms articles of dress or of bronze or of wrought gold, or other such valuables of which they themselves have need and you have plenty, it seems to me all too evident that they are not engaged in giving but in bargaining, and that they are much more skillful in disposing of their wares than those who are professedly in trade.
1. οἱ μὲν εἰωθότες, ὦ Νικόκλεις, τοῖς βασιλεῦσιν ὑμῖν ἐσθῆτας ἄγειν ἢ χαλκὸν ἢ χρυσὸν εἰργασμένον ἢ τῶν ἄλλων τι τῶν τοιούτων κτημάτων, ὧν αὐτοὶ μὲν ἐνδεεῖς εἰσιν ὑμεῖς δὲ πλουτεῖτε, λίαν ἔδοξαν εἶναί μοι καταφανεῖς οὐ δόσιν ἀλλʼ ἐμπορίαν ποιούμενοι, καὶ πολὺ τεχνικώτερον αὐτὰ πωλοῦντες τῶν ὁμολογούντων καπηλεύειν·
2. For my part, I should think that this would be the finest and the most serviceable present and the most suitable for me to give and for you to receive—I could prescribe what pursuits you should aspire to and from what you should abstain in order to govern to the best advantage your state and kingdom. For when men are in private life, many things contribute to their education: first and foremost, the absence of luxury among them, and the necessity they are under to take thought each day for their livelihood;
2. ἡγησάμην δʼ ἂν γενέσθαι ταύτην καλλίστην δωρεὰν καὶ χρησιμωτάτην καὶ μάλιστα πρέπουσαν ἐμοί τε δοῦναι καὶ σοὶ λαβεῖν, εἰ δυνηθείην ὁρίσαι ποίων ἐπιτηδευμάτων ὀρεγόμενος καὶ τίνων ἀπεχόμενος ἄριστʼ ἂν καὶ τὴν πόλιν καὶ τὴν βασιλείαν διοικοίης. τοὺς μὲν γὰρ ἰδιώτας ἐστὶ πολλὰ τὰ παιδεύοντα, μάλιστα μὲν τὸ μὴ τρυφᾶν ἀλλʼ ἀναγκάζεσθαι περὶ τοῦ βίου καθʼ ἑκάστην τὴν ἡμέραν βουλεύεσθαι, ἔπειθʼ οἱ νόμοι καθʼ οὓς ἕκαστοι πολιτευόμενοι τυγχάνουσιν, ἔτι δʼ ἡ παρρησία καὶ τὸ φανερῶς ἐξεῖναι τοῖς τε φίλοις ἐπιπλῆξαι καὶ τοῖς ἐχθροῖς ἐπιθέσθαι ταῖς ἀλλήλων ἁμαρτίαις·
3. next, the laws by which in each case their civic life is governed; furthermore, freedom of speech and the privilege which is openly granted to friends to rebuke and to enemies to attack each other’s faults; besides, a number of the poets of earlier times have left precepts which direct them how to live; so that, from all these influences, they may reasonably be expected to become better men.
3. πρὸς δὲ τούτοις καὶ τῶν ποιητῶν τινες τῶν προγεγενημένων ὑποθήκας ὡς χρὴ ζῆν καταλελοίπασιν· ὥστʼ ἐξ ἁπάντων τούτων εἰκὸς αὐτοὺς βελτίους γίγνεσθαι.
4. Kings, however, have no such help; on the contrary, they, who more than other men should be thoroughly trained, live all their lives, from the time when they are placed in authority, without admonition; for the great majority of people do not come in contact with them, and those who are of their society consort with them to gain their favor. Indeed, although they are placed in authority over vast wealth and mighty affairs, they have brought it about because of their misuse of these advantages that many debate whether it were best to choose the life of men in private station who are reasonably prosperous, or the life of princes.
4. τοῖς δὲ τυράννοις οὐδὲν ὑπάρχει τοιοῦτον, ἀλλʼ οὓς ἔδει παιδεύεσθαι μᾶλλον τῶν ἄλλων, ἐπειδὰν εἰς τὴν ἀρχὴν καταστῶσιν, ἀνουθέτητοι διατελοῦσιν· οἱ μὲν γὰρ πλεῖστοι τῶν ἀνθρώπων αὐτοῖς οὐ πλησιάζουσιν, οἱ δὲ συνόντες πρὸς χάριν ὁμιλοῦσι. καὶ γὰρ τοι κύριοι γιγνόμενοι καὶ χρημάτων πλείστων καὶ πραγμάτων μεγίστων, διὰ τὸ μὴ καλῶς χρῆσθαι ταύταις ταῖς ἀφορμαῖς πεποιήκασιν ὥστε πολλοὺς ἀμφισβητεῖν, πότερόν ἐστιν ἄξιον ἑλέσθαι τὸν βίον τὸν τῶν ἰδιωτευόντων μὲν ἐπιεικῶς δὲ πραττόντων, ἢ τὸν τῶν τυραννευόντων.
5. For when men look at their honors, their wealth, and their powers, they all think that those who are in the position of kings are the equals of the gods; but when they reflect on their fears and their dangers, and when, as they review the history of monarchs, they see instances where they have been slain by those from whom they least deserved that fate, other instances where they have been constrained to sin against those nearest and dearest to them, and still others where they have experienced both of these calamities, then they reverse their judgement and conclude that it is better to live in any fashion whatsoever than, at the price of such misfortunes, to rule over all Asia.
5. ὅταν μὲν γὰρ ἀποβλέψωσιν εἰς τὰς τιμὰς καὶ τοὺς πλούτους καὶ τὰς δυναστείας, ἰσοθέους ἅπαντες νομίζουσι τοὺς ἐν ταῖς μοναρχίαις ὄντας· ἐπειδὰν δʼ ἐνθυμηθῶσι τοὺς φόβους καὶ τοὺς κινδύνους, καὶ διεξιόντες ὁρῶσι τοὺς μὲν ὑφʼ ὧν ἥκιστα χρῆν διεφθαρμένους, τοὺς δʼ εἰς τοὺς οἰκειοτάτους ἐξαμαρτεῖν ἠναγκασμένους, τοῖς δʼ ἀμφότερα ταῦτα συμβεβηκότα, πάλιν ὁπωσοῦν ζῆν ἡγοῦνται λυσιτελεῖν μᾶλλον ἢ μετὰ τοιούτων συμφορῶν ἁπάσης τῆς Ἀσίας βασιλεύειν.
6. And the cause of this inconsistency and confusion is that men believe that the office of king is, like that of priest, one which any man can fill, whereas it is the most important of human functions and demands the greatest wisdom. Now as to each particular course of action, it is the business of those who are at the time associated with a king to advise him how he may handle it in the best way possible, and how he may both preserve what is good and prevent disaster; but as regards a king’s conduct in general, I shall attempt to set forth the objects at which he should aim and the pursuits to which he should devote himself.
6. ταύτης δὲ τῆς ἀνωμαλίας καὶ τῆς ταραχῆς αἴτιόν ἐστιν, ὅτι τὴν βασιλείαν ὥσπερ ἱερωσύνην παντὸς ἀνδρὸς εἶναι νομίζουσιν, ὃ τῶν ἀνθρωπίνων πραγμάτων μέγιστόν ἐστι καὶ πλείστης προνοίας δεόμενον. καθʼ ἑκάστην μὲν οὖν τὴν πρᾶξιν, ἐξ ὧν ἄν τις μάλιστα δύναιτο κατὰ τρόπον διοικεῖν καὶ τὰ μὲν ἀγαθὰ διαφυλάττειν τὰς δὲ συμφορὰς διαφεύγειν, τῶν ἀεὶ παρόντων ἔργον ἐστὶ συμβουλεύειν· καθʼ ὅλων δὲ τῶν ἐπιτηδευμάτων, ὧν χρὴ στοχάζεσθαι καὶ περὶ ἃ δεῖ διατρίβειν, ἐγὼ πειράσομαι διελθεῖν.
7. Whether the gift when finished shall be worthy of the design, it is hard to tell at the beginning; for many writings both in verse and in prose, while still in the minds of their composers, have aroused high expectations; but when completed and shown to the world have won a repute far inferior to their promise.
7. εἰ μὲν οὖν ἔσται τὸ δῶρον ἐξεργασθὲν ἄξιον τῆς ὑποθέσεως, χαλεπὸν ἀπὸ τῆς ἀρχῆς συνιδεῖν· πολλὰ γὰρ καὶ τῶν μετὰ μέτρου ποιημάτων καὶ τῶν καταλογάδην συγγραμμάτων ἔτι μὲν ἐν ταῖς διανοίαις ὄντα τῶν συντιθέντων μεγάλας τὰς προσδοκίας παρέσχεν, ἐπιτελεσθέντα δὲ καὶ τοῖς ἄλλοις ἐπιδειχθέντα πολὺ καταδεεστέραν τὴν δόξαν τῆς ἐλπίδος ἔλαβεν.
8. And yet the mere attempt is well worth while—to seek a field that has been neglected by others and lay down principles for monarchs; for those who educate men in private stations benefit them alone, but if one can turn those who rule over the multitude toward a life of virtue, he will help both classes, both those who hold positions of authority and their subjects; for he will give to kings a greater security in office and to the people a milder government.
8. οὐ μὴν ἀλλὰ τό γʼ ἐπιχείρημα καλῶς ἔχει, τὸ ζητεῖν τὰ παραλελειμμένα καὶ νομοθετεῖν ταῖς μοναρχίαις· οἱ μὲν γὰρ τοὺς ἰδιώτας παιδεύοντες ἐκείνους μόνον ὠφελοῦσιν· εἰ δέ τις τοὺς κρατοῦντας τοῦ πλήθους ἐπʼ ἀρετὴν προτρέψειεν, ἀμφοτέρους ἂν ὀνήσειε, καὶ τοὺς τὰς δυναστείας ἔχοντας καὶ τοὺς ὑπʼ αὐτοῖς ὄντας· τοῖς μὲν γὰρ ἂν τὰς ἀρχὰς ἀσφαλεστέρας, τοῖς δὲ τὰς πολιτείας πραοτέρας ποιήσειεν.
9. First, then, we must consider what is the function of kings; for if we can properly encompass the essence of the whole matter in a general principle we shall, with this before us, speak to better purpose about its parts. I think that all would agree that it is a king’s business to relieve the state when it is in distress, to maintain it in prosperity, and to make it great when it is small; for it is with these ends in view that the other duties which present themselves day by day must be performed.
9. πρῶτον μὲν οὖν σκεπτέον τί τῶν βασιλευόντων ἔργον ἐστίν· ἂν γὰρ ἐν κεφαλαίοις τὴν δύναμιν ὅλου τοῦ πράγματος καλῶς περιλάβωμεν, ἐνταῦθʼ ἀποβλέποντες ἄμεινον καὶ περὶ τῶν μερῶν ἐροῦμεν. οἶμαι δὴ πάντας ἂν ὁμολογῆσαι προσήκειν αὐτοῖς πόλιν δυστυχοῦσαν παῦσαι καὶ καλῶς πράττουσαν διαφυλάξαι καὶ μεγάλην ἐκ μικρᾶς ποιῆσαι· τὰ γὰρ ἄλλα τὰ συμπίπτοντα κατὰ τὴν ἡμέραν ἑκάστην τούτων ἕνεκα πρακτέον ἐστί.
10. And surely this much is clear, that those who are able to do all this, and who pronounce on matters of so great moment, must not be indolent nor careless, but must see to it that they are superior to all others in intelligence; for it is evident that they will reign well or ill according to the manner in which they equip their own minds.
10. καὶ μὴν ἐκεῖνό γε φανερόν, ὅτι δεῖ τοὺς ταῦτα δυνησομένους καὶ περὶ τηλικούτων βουλευομένους μὴ ῥᾳθυμεῖν μηδʼ ἀμελεῖν, ἀλλὰ σκοπεῖν ὅπως φρονιμώτερον διακείσονται τῶν ἄλλων· δέδεικται γὰρ ὅτι τοιαύτας τὰς βασιλείας ἕξουσιν, οἵας ἂν τὰς ἑαυτῶν γνώμας παρασκευάσωσιν.
11. Therefore, no athlete is so called upon to train his body as is a king to train his soul; for not all the public festivals in the world offer a prize comparable to those for which you who are kings strive every day of your lives. This thought you must lay to heart, and see to it that in proportion as you are above the others in rank so shall you surpass them in virtue;
11. ὥστε οὐδενὶ τῶν ἀσκητῶν οὕτω προσήκει τὸ σῶμα γυμνάζειν, ὡς τοῖς βασιλεῦσι τὴν ψυχὴν τὴν ἑαυτῶν· ἅπασαι γὰρ αἱ πανηγύρεις οὐδὲν μέρος τιθέασιν τούτων τῶν ἄθλων, περὶ ὧν ὑμεῖς καθʼ ἑκάστην τὴν ἡμέραν ἀγωνίζεσθε. ὧν ἐνθυμούμενον χρὴ προσέχειν τὸν νοῦν, ὅπως ὅσον περ ταῖς τιμαῖς τῶν ἄλλων προέχεις, τοσοῦτον καὶ ταῖς ἀρεταῖς αὐτῶν διοίσεις.
12. and do not hold the view that while diligence is of use in all other matters it is of no avail to make us better and wiser; and do not deem us, the human kind, so unfortunate that, although in dealing with wild beasts we have discovered arts by which we tame their spirits and increase their worth, yet in our own case we are powerless to help ourselves in the pursuit of virtue. On the contrary, be convinced that education and diligence are in the highest degree potent to improve our nature, and associate yourself with the wisest of those who are about you and send for the wisest men from abroad whenever this is possible.
12. καὶ μὴ νόμιζε τὴν ἐπιμέλειαν ἐν μὲν τοῖς ἄλλοις πράγμασι χρησίμην εἶναι, πρὸς δὲ τὸ βελτίους ἡμᾶς καὶ φρονιμωτέρους γίγνεσθαι μηδεμίαν δύναμιν ἔχειν· μηδὲ καταγνῷς τῶν ἀνθρώπων τοσαύτην δυστυχίαν, ὡς περὶ μὲν τὰ θηρία τέχνας εὑρήκαμεν αἷς αὐτῶν τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμεροῦμεν καὶ πλείονος ἀξίας ποιοῦμεν, ἡμᾶς δʼ αὐτοὺς οὐδὲν ἂν πρὸς ἀρετὴν ὠφελήσαιμεν. ἀλλʼ ὡς καὶ τῆς παιδεύσεως καὶ τῆς ἐπιμελείας μάλιστα δυναμένης τὴν ἡμετέραν φύσιν εὐεργετεῖν, οὕτω διάκεισο τὴν γνώμην, καὶ τῶν τε παρόντων τοῖς φρονιμωτάτοις πλησίαζε καὶ τῶν ἄλλων οὓς ἂν δύνῃ μεταπέμπου, καὶ μήτε τῶν ποιητῶν τῶν εὐδοκιμούντων μήτε τῶν σοφιστῶν μηδενὸς οἴου δεῖν ἀπείρως ἔχειν, ἀλλὰ τῶν μὲν ἀκροατὴς γίγνου τῶν δὲ μαθητής, καὶ παρασκεύαζε σεαυτὸν τῶν μὲν ἐλαττόνων κριτὴν τῶν δὲ μειζόνων ἀγωνιστήν·
13. And do not imagine that you can afford to be ignorant of anyone either of the famous poets or of the sages; rather you should listen to the poets and learn from the sages and so equip your mind to judge those who are inferior and to emulate those who are superior to yourself; for it is through this training that you can soonest become such a man as we have assumed that one must be who is to perform properly the duties of a king, and to govern the state as he should.
13. διὰ γὰρ τούτων τῶν γυμνασίων τάχιστʼ ἂν γένοιο τοιοῦτος, οἷον ὑπεθέμεθα δεῖν εἶναι τὸν ὀρθῶς βασιλεύσοντα καὶ τὴν πόλιν ὡς χρὴ διοικήσοντα. μάλιστα δʼ ἂν αὐτὸς ὑπὸ σαυτοῦ παρακληθείης, εἰ δεινὸν ἡγήσαιο τοὺς χείρους τῶν βελτιόνων ἄρχειν καὶ τοὺς ἀνοητοτέρους τοῖς φρονιμωτέροις προστάττειν·
14. But the strongest challenge to your task you will find in yourself, if only you consider it monstrous that the worse should rule the better, and that the more foolish should give orders to men of greater wisdom; for the more vigorously you condemn folly in others, the more diligently will you train your own understanding. This, then, should be the starting-point for those who set out to do their duty. But, in addition, one must be a lover of men and a lover of his country; for neither horses nor dogs nor men nor any other thing can be properly controlled except by one who takes pleasure in the objects for which it is his duty to care. You must care for the people and make it your first consideration to rule acceptably to them, knowing that all governments—oligarchies as well as the others—have the longest life when they best serve the masses.
14. ὅσῳ γὰρ ἂν ἐρρωμενεστέρως τὴν τῶν ἄλλων ἄνοιαν ἀτιμάσῃς, τοσούτῳ μᾶλλον τὴν αὑτοῦ διάνοιαν ἀσκήσεις. ἄρχεσθαι μὲν οὖν ἐντεῦθεν χρὴ τοὺς μέλλοντάς τι τῶν δεόντων ποιήσειν, πρὸς δὲ τούτοις φιλάνθρωπον εἶναι δεῖ καὶ φιλόπολιν· οὔτε γὰρ ἵππων οὔτε κυνῶν οὔτʼ ἄλλου πράγματος οὐδενὸς οἷόν τε καλῶς ἄρχειν, ἂν μή τις χαίρῃ τούτοις ὧν αὐτὸν δεῖ ποιεῖσθαι τὴν ἐπιμέλειαν. μελέτω σοι τοῦ πλήθους, καὶ περὶ παντὸς ποιοῦ κεχαρισμένως αὐτοῖς ἄρχειν, γιγνώσκων ὅτι καὶ τῶν ὀλιγαρχιῶν καὶ τῶν ἄλλων πολιτειῶν αὗται πλεῖτον χρόνον διαμένουσιν, αἵ τινες ἂν ἄριστα τὸ πλῆθος θεραπεύωσιν.
16. You will be a wise leader of the people if you do not allow the multitude either to do or to suffer outrage, but see to it that the best among them shall have the honors, while the rest shall suffer no impairment of their rights; for these are the first and most important elements of good government.
16. καλῶς δὲ δημαγωγήσεις, ἔαν μήθʼ ὑβρίζειν τὸν ὄχλον ἐᾷς μήθʼ ὑβριζόμενον περιορᾷς, ἀλλὰ σκοπῇς ὅπως οἱ βέλτιστοι μὲν τὰς τιμὰς ἕξουσιν, οἱ δʼ ἄλλοι μηδὲν ἀδικήσονται· ταῦτα γὰρ στοιχεῖα πρῶτα καὶ μέγιστα χρηστῆς πολιτείας ἐστίν.
17. When public ordinances and institutions are not well founded, alter and change them. If possible, originate for yourself what is best for your country, but, failing in this, imitate what is good in other countries. Seek laws that are altogether just and expedient and consistent with each other and, moreover, those which cause the fewest possible controversies and bring about the speediest possible settlements for your citizens; for all these qualities should be found in wise legislation.
17. τῶν προσταγμάτων καὶ τῶν ἐπιτηδευμάτων κίνει καὶ μετατίθει τὰ μὴ καλῶς καθεστῶτα, καὶ μάλιστα μὲν εὑρετὴς γίγνου τῶν βελτίστων, εἰ δὲ μή, μιμοῦ τὰ παρὰ τοῖς ἄλλοις ὀρθῶς ἔχοντα. ζήτει νόμους τὸ μὲν σύμπαν δικαίους καὶ συμφέροντας καὶ σφίσιν αὐτοῖς ὁμολογουμένους, πρὸς δὲ τούτοις οἵ τινες τὰς μὲν ἀμφισβητήσεις ὡς ἐλαχίστας τὰς δὲ διαλύσεις ὡς οἷόν τε ταχίστας τοῖς πολίταις ποιοῦσι· ταῦτα γὰρ ἅπαντα προσεῖναι δεῖ τοῖς καλῶς κειμένοις νόμοις.
18. Make industry profitable for your people and lawsuits detrimental, in order that they may shun the latter and embrace the former with greater willingness. In pronouncing on matters about which there is mutual dispute, do not render decisions which exhibit favoritism or inconsistency, but let your verdicts on the same issues be always the same; for it is both right and expedient that the judgements of kings on questions of justice should be invariable, like wisely ordained laws.
18. τὰς μὲν ἐργασίας αὐτοῖς καθίστη κερδαλέας, τὰς δὲ πραγματείας ἐπιζημίους, ἵνα τὰς μὲν φεύγωσι, πρὸς δὲ τὰς προθυμότερον ἔχωσιν. τὰς κρίσεις ποιοῦ περὶ ὧν ἂν πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀμφισβητῶσι, μὴ πρὸς χάριν μηδʼ ἐναντίας ἀλλήλαις, ἀλλʼ ἀεὶ ταὐτὰ περὶ τῶν αὐτῶν γίγνωσκε· καὶ γὰρ πρέπει καὶ συμφέρει τὴν τῶν βασιλέων γνώμην ἀκινήτως ἔχειν περὶ τῶν δικαίων, ὥσπερ τοὺς νόμους τοὺς καλῶς κειμένους. οἴκει τὴν πόλιν ὁμοίως ὥσπερ τὸν πατρῷον οἶκον, ταῖς μὲν κατασκευαῖς λαμπρῶς καὶ βασιλικῶς, ταῖς δὲ πράξεσιν ἀκριβῶς, ἵνʼ εὐδοκιμῇς ἅμα καὶ διαρκῇς.
19. Manage the city as you would your ancestral estate: in the matter of its appointments, splendidly and royally; in the matter of its revenues, strictly, in order that you may possess the good opinion of your people and at the same time have sufficient means. Display magnificence, not in any of the extravagant outlays which straightway vanish, but in the ways which I have mentioned, and in the beauty of the objects which you possess, and in the benefits which you bestow upon your friends; for such expenditures will not be lost to you while you live, and you will leave to those who follow you a heritage worth more than what you have spent.
19. τὴν μεγαλοπρέπειαν ἐπιδείκνυσο μηδʼ ἐν μιᾷ τῶν πολυτελειῶν τῶν εὐθὺς ἀφανιζομένων, ἀλλʼ ἔν τε τοῖς προειρημένοις καὶ τῷ κάλλει τῶν κτημάτων καὶ ταῖς τῶν φίλων εὐεργεσίαις· τὰ γὰρ τοιαῦτα τῶν ἀναλωμάτων αὐτῷ τε σοὶ παραμενεῖ, καὶ τοῖς ἐπιγιγνομένοις πλείονος ἄξια τῶν δεδαπανημένων καταλείψεις.
20. In the worship of the gods, follow the example of your ancestors, but believe that the noblest sacrifice and the greatest devotion is to show yourself in the highest degree a good and just man; for such men have greater hope of enjoying a blessing from the gods than those who slaughter many victims. Honor with office those of your friends who are nearest of kin, but honor in very truth those who are the most loyal.
20. τὰ μὲν πρὸς τοὺς θεοὺς ποίει μὲν ὡς οἱ πρόγονοι κατέδειξαν, ἡγοῦ δὲ θῦμα τοῦτο κάλλιστον εἶναι καὶ θεραπείαν μεγίστην, ἂν ὡς βέλτιστον καὶ δικαιότατον σαυτὸν παρέχῃς· μᾶλλον γὰρ ἐλπὶς τοὺς τοιούτους ἢ τοὺς ἱερεῖα πολλὰ καταβάλλοντας πράξειν τι παρὰ τῶν θεῶν ἀγαθόν. τίμα ταῖς μὲν ἀρχαῖς τῶν φίλων τοὺς οἰκειοτάτους, ταῖς δʼ ἀληθείαις αὐταῖς τοὺς εὐνουστάτους.
21. Believe that your staunchest body-guard lies in the virtue of your friends, the loyalty of your citizens and your own wisdom; for it is through these that one can best acquire as well as keep the powers of royalty. Watch over the estates of your citizens, and consider that the spenders are paying from your pocket, and the workers are adding to your wealth; for all the property of those who live in the state belongs to kings who rule them well.
21. φυλακὴν ἀσφαλεστάτην ἡγοῦ τοῦ σώματος εἶναι τήν τε τῶν φίλων ἀρετὴν καὶ τὴν τῶν πολιτῶν εὔνοιαν καὶ τὴν σαυτοῦ φρόνησιν· διὰ γὰρ τούτων καὶ κτᾶσθαι καὶ σώζειν τὰς τυραννίδας μάλιστʼ ἄν τις δύναιτο. κήδου τῶν οἴκων τῶν πολιτικῶν, καὶ νόμιζε καὶ τοὺς δαπανῶντας ἀπὸ τῶν σῶν ἀναλίσκειν καὶ τοὺς ἐργαζομένους τὰ σὰ πλείω ποιεῖν· ἅπαντα γὰρ τὰ τῶν οἰκούντων τὴν πόλιν οἰκεῖα τῶν καλῶς βασιλευόντων ἐστί.
22. Throughout all your life show that you value truth so highly that your word is more to be trusted than the oaths of other men. To all foreigners, see that the city offers security and good faith in its engagements; and in your treatment of those who come from abroad, make the most, not of those who bring you gifts, but of those who expect to receive gifts from you; for by honoring such men you will have greater esteem from the rest of the world.
22. διὰ παντὸς τοῦ χρόνου τὴν ἀλήθειαν οὕτω φαίνου προτιμῶν, ὥστε πιστοτέρους εἶναι τοὺς σοὺς λόγους μᾶλλον ἢ τοὺς τῶν ἄλλων ὅρκους. ἅπασι μὲν τοῖς ξένοις ἀσφαλῆ τὴν πόλιν πάρεχε καὶ πρὸς τὰ συμβόλαια νόμιμον, περὶ πλείστου δὲ ποιοῦ τῶν ἀφικνουμένων μὴ τοὺς σοὶ δωρεὰς ἄγοντας, ἀλλὰ τοὺς παρὰ σοῦ λαμβάνειν ἀξιοῦντας· τιμῶν γὰρ τοὺς τοιούτους μᾶλλον παρὰ τοῖς ἄλλοις εὐδοκιμήσεις.
23. Deliver your citizens from their many fears, and be not willing that dread should beset men who have done no wrong; for even as you dispose others toward you, so you will feel toward them. Do nothing in anger, but simulate anger when the occasion demands it. Show yourself stern by overlooking nothing which men do, but kind by making the punishment less than the offense.
23. τοὺς πολλοὺς φόβους ἐξαίρει τῶν πολιτῶν, καὶ μὴ βούλου περιδεεῖς εἶναι τοὺς μηδὲν ἀδικοῦντας· ὅπως γὰρ ἂν τοὺς ἄλλους πρὸς σαυτὸν διαθῇς, οὕτω καὶ σὺ πρὸς ἐκείνους ἕξεις. ποίει μὲν μηδὲν μετʼ ὀργῆς, δόκει δὲ τοῖς ἄλλοις, ὅταν σοι καιρὸς ᾖ. δεινὸς μὲν φαίνου τῷ μηδέν σε λανθάνειν τῶν γιγνομένων, πρᾶος δὲ τῷ τὰς τιμωρίας ἐλάττους ποιεῖσθαι τῶν ἁμαρτανομένων.
24. Be not willing to show your authority by harshness or by undue severity in punishment, but by causing your subjects one and all to defer to your judgement and to believe that your plans for their welfare are better than their own. Be warlike in your knowledge of war and in your preparations for it, but peaceful in your avoidance of all unjust aggression. Deal with weaker states as you would expect stronger states to deal with you.
24. ἀρχικὸς εἶναι βούλου μὴ χαλεπότητι μηδὲ τῷ σφόδρα κολάζειν, ἀλλὰ τῷ πάντας ἡττᾶσθαι τῆς σῆς διανοίας καὶ νομίζειν ὑπὲρ τῆς αὑτῶν σωτηρίας ἄμεινον ἑαυτῶν σὲ βουλεύεσθαι. πολεμικὸς μὲν ἴσθι ταῖς ἐπιστήμαις καὶ ταῖς παρασκευαῖς, εἰρηνικὸς δὲ τῷ μηδὲν παρὰ τὸ δίκαιον πλεονεκτεῖν. οὕτως ὁμίλει τῶν πόλεων πρὸς τὰς ἥττους, ὥσπερ ἂν τὰς κρείττους πρὸς ἑαυτὸν ἀξιώσειας.
25. Do not be contentious in all things, but only where it will profit you to have your own way. Do not think men weak who yield a point to their own advantage, but rather those who prevail to their own injury. Do not consider that the great souls are those who undertake more than they can achieve, but those who, having noble aims, are also able to accomplish whatever they attempt.
25. φιλονείκει μὴ περὶ πάντων, ἀλλὰ περὶ ὧν ἂν κρατήσαντί σοι μέλλῃ συνοίσειν. φαύλους ἡγοῦ μὴ τοὺς συμφερόντως ἡττωμένους, ἀλλὰ τοὺς μετὰ βλάβης περιγιγνομένους. μεγαλόφρονας νόμιζε μὴ τοὺς μείζω περιβαλλομένους ὧν οἷοί τʼ εἰσὶ κατασχεῖν, ἀλλὰ τοὺς καλῶν μὲν ἐφιεμένους, ἐξεργάζεσθαι δὲ δυναμένους οἷς ἂν ἐπιχειρῶσιν.
26. Emulate, not those who have most widely extended their dominion, but those who have made best use of the power they already possess; and believe that you will enjoy the utmost happiness, not if you rule over the whole world at the price of fears and dangers and baseness, but rather if, being the man you should be, and continuing to act as at the present moment, you set your heart on moderate achievements and fail in none of them.
26. ζήλου μὴ τοὺς μεγίστην ἀρχὴν κτησαμένους, ἀλλὰ τοὺς ἄριστα τῇ παρούσῃ χρησαμένους, καὶ νόμιζε τελέως εὐδαιμονήσειν οὐκ ἐὰν πάντων ἀνθρώπων μετὰ φόβων καὶ κινδύνων καὶ κακίας ἄρξῃς, ἀλλʼ ἂν τοιοῦτος ὢν οἷον χρὴ καὶ πράττων ὥσπερ ἐν τῷ παρόντι μετρίων ἐπιθυμῇς καὶ μηδενὸς τούτων ἀτυχῇς.
27. Do not give your friendship to everyone who desires it, but only to those who are worthy of you; not to those whose society you will most enjoy, but to those with whose help you will best govern the state. Subject your associates to the most searching tests, knowing that all who are not in close touch with you will think that you are like those with whom you live. When you put men in charge of affairs which are not under your personal direction, be governed by the knowledge that you yourself will be held responsible for whatever they do.
27. φίλους κτῶ μὴ πάντας τοὺς βουλομένους, ἀλλὰ τοὺς τῆς σῆς φύσεως ἀξίους ὄντας, μηδὲ μεθʼ ὧν ἥδιστα συνδιατρίψεις, ἀλλὰ μεθʼ ὧν ἄριστα τὴν πόλιν διοικήσεις. ἀκριβεῖς ποιοῦ τὰς δοκιμασίας τῶν συνόντων, εἰδὼς ὅτι πάντες οἱ μή σοι πλησιάσαντες ὅμοιόν σε τοῖς χρωμένοις εἶναι νομιοῦσιν. τοιούτους ἐφίστη τοῖς πράγμασι τοῖς μὴ διὰ σοῦ γιγνομένοις, ὡς αὐτὸς τὰς αἰτίας ἕξων ὧν ἂν ἐκεῖνοι πράξωσιν.
28. Regard as your most faithful friends, not those who praise everything you say or do, but those who criticize your mistakes. Grant freedom of speech to those who have good judgement, in order that when you are in doubt you may have friends who will help you to decide. Distinguish between those who artfully flatter and those who loyally serve you, that the base may not fare better than the good. Listen to what men say about each other and try to discern at the same time the character of those who speak and of those about whom they speak.
28. πιστοὺς ἡγοῦ μὴ τοὺς ἅπαν ὁ τι ἂν λέγῃς ἢ ποιῇς ἐπαινοῦντας, ἀλλὰ τοὺς τοῖς ἁμαρτανομένοις ἐπιτιμῶντας. δίδου παρρησίαν τοῖς εὖ φρονοῦσιν, ἵνα περὶ ὧν ἂν ἀμφιγνοῇς, ἔχῃς τοὺς συνδοκιμάσοντας. διόρα καὶ τοὺς τέχνῃ κολακεύοντας καὶ τοὺς μετʼ εὐνοίας θεραπεύοντας, ἵνα μὴ πλέον οἱ πονηροὶ τῶν χρηστῶν ἔχωσιν. ἄκουε τοὺς λόγους τοὺς περὶ ἀλλήλων, καὶ πειρῶ γνωρίζειν ἅμα τούς τε λέγοντας, ὁποῖοί τινές εἰσι, καὶ περὶ ὧν ἂν λέγωσιν.
29. Visit the same punishment on false-accusers as on evil-doers. Govern yourself no less than your subjects, and consider that you are in the highest sense a king when you are a slave to no pleasure but rule over your desires more firmly than over your people. Do not contract any intimacy heedlessly or without reflection, but accustom yourself to take pleasure in that society which will contribute to your advancement and heighten your fame in the eyes of the world.
29. ταῖς αὐταῖς κόλαζε ζημίαις τοὺς ψευδῶς διαβάλλοντας, αἷσπερ τοὺς ἐξαμαρτάνοντας. ἄρχε σαυτοῦ μηδὲν ἧττον ἢ τῶν ἄλλων, καὶ τοῦθʼ ἡγοῦ βασιλικώτατον, ἂν μηδεμιᾷ δουλεύῃς τῶν ἡδονῶν, ἀλλὰ κρατῆς τῶν ἐπιθυμιῶν μᾶλλον ἢ τῶν πολιτῶν. μηδεμίαν συνουσίαν εἰκῇ προσδέχου μηδʼ ἀλογίστως, ἀλλʼ ἐπʼ ἐκείναις ταῖς διατριβαῖς ἔθιζε σαυτὸν χαίρειν, ἐξ ὧν αὐτός τʼ ἐπιδώσεις καὶ τοῖς ἄλλοις βελτίων εἶναι δόξεις.
30. Do not show yourself ambitious for those things which lie within the power of base men also to achieve, but show that you pride yourself on virtue, in which base men have no part. Consider that the truest respect is shown you, not in the public demonstrations which are inspired by fear, but when people in the privacy of their homes speak with admiration of your wisdom rather than of your fortune. Let it not be known of men if perchance you take delight in things of small account, but let the world see that you are zealous about matters of the greatest moment.
30. μὴ φαίνου φιλοτιμούμενος ἐπὶ τοῖς τοιούτοις ἃ καὶ τοῖς κακοῖς διαπράξασθαι δυνατόν ἐστιν, ἀλλʼ ἐπʼ ἀρετῇ μέγα φρονῶν, ἧς οὐδὲν μέρος τοῖς πονηροῖς μέτεστιν. νόμιζε τῶν τιμῶν ἀληθεστάτας εἶναι μὴ τὰς ἐν τῷ φανερῷ μετὰ δέους γιγνομένας, ἀλλʼ ὅταν αὐτοὶ παρʼ αὑτοῖς ὄντες μᾶλλόν σου τὴν γνώμην ἢ τὴν τύχην θαυμάζωσιν. λάνθανε μέν, ἢν ἐπὶ τῴ σοι συμβῇ τῶν φαύλων χαίρειν, ἐνδείκνυσο δὲ περὶ τὰ μέγιστα σπουδάζων.
31. Do not think that while all other people should live with sobriety, kings may live with license; on the contrary, let your own self-control stand as an example to the rest, realizing that the manners of the whole state are copied from its rulers. Let it be a sign to you that you rule wisely if you see all your subjects growing more prosperous and more temperate because of your oversight.
31. μὴ τοὺς μὲν ἄλλους ἀξίου κοσμίως ζῆν τοὺς δὲ βασιλεῖς ἀτάκτως, ἀλλὰ τὴν σαυτοῦ σωφροσύνην παράδειγμα τοῖς ἄλλοις καθίστη, γιγνώσκων ὅτι τὸ τῆς πόλεως ὅλης ἦθος ὁμοιοῦται τοῖς ἄρχουσιν. σημεῖον ἔστω σοι τοῦ καλῶς βασιλεύειν, ἂν τοὺς ἀρχομένους ὁρᾷς εὐπορωτέρους καὶ σωφρονεστέρους γιγνομένους διὰ τὴν σὴν ἐπιμέλειαν.
32. Consider it more important to leave to your children a good name than great riches; for riches endure for a day, a good name for all time; a good name may bring wealth, but wealth cannot buy a good name; wealth comes even to men of no account, but a good name can only be acquired by men of superior merit. Be sumptuous in your dress and personal adornment, but simple and severe, as befits a king, in your other habits, that those who see you may judge from your appearance that you are worthy of your office, and that those who are intimate with you may form the same opinion from your strength of soul.
32. περὶ πλείονος ποιοῦ δόξαν καλὴν ἢ πλοῦτον μέγαν τοῖς παισὶ καταλιπεῖν· ὁ μὲν γὰρ θνητός, ἡ δʼ ἀθάνατος, καὶ δόξῃ μὲν χρήματα κτητά, δόξα δὲ χρημάτων οὐκ ὠνητή, καὶ τὰ μὲν καὶ φαύλοις παραγίγνεται, τὴν δʼ οὐχ οἷόν τε ἀλλʼ ἢ τοὺς διενεγκόντας κτήσασθαι. τρύφα μὲν ἐν ταῖς ἐσθῆσι καὶ τοῖς περὶ τὸ σῶμα κόσμοις, καρτέρει δὲ ὡς χρὴ τοὺς βασιλεύοντας ἐν τοῖς ἄλλοις ἐπιτηδεύμασιν, ἵνʼ οἱ μὲν ὁρῶντες διὰ τὴν ὄψιν ἄξιόν σε τῆς ἀρχῆς εἶναι νομίζωσιν, οἱ δὲ συνόντες διὰ τὴν τῆς ψυχῆς ῥώμην τὴν αὐτὴν ἐκείνοις γνώμην ἔχωσιν.
33. Keep watch always on your words and actions, that you may fall into as few mistakes as possible. For while it is best to grasp your opportunities at exactly the right moment, yet, since they are difficult to discern, choose to fall short rather than to overreach them; for the happy mean is to be found in defect rather than in excess.
33. ἐπισκόπει τοὺς λόγους ἀεὶ τοὺς σαυτοῦ καὶ τὰς πράξεις, ἵνʼ ὡς ἐλαχίστοις ἁμαρτήμασι περιπίπτῃς. κράτιστον μὲν τῆς ἀκμῆς τῶν καιρῶν τυγχάνειν, ἐπειδὴ δὲ δυσκαταμαθήτως ἔχουσιν, ἐλλείπειν αἱροῦ καὶ μὴ πλεονάζειν· αἱ γὰρ μετριότητες μᾶλλον ἐν ταῖς ἐνδείαις ἢ ταῖς ὑπερβολαῖς ἔνεισιν.
34. Try to combine courtesy with dignity; for dignity is in keeping with the position of a king and courtesy is becoming in his social intercourse. Yet no admonition is so difficult to carry out as this; for you will find that for the most part those who affect dignity are cold, while those who desire to be courteous appear to lower themselves; yet you should cultivate both these qualities and try to avoid the danger that attaches to each.
34. ἀστεῖος εἶναι πειρῶ καὶ σεμνός· τὸ μὲν γὰρ τῇ τυραννίδι πρέπει, τὸ δὲ πρὸς τὰς συνουσίας ἁρμόττει. χαλεπώτατον δὲ τοῦτο πάντων ἐστὶ τῶν προσταγμάτων· εὑρήσεις γὰρ ὡς ἐπὶ τὸ πολὺ τοὺς μὲν σεμνυνομένους ψυχροὺς ὄντας, τοὺς δὲ βουλομένους μένους ἀστείους εἶναι ταπεινοὺς φαινομένους. δεῖ δὲ χρῆσθαι μὲν ἀμφοτέραις ταῖς ἰδέαις ταύταις, τὴν δὲ συμφορὰν τὴν ἑκατέρᾳ προσοῦσαν διαφεύγειν.
35. Whenever you desire to gain a thorough understanding of such things as it is fitting that kings should know, pursue them by practice as well as by study; for study will show you the way but training yourself in the actual doing of things will give you power to deal with affairs. Reflect on the fortunes and accidents which befall both common men and kings, for if you are mindful of the past you will plan better for the future.
35. ὅ τι ἂν ἀκριβῶσαι βουληθῇς ὧν ἐπίστασθαι προσήκει τοὺς βασιλεῖς, ἐμπειρίᾳ μέτιθι καὶ φιλοσοφίᾳ· τὸ μὲν γὰρ φιλοσοφεῖν τὰς ὁδούς σοι δείξει, τὸ δʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῶν τῶν ἔργων γυμνάζεσθαι δύνασθαί σε χρῆσθαι τοῖς πράγμασι ποιήσει. θεώρει τὰ γιγνόμενα καὶ τὰ συμπίπτοντα καὶ τοῖς ἰδιώταις καὶ τοῖς τυράννοις· ἂν γὰρ τὰ παρεληλυθότα μνημονεύῃς, ἄμεινον περὶ τῶν μελλόντων βουλεύσει.
36. Consider that where there are common men who are ready to lay down their lives that they may be praised after they are dead, it is shameful for kings not to have the courage to pursue a course of conduct from which they will gain renown during their lives. Prefer to leave behind you as a memorial images of your character rather than of your body. Put forth every effort to preserve your own and your state’s security, but if you are compelled to risk your life, choose to die with honor rather than to live in shame.
36. δεινὸν ἡγοῦ τῶν μὲν ἰδιωτῶν τινας ἐθέλειν ἀποθνήσκειν, ἵνα τελευτήσαντες ἐπαινεθῶσι, τοὺς δὲ βασιλεῖς μὴ τολμᾶν χρῆσθαι τοῖς ἐπιτηδεύμασι τούτοις, ἐξ ὧν ζῶντες εὐδοκιμήσουσιν. βούλου τὰς εἰκόνας τῆς ἀρετῆς ὑπόμνημα μᾶλλον ἢ τοῦ σώματος καταλιπεῖν. μάλιστα μὲν πειρῶ τὴν ἀσφάλειαν καὶ σαυτῷ καὶ τῇ πόλει διαφυλάττειν· ἐὰν δʼ ἀναγκασθῇς κινδυνεύειν, αἱροῦ καλῶς τεθνάναι μᾶλλον ἢ ζῆν αἰσχρῶς.
37. In all your actions remember that you are a king, and take care never to do anything which is beneath the dignity of your station. Do not suffer your life to be at once wholly blotted out, but since you were allotted a perishable body, seek to leave behind an imperishable memorial of your soul.
37. ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ἔργοις μέμνησο τῆς βασιλείας, καὶ φρόντιζε ὅπως μηδὲν ἀνάξιον τῆς τιμῆς ταύτης πράξεις. Μὴ περιίδῃς τὴν σαυτοῦ φύσιν ἅπασαν ἅμα διαλυθεῖσαν· ἀλλʼ ἐπειδὴ θνητοῦ σώματος ἔτυχες, πειρῶ τῆς ψυχῆς ἀθάνατον τὴν μνήμην καταλιπεῖν.
38. Make it your practice to talk of things that are good and honorable, that your thoughts may through habit come to be like your words. Whatever seems to you upon careful thought to be the best course, put this into effect. If there are men whose reputations you envy, imitate their deeds. Whatever advice you would give to your children, consent to follow it yourself. Make use of the precepts which I have given you or else seek better counsel.
38. μελέτα περὶ καλῶν ἐπιτηδευμάτων λέγειν, ἵνα συνεθισθῇς ὅμοια τοῖς εἰρημένοις φρονεῖν. ἅττʼ ἄν σοι λογιζομένῳ φαίνηται βέλτιστα, ταῦτα τοῖς ἔργοις ἐπιτέλει. ὧν τὰς δόξας ζηλοῖς, μιμοῦ τὰς πράξεις. ἃ τοῖς αὑτοῦ παισὶν ἂν συμβουλεύσειας, τούτοις αὐτὸς ἐμμένειν ἀξίου. χρῶ τοῖς εἰρημένοις ἢ ζήτει βελτίω τούτων.
39. Regard as wise men, not those who dispute subtly about trifling matters, but those who speak well on the great issues; and not those who, being themselves in sorry straits, hold forth to others the promise of a prosperous fortune, but those who, while making modest claims for themselves, are able to deal with both affairs and men, and are not upset by the vicissitudes of existence, but have learned to bear moderately and bravely both the good and the evil chances of life.
39. σοφοὺς νόμιζε μὴ τοὺς ἀκριβῶς περὶ μικρῶν ἐρίζοντας, ἀλλὰ τοὺς εὖ περὶ τῶν μεγίστων λέγοντας, μηδὲ τοὺς τοῖς μὲν ἄλλοις εὐδαιμονίαν ὑπισχνουμένους, αὐτοὺς δʼ ἐν πολλαῖς ἀπορίαις ὄντας, ἀλλὰ τοὺς μέτρια μὲν περὶ αὑτῶν λέγοντας, ὁμιλεῖν δὲ καὶ τοῖς πράγμασι καὶ τοῖς ἀνθρώποις δυναμένους, καὶ μὴ διαταραττομένους ἐν ταῖς τοῦ βίου μεταβολαῖς, ἀλλὰ καλῶς καὶ μετρίως καὶ τὰς συμφορὰς καὶ τὰς εὐτυχίας φέρειν ἐπισταμένους.
40. And do not be surprised that in what I have said there are many things which you know as well as I. This is not from inadvertence on my part, for I have realized all along that among so great a multitude both of mankind in general and of their rulers there are some who have uttered one or another of these precepts, some who have heard them, some who have observed other people put them into practice, and some who are carrying them out in their own lives.
40. καὶ μὴ θαυμάσῃς, εἰ πολλὰ τῶν λεγομένων ἐστὶν ἃ καὶ σὺ γιγνώσκεις· οὐδὲ γὰρ ἐμὲ τοῦτο παρέλαθεν, ἀλλʼ ἠπιστάμην ὅτι τοσούτων ὄντων τὸ πλῆθος καὶ τῶν ἄλλων καὶ τῶν ἀρχόντων οἱ μέν τι τούτων εἰρήκασιν, οἱ δʼ ἀκηκόασιν, οἱ δʼ ἑτέρους ποιοῦντας ἑωράκασιν, οἱ δʼ αὐτοὶ τυγχάνουσιν ἐπιτηδεύοντες.
41. But the truth is that in discourses of this sort we should not seek novelties, for in these discourses it is not possible to say what is paradoxical or incredible or outside the circle of accepted belief; but, rather, we should regard that man as the most accomplished in this field who can collect the greatest number of ideas scattered among the thoughts of all the rest and present them in the best form.
41. ἀλλὰ γὰρ οὐκ ἐν τοῖς λόγοις χρὴ τούτοις ζητεῖν τὰς καινότητας, ἐν οἷς οὔτε παράδοξον οὔτʼ ἄπιστον οὔτʼ ἔξω τῶν νομιζομένων οὐδὲν ἔξεστιν εἰπεῖν, ἀλλʼ ἡγεῖσθαι τοῦτον χαριέστατον, ὃς ἂν τῶν διεσπαρμένων ἐν ταῖς τῶν ἄλλων διανοίαις ἀθροῖσαι τὰ πλεῖστα δυνηθῇ καὶ φράσαι κάλλιστα περὶ αὐτῶν.
42. Moreover, this has been clear to me from the first, that while all men think that those compositions, whether in verse or prose, are the most useful which counsel us how to live, yet it is certainly not to them that they listen with greatest pleasure; nay, they feel about these just as they feel about the people who admonish them; for while they praise the latter, they choose for associates those who share in, and not those who would dissuade them from, their faults.
42. ἐπεὶ κἀκεῖνό μοι πρόδηλον ἦν, ὅτι τὰ συμβουλεύοντα καὶ τῶν ποιημάτων καὶ τῶν συγγραμμάτων μάτων χρησιμώτατα μὲν ἅπαντες νομίζουσιν, οὐ μὴν ἥδιστά γʼ αὐτῶν ἀκούουσιν, ἀλλὰ πεπόνθασιν ὅπερ πρὸς τοὺς νουθετοῦντας· καὶ γὰρ ἐκείνους ἐπαινοῦσι μέν, πλησιάζειν δὲ βούλονται τοῖς συνεξαμαρτάνουσιν ἀλλʼ οὐ τοῖς ἀποτρέπουσιν.
43. As a case in point, one might cite the poetry of Hesiod and Theognis and Phocylides; for these, they say, have proved the best counsellors for human conduct; but in spite of what they say, people prefer to occupy themselves with each other’s follies rather than with the admonitions of these teachers.
43. σημεῖον δʼ ἄν τις ποιήσαιτο τὴν Ἡσιόδου καὶ Θεόγνιδος καὶ Φωκυλίδου ποίησιν· καὶ γὰρ τούτους φασὶ μὲν ἀρίστους γεγενῆσθαι συμβούλους τῶ βίῳ τῷ τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ταῦτα δὲ λέγοντες αἱροῦνται συνδιατρίβειν ταῖς ἀλλήλων ἀνοίαις μᾶλλον ἢ ταῖς ἐκείνων ὑποθήκαις.
44. And, again, if one were to make a selection from the leading poets of their maxims, as we call them, into which they have put their best thought, men would show a similar attitude toward them also; for they would lend a readier ear to the cheapest comedy than to the creations of such finished art. Yet why should I spend time in giving single instances?
44. ἔτι δʼ εἴ τις ἐκλέξειε τῶν προεχόντων ποιητῶν τὰς καλουμένας γνώμας, ἐφʼ αἷς ἐκεῖνοι μάλιστʼ ἐσπούδασαν, ὁμοίως ἂν καὶ πρὸς ταύτας διατεθεῖεν· ἥδιον γὰρ ἂν κωμῳδίας τῆς φαυλοτάτης ἢ τῶν οὕτω τεχνικῶς πεποιημένων ἀκούσαιεν. καὶ τί δεῖ καθʼ ἓν ἕκαστον λέγοντα διατρίβειν;
45. For if we are willing to survey human nature as a whole, we shall find that the majority of men do not take pleasure in the food that is the most wholesome, nor in the pursuits that are the most honorable, nor in the actions that are the noblest, nor in the creatures that are the most useful, but that they have tastes which are in every way contrary to their best interests, while they view those who have some regard for their duty as men of austere and laborious lives.
45. ὅλως γὰρ εἰ ʼθέλοιμεν σκοπεῖν τὰς φύσεις τὰς τῶν ἀνθρώπων, εὑρήσομεν τοὺς πολλοὺς αὐτῶν οὔτε τῶν σιτίων χαίροντας τοῖς ὑγιεινοτάτοις οὔτε τῶν ἐπιτηδευμάτων τοῖς καλλίστοις οὔτε δοκοῦντας καρτερικοὺς καὶ φιλοπόνους εἶναι τοὺς τῶν δεόντων τι ποιοῦντας·
46. How, then, can one advise or teach or say anything of profit and yet please such people? For, besides what I have said of them, they look upon men of wisdom with suspicion, while they regard men of no understanding as open and sincere; and they so shun the verities of life that they do not even know their own interests: nay, it irks them to take account of their own business and it delights them to discuss the business of others;
46. ὥστε πῶς ἄν τις τοῖς τοιούτοις ἢ παραινῶν ἢ διδάσκων ἢ χρήσιμόν τι λέγων ἀρέσειεν; οἳ πρὸς τοῖς εἰρημένοις φθονοῦσι μὲν τοῖς εὖ φρονοῦσιν, ἁπλοῦς δʼ ἡγοῦνται τοὺς νοῦν οὐκ ἔχοντας, οὕτω δὲ τὰς ἀληθείας τῶν πραγμάτων φεύγουσιν, ὥστʼ οὐδὲ τὰ σφέτερʼ αὐτῶν ἴσασιν, ἀλλὰ λυποῦνται μὲν περὶ τῶν ἰδίων λογιζόμενοι, χαίρουσι δὲ περὶ τῶν ἀλλοτρίων διαλεγόμενοι, βούλοιντο δʼ ἂν τῷ σώματι κακοπαθῆσαι μᾶλλον ἢ τῇ ψυχῇ πονῆσαι καὶ σκέψασθαι περί τινος τῶν ἀναγκαίων.
47. and they would rather be ill in body than exert the soul and give thought to anything in the line of duty. Observe them when they are in each other’s company, and you will find them giving and taking abuse; observe them when they are by themselves, and you will find them occupied, not with plans, but with idle dreams. I am, however, speaking now not of all, but of those only who are open to the charges I have made.
47. εὕροι δʼ ἄν τις αὐτοὺς ἐν μὲν ταῖς πρὸς ἀλλήλους συνουσίαις ἢ λοιδοροῦντας ἢ λοιδορουμένους, ἐν δὲ ταῖς ἐρημίαις οὐ βουλευομένους ἀλλʼ εὐχομένους. λέγω δʼ οὐ καθʼ ἁπάντων, ἀλλὰ κατὰ τῶν ἐνόχων τοῖς εἰρημένοις ὄντων.
48. This much, however, is clear, that those who aim to write anything in verse or prose which will make a popular appeal should seek out, not the most profitable discourses, but those which most abound in fictions; for the ear delights in these just as the eye delights in games and contests. Wherefore we may well admire the poet Homer and the first inventors of tragedy, seeing that they, with true insight into human nature, have embodied both kinds of pleasure in their poetry;
48. ἐκεῖνο δʼ οὖν φανερόν, ὅτι δεῖ τοὺς βουλομένους ἢ ποιεῖν ἢ γράφειν τι κεχαρισμένον τοῖς πολλοῖς μὴ τοὺς ὠφελιμωτάτους τῶν λόγων ζητεῖν, ἀλλὰ τοὺς μυθωδεστάτους· ἀκούοντες μὲν γὰρ τῶν τοιούτων χαίρουσι, θεωροῦντες δὲ τοὺς ἀγῶνας καὶ τὰς ἁμίλλας. διὸ καὶ τὴν Ὁμήρου ποίησιν καὶ τοὺς πρώτους εὑρόντας τραγῳδίαν ἄξιον θαυμάζειν, ὅτι κατιδόντες τὴν φύσιν τὴν τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἀμφοτέραις ταῖς ἰδέαις ταύταις κατεχρήσαντο πρὸς τὴν ποίησιν.
49. for Homer has dressed the contests and battles of the demigods in myths, while the tragic poets have rendered the myths in the form of contests and action, so that they are presented, not to our ears alone, but to our eyes as well. With such models, then, before us, it is evident that those who desire to command the attention of their hearers must abstain from admonition and advice, and must say the kind of things which they see are most pleasing to the crowd.
49. ὁ μὲν γὰρ τοὺς ἀγῶνας καὶ τοὺς πολέμους τοὺς τῶν ἡμιθέων ἐμυθολόγησεν, οἱ δὲ τοὺς μύθους εἰς ἀγῶνας καὶ πράξεις κατέστησαν, ὥστε μὴ μόνον ἀκουστοὺς ἡμῖν ἀλλὰ καὶ θεατοὺς γενέσθαι. τοιούτων οὖν παραδειγμάτων ὑπαρχόντων, δέδεικται τοῖς ἐπιθυμοῦσι τοὺς ἀκροωμένους ψυχαγωγεῖν, ὅτι τοῦ μὲν νουθετεῖν καὶ συμβουλεύειν βουλεύειν ἀφεκτέον, τὰ δὲ τοιαῦτα λεκτέον οἷς ὁρῶσι τοὺς ὄχλους μάλιστα χαίροντας.
50. I have dwelt on these matters because I think that you, who are not one of the multitude but a king over the multitude, ought not to be of the same mind as men at large; you ought not to judge what things are worthy or what men are wise by the standard of pleasure, but to appraise them in the light of conduct that is useful; especially, since the teachers of philosophy, however much they debate about the proper discipline of the soul (some contending that it is through disputation, others that it is through political discussion, others that it is through other means that their disciples are to attain to greater wisdom), yet are all agreed on this, that the well-educated man must, as the result of this training in whatever discipline, show ability to deliberate and decide.
50. ταῦτα δὲ διῆλθον ἡγούμενος σὲ δεῖν, τὸν οὐχ ἕνα τῶν πολλῶν ἀλλὰ πολλῶν βασιλεύοντα, μὴ τὴν αὐτὴν γνώμην ἔχειν τοῖς ἄλλοις, μηδὲ τὰ σπουδαῖα τῶν πραγμάτων μηδὲ τοὺς εὖ φρονοῦντας τῶν ἀνθρώπων ταῖς ἡδοναῖς κρίνειν, ἀλλʼ ἐπὶ τῶν πράξεων τῶν χρησίμων αὐτοὺς δοκιμάζειν, ἄλλως τʼ ἐπειδὴ περὶ μὲν τῶν γυμνασίων τῶν τῆς ψυχῆς ἀμφισβητοῦσιν οἱ περὶ τὴν φιλοσοφίαν ὄντες, καί φασιν οἱ μὲν διὰ τῶν ἐριστικῶν λόγων οἱ δὲ διὰ τῶν πολιτικῶν οἱ δὲ διʼ ἄλλων τινῶν φρονιμωτέρους ἔσεσθαι τοὺς αὐτοῖς πλησιάζοντας, ἐκεῖνο δὲ πάντες ὁμολογοῦσιν, ὅτι δεῖ τὸν καλῶς πεπαιδευμένον ἐξ ἑκάστου τούτων φαίνεσθαι βουλεύεσθαι δυνάμενον.
52. You should, therefore, avoid what is in controversy and test men’s value in the light of what is generally agreed upon, if possible taking careful note of them when they present their views on particular situations; or, if that is not possible, when they discuss general questions. And when they are altogether lacking in what they ought to know, reject them (for it is clear that if one is of no use in himself, neither can he make another man wise);
52. χρὴ τοίνυν ἀφέμενον τῶν ἀμφισβητουμένων ἐπὶ τοῦ συνομολογουμένου λαμβάνειν αὐτῶν τὸν ἔλεγχον, καὶ μάλιστα μὲν ἐπὶ τῶν καιρῶν θεωρεῖν συμβουλεύοντας, εἰ δὲ μή, καὶ καθʼ ὅλων τῶν πραγμάτων λέγοντας. καὶ τοὺς μὲν μηδὲν γιγνώσκοντας τῶν δεόντων ἀποδοκίμαζε (δῆλον γὰρ ὡς ὁ μηδὲν ὢν αὐτὸς χρήσιμος οὐδʼ ἄν ἄλλον φρόνιμον ποιήσειεν), τοὺς δὲ νοῦν ἔχοντας καὶ δυναμένους ὁρᾶν πλέον τι τῶν ἄλλων περὶ πολλοῦ ποιοῦ καὶ θεράπευε, γιγνώσκων ὅτι σύμβουλος ἀγαθὸς χρησιμώτατον καὶ τυραννικώτατον ἁπάντων τῶν κτημάτων ἐστίν.
53. but when they are intelligent and able to see farther than the rest, prize them and cherish them, knowing that a good counsellor is the most useful and the most princely of all possessions. And believe that those contribute most to the greatness of your reign who can contribute most to your understanding. Now I, for my part, have offered you all the good counsels which I know, and I honor you with these gifts which I have at my command; and do you, recalling what I said in the beginning, desire that your other friends also shall bring you, not the usual presents, which you purchase at a much greater cost from those who give than from those who sell, but gifts of such a nature that, even though you make hard use of them every day without fail, you will never wear them out, but will, on the contrary, enlarge them and increase their worth.
53. ἡγοῦ δὲ τούτους μεγίστην σοι ποιεῖν τὴν βασιλείαν, οἵ τινες ἂν τὴν διάνοιαν τὴν σὴν πλεῖστʼ ὠφελῆσαι δυνηθῶσιν. ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν ἅ τε γιγνώσκω παρῄνεκα, καὶ τιμῶ σε τούτοις οἷς τυγχάνω δυνάμενος· βούλου δὲ καὶ τοὺς ἄλλους, ὅπερ εἶπον ἀρχόμενος, μὴ τὰς εἰθισμένας ἄγειν σοι δωρεάς, ἃς ὑμεῖς πολὺ πλείονος ἀγοράζετε παρὰ τῶν διδόντων ἢ παρὰ τῶν πωλούντων, ἀλλὰ τοιαύτας, αἷς κἂν σφόδρα χρῇ καὶ μηδεμίαν ἡμέραν διαλείπῃς, οὐ κατατρίψεις, ἀλλὰ μείζους καὶ πλείονος ἀξίας ποιήσεις.