Plutarch's essays and miscellanies, Vol. 5 (of 5) : $b Comprising all his works collected under the title of "Morals"Plutarch
Philosophy
Plutarch's essays and miscellanies, Vol. 5 (of 5) : $b Comprising all his works collected under the title of "Morals"
Plutarch
Classical literature; Essays; Ethics; Philosophy
being no good orator, you went on an embassage; being of a lazy temper,
you thrust yourself into the stewardship; being ignorant in keeping
accounts, you would be treasurer; or, being old and infirm, you took
on you the command of the army. But Pericles divided his authority
with Cimon, reserving to himself the governing within the city, and
committing to him the manning of the navy and making war upon the
barbarians; for the other was naturally fitted for war, and himself for
civil affairs. Eubulus also the Anaphlystian is much commended, that,
having credit and authority in matters of the greatest importance,
he managed none of the Grecian affairs, nor betook himself to the
conducting of the army; but employing himself about the treasure, he
augmented the public revenues, and greatly benefited the city by them.
But Iphicrates, practising to make declamations at his own house in
the presence of many, rendered himself ridiculous; for though he had
been no bad orator but an excellently good one, yet ought he to have
contented himself with the glory got by arms, and abstaining from the
school, to have left it to the sophisters.
16. But since it is incident to every populacy to be malicious and
desirous to find fault with their governors, and since they are apt
to suspect that many, even useful things, if they pass without being
opposed or contradicted, are done by conspiracy, and since this
principally brings societies and friendships into obloquy; they must
not indeed leave any real enmity or dissension against themselves,
as did Onomademus, a demagogue of the Chians, who, having mastered a
sedition, suffered not all his adversaries to be expelled the city;
lest, said he, we should begin to differ with our friends, when we
are wholly freed from our enemies; for this would be indeed a folly.
But when the multitude shall have conceived a suspicion against
any important beneficial project, they must not, as if it were by
confederacy, all deliver the same opinion; but two or three of them
must dissent, and mildly oppose their friend, and afterwards, as if
they were convinced by reason, change their sentiments; for by this
means they draw along with them the people, who think them moved by
the beneficialness of the thing. But in small matters, and such as are
of no great consequence, it is not amiss to suffer his friends really
to differ, every one following his own private reason; that so in the
principal and greatest concerns, they may not seem to act upon design,
when they shall unanimously agree to what is best.
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