Effects of Noble Birth on Character and Degeneration — Aristotle, Rhetoric Book 2 (2.15.1–2.15.3), Greek & English

§2.15.1

περὶ δὲ τῶν ἀπὸ τύχης γιγνομένων ἀγαθῶν, διʼ ὅσα αὐτῶν καὶ τὰ ἤθη ποιὰ ἄττα συμβαίνει τοῖς ἀνθρώποις, λέγωμεν ἐφεξῆς.

Next, let us speak of the goods that come from fortune, through whichever of them indeed the characters of men also happen to become of a certain quality.

§2.15.2

εὐγενείας μὲν οὖν ἦθός ἐστι τὸ φιλοτιμότερον εἶναι τὸν κεκτημένον αὐτήν· ἅπαντες γάρ, ὅταν ὑπάρχῃ τι, πρὸς τοῦτο σωρεύειν εἰώθασιν, ἡ δʼ εὐγένεια ἐντιμότης προγόνων ἐστίν. καὶ καταφρονητικὸν καὶ τῶν ὁμοίων ἐστὶν τοῖς προγόνοις αὑτῶν,¹ διότι πόρρω ταὐτὰ μᾶλλον ἢ ἐγγὺς γιγνόμενα ἐντιμότερα καὶ εὐαλαζόνευτα.

Now, the character of noble birth is that its possessor is more honor-loving; for all men, when they possess some advantage, are accustomed to heap up honor upon this, and noble birth is the honorableness of ancestors. It is also contemptuous of others, and even of those who are similar to their own ancestors, because the same things, when they happen far off rather than near, are more honored and more easily boasted of.

§2.15.3

ἔστι δὲ εὐγενὲς μὲν κατὰ τὴν τοῦ γένους ἀρετήν, γενναῖον δὲ κατὰ τὸ μὴ ἐξίστασθαι τῆς φύσεως· ὅπερ ὡς ἐπὶ τὸ πολὺ οὐ συμβαίνει τοῖς εὐγενέσιν, ἀλλʼ εἰσὶν οἱ πολλοὶ εὐτελεῖς· φορὰ γὰρ τίς ἐστιν ἐν τοῖς γένεσιν ἀνδρῶν² ὥσπερ ἐν τοῖς κατὰ τὰς χώρας γιγνομένοις, καὶ ἐνίοτε ἂν ᾖ ἀγαθὸν τὸ γένος, ἐγγίνονται διά τινος χρόνου ἄνδρες περιττοί, κἄπειτα πάλιν ἀναδίδωσιν.³ ἐξίσταται δὲ τὰ μὲν εὐφυᾶ γένη εἰς μανικώτερα ἤθη, οἷον οἱ ἀπʼ Ἀλκιβιάδου καὶ οἱ ἀπὸ Διονυσίου τοῦ προτέρου, τὰ δὲ στάσιμα εἰς ἀβελτερίαν καὶ νωθρότητα, οἷον οἱ ἀπὸ Κίμωνος καὶ Περικλέους καὶ Σωκράτους.

But “noble by birth” depends on the virtue of the lineage, whereas “noble by character” depends on not departing from one’s nature; which for the most part does not happen to those of noble birth, but most of them are worthless. For there is a certain crop-cycle in the lineages of men just as in the products of the earth, and sometimes, even if the lineage is good, outstanding men arise after a certain time, and then it declines again. Gifted lineages degenerate into madder characters, such as the descendants of Alcibiades and those of Dionysius the Elder, while stable lineages degenerate into stupidity and sluggishness, such as the descendants of Cimon, Pericles, and Socrates.

Syntax notes3 items

2.15.2καὶ καταφρονητικὸν καὶ τῶν ὁμοίων ἐστὶν τοῖς προγόνοις αὑτῶν
The first καὶ is adverbial ("also", "even"), indicating that this character is contemptuous of others, while the second καὶ coordinates or emphasizes τῶν ὁμοίων. The phrase τῶν ὁμοίων τοῖς προγόνοις αὑτῶν ("those similar to their own ancestors") refers to those who are currently equal to them in wealth or status but lack their ancient ancestry, i.e., the newly rich, whom the well-born look down upon.
2.15.3φορὰ γάρ τίς ἐστιν ἐν τοῖς γένεσιν ἀνδρῶν
φορά is a metaphorical term referring to the yield of the earth or the cyclical nature of crops (crop rotation, soil productivity). Aristotle uses it here to compare the manifestation of excellence in human lineages to agricultural cycles, explaining that after a generation of outstanding men (a good harvest), there comes a period of decline or dormancy (a poor harvest).
2.15.3ἀναδίδωσιν
This verb can be understood intransitively either as "to yield (produce fruit) again" or as "to give out, give back, decline." Given the context ("and then again") and the subsequent discussion of degeneration ("gifted lineages degenerate into madness..."), it is most consistently interpreted here in the sense of "receding" or "declining" (returning to a state of dormancy).

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-22)urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0086.tlg038.humanitext-grc2:2.15.1-2.15.3