Political fragments of Archytas, Charondas, Zaleucus, and other ancient Pythagoreans, preserved by Stobaeus; and also, ethical fragments of Hierocles ... preserved by the same author / Translated from the Greek. By Thomas Taylor.

  • Thomas Taylor
Date:
1822
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Political fragments of Archytas, Charondas, Zaleucus, and other ancient Pythagoreans, preserved by Stobaeus; and also, ethical fragments of Hierocles ... preserved by the same author / Translated from the Greek. By Thomas Taylor. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    self properly in each of these connections to collect, in a certain respect, the circles, as it were, to one centre, and always to endeavour earnestly to transfer himself from the compre¬ hending circles to the several particulars which they comprehend. It pertains, therefore, to the man who is a lover of kindred [to conduct himself in a becoming manner*] towards his parents and brothers; also, according to the same analogy, towards the more elderly of his relatives of both sexes, such as grandfathers, according to reason differs from living according to passion, and as much as the desire of that which is beautiful in con¬ duct differs from the desire of that which appears to he ad¬ vantageous. Hence it is necessary that a good man should be a lover of himself; for he himself is benefited by acting well, and he also benefits others. But it is not proper that a depraved man should be a lover of himself; for he will hurt both himself and his neighbours, in consequence of being subservieut to base passions. With the depraved man, therefore, there is a dissonance between what he ought to do and what he does; but with the worthy man, those things which he ought to do he also does.” Conformably to what Aristotle asserts in this last sentence, Seneca also says, “ Sapiens nihil facit quod non debet, et nihil praeterrnittit quod debet.” i. e. “ The wise man does nothing which he ought not to do, and omits nothing which he ought to do.” * There is a deficiency here in the original, which I have endeavoured to supply in the translation by the words in the brackets. It appears to me, therefore, that the words χρησθαι καλώς are wanting.