§14καὶ ταῦτα μὲν ἔξωθεν ἔστιν ἐπεισάγεσθαι φάρμακα τῆς περιαυτολογίας.
And these indeed are remedies for self-praise that can be introduced from without.
ἕτερα δʼ αὐτοῖς τρόπον τινὰ τοῖς ἐπαινουμένοις ἔνεστιν· οἷς καὶ Κάτων ἐχρῆτο φθονεῖσθαι λέγων, ὅτι τῶν ἰδίων ἀμελεῖ καὶ τὰς νύκτας ἀγρυπνεῖ διὰ τὴν πατρίδα καὶ τὸ
"
πῶς δʼ ἂν φρονοίην, ᾧ παρῆν ἀπραγμόνως
ἐν τοῖσι πολλοῖς ἠριθμημένῳ στρατοῦ
ἴσον μετασχεῖν τῷ σοφωτάτῳ τύχης. "
καὶ τὸ
"
ὀκνῶν δὲ μόχθων τῶν πρὶν ἐκχέαι χάριν,
καὶ τοὺς παρόντας οὐκ ἀπωθοῦμαι πόνους.
But others are, in a certain manner, inherent in the praised achievements themselves; which Cato also used to make use of, saying that he was envied because he neglected his private affairs and stayed awake at nights for the sake of his fatherland, and also the saying: "And how could I be wise, to whom it was permitted without trouble, numbered among the many of the army, to share an equal fortune with the wisest?" And this: "Fearing to pour away the grace of my former labors, I do not push away the present troubles.
"
ὡς γὰρ οἰκίαν καὶ χωρίον, οὕτω καὶ δόξαν οἱ πολλοὶ καὶ ἀρετὴν τοῖς προῖκα καὶ ῥᾳδίως ἔχειν δοκοῦσιν οὐ τοῖς πριαμένοις πόνων πολλῶν καὶ κινδύνων φθονοῦσιν.
"For just as with a house or land, so also with reputation and virtue, the multitude envy those who seem to possess them freely and easily, not those who have bought them with many labors and dangers.
§15ἐπεὶ δʼ οὐ μόνον ἀλύπως καὶ ἀνεπιφθόνως ἀλλὰ καὶ χρησίμως καὶ ὠφελίμως προσοιστέον ἐστὶ τοὺς ἐπαίνους, ἵνα μὴ τοῦτο πράττειν ἀλλʼ ἕτερὸν τι διὰ τούτου δοκῶμεν· ὅρα πρῶτον, εἰ προτροπῆς ἕνεκα καὶ ζήλου καὶ φιλοτιμίας τῶν ἀκουόντων αὑτὸν ἄν τις ἐπαινέσειεν.
But since we must introduce praises not only painlessly and without provoking envy, but also usefully and profitably, so that we may not seem to do this for its own sake but to achieve something else through it; consider first whether one might praise oneself for the sake of encouragement, emulation, and love of honor in the hearers.
ὥσπερ ὁ Νέστωρ τὰς ἑαυτοῦ διηγούμενος ἀριστείας καὶ μάχας τόν τε Πάτροκλον παρώρμησε καὶ τοὺς ἐννέα πρὸς τὴν μονομαχίαν ἀνέστησεν.
Just as Nestor, by recounting his own brave deeds and battles, both urged on Patroclus and aroused the nine to the single combat.
ἡ γὰρ ἔργον ὁμοῦ· καὶ λόγον ἔχουσα προτροπὴ καὶ παράδειγμα καὶ ζῆλον οἰκεῖον ἔμψυχός ἐστι καὶ κινεῖ καὶ παροξύνει, καὶ μεθʼ ὁρμῆς καὶ προαιρέσεως ἐλπίδας ὡς ἐφικτῶν καὶ οὐκ ἀδυνάτων παρίστησι.
For encouragement that possesses both action and speech, along with a personal example and emulation, is alive, and moves and stimulates, and together with impulse and purpose, presents hopes of things as attainable and not impossible.
διὸ καὶ τῶν ἐν Λακεδαίμονι χορῶν ᾄδουσιν οἱ μὲν τῶν γερόντων
"ἄμμες ποτʼ ἦμες ἄλκιμοι νεανίαι"
οἱ δὲ τῶν παίδων
"ἄμμες δὲ γʼ ἐσσόμεθα πολλῷ κάρρονες"
οἱ δὲ τῶν νεανίσκων
"ἄμμες δὲ γʼ εἰμές αἰ δὲ λῇς, αὐγάσδεο· "
καλῶς καὶ πολιτικῶς τοῦ νομοθέτου τὰ πλησίον καὶ οἰκεῖα παραδείγματα τοῖς νέοις διʼ αὐτῶν τῶν εἰργασμένων ἐπιθέντος.
Therefore, also of the choruses in Lacedaemon, that of the old men sings: "We once were valiant young men;" and that of the boys: "But we shall be much better; "and that of the young men: "But we are so; if you wish, look at us." This was beautifully and politically appointed by the lawgiver, who imposed nearby and familiar examples upon the young through those who had performed them.
§16οὐ μὴν ἀλλὰ καὶ καταπλήξεως ἐνιαχοῦ καὶ συστολῆς ἕνεκα καὶ τοῦ ταπεινῶσαι καὶ λαβεῖν ὑποχείριον τὸν αὐθάδη καὶ ἰταμὸν οὐ χεῖρόν ἐστι κομπάσαι τι περὶ αὑτοῦ καὶ μεγαληγορῆσαι.
Nevertheless, sometimes for the sake of striking terror, and checking, and humbling and subduing the arrogant and headstrong, it is not worse to boast somewhat about oneself and speak grandly.
καθάπερ αὖ πάλιν ὁ Νέστωρ
"
ἤδη γάρ ποτʼ ἐγὼ καὶ ἀρείοσιν ἠέπερ ὑμῖν
ἀνδράσιν ὡμίλησα, καὶ οὒ ποτὲ μʼ οἵ γʼ ἀθέριζον. "
οὕτω δὴ καὶ πρὸς Ἀλέξανδρον Ἀριστοτέλης οὐ μόνον ἔφη τοῖς πολλῶν κρατοῦσιν ἐξεῖναι μέγα φρονεῖν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῖς περὶ θεῶν δόξας ἀληθεῖς ἔχουσι.
Just as, on the other hand, Nestor said: "For already in the past I have associated with better men than you, and never did they disregard me." Thus indeed Aristotle also said to Alexander that it was permitted to think grandly not only for those who rule over many, but also for those who hold true opinions about the gods.
χρήσιμα δὲ καὶ πρὸς πολεμίους καὶ πρὸς ἐχθροὺς τὰ τοιαῦτα
"δυστήνων δέ τε παῖδες ἐμῷ μένει ἀντιόωσι. "
καὶ περὶ τοῦ Περσῶν βασιλέως μεγάλου καλουμένου ὁ Ἀγησίλαος
τί δʼ ἐμοῦ γε μείζων ἐκεῖνος, εἰ μὴ καὶ δικαιότερος; καὶ πρὸς τοὺς Λακεδαιμονίους τῶν Θηβαίων κατηγοροῦντας ὁ Ἐπαμεινώνδας
ἡμεῖς μὲν γʼ ὑμᾶς βραχυλογοῦντας ἐπαύσαμεν
ἀλλὰ ταῦτα μὲν πρὸς ἐχθροὺς καὶ πολεμίους· τῶν δὲ φίλων καὶ πολιτῶν οὐ μόνον ἔστι τοὺς θρασυνομένους καταστορέσαι καὶ ποιῆσαι ταπεινοτέρους, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοὺς περιφόβους καὶ καταπλῆγας ἐξᾶραι πάλιν καὶ παρορμῆσαι, χρησάμενον ἐν δέοντι μεγαλαυχίᾳ.
And such things are useful both against enemies and adversaries: "And the children of unhappy men face my strength." And concerning the king of the Persians, called the Great, Agesilaus said: "In what indeed is he greater than I, if he is not also more just?" And to the Lacedaemonians accusing the Thebans, Epaminondas said: "We indeed put an end to your speaking briefly." But these things indeed are against enemies and adversaries; whereas among friends and fellow citizens, it is possible not only to quiet those who are arrogant and make them more humble, but also to raise up again and encourage those who are terrified and dismayed, by making use of boasting in time of need.
καὶ γὰρ ὁ Κῦρος παρὰ τὰ δεινὰ καὶ τὰς μάχας
ἐμεγαληγόρει ἄλλοτε δʼ οὐ μεγαλήγορος ἦν.
For Cyrus indeed, during dangers and battles, used to speak grandly, but at other times he was not a grand speaker.
καὶ Ἀντίγονος ὁ δεύτερος τἄλλα μὲν ἦν ἄτυφος καὶ μέτριος, ἐν δὲ τῇ περὶ Κῶν ναυμαχίᾳ τῶν φίλων τινὸς εἰπόντος
οὐχ ὁρᾷς, ὅσῳ πλείους εἰσὶν αἱ πολέμιαι νῆες; ἐμὲ
δὲ γʼ αὐτόν
εἶπε πρὸς
πόσας ἀντιτάττετε; καὶ τοῦτο δʼ ἔοικε συνιδεῖν Ὅμηρος· τὸν γὰρ Ὀδυσσέα πεποίηκεν, ἀποδειλιώντων τῶν ἑταίρων πρὸς τὸν ψόφον καὶ κλύδωνα τὸν περὶ τὴν Χάρυβδιν, ἀναμιμνήσκοντα τῆς αὑτοῦ δεινότητος καὶ ἀνδρείας· "
οὐ μὲν δὴ τόδε μεῖζον ἔπι κακόν, ἢ ὅτε Κύκλωψ
εἴλει ἐνὶ σπῆι γλαφυρῷ κρατερῇ γε βίῃφι
ἀλλὰ καὶ ἔνθεν ἐμῇ ἀρετῇ βουλῇ τε νόῳ τε
ἐκφύγομεν. "
οὐ γάρ ἐστι δημαγωγοῦντος οὐδὲ σοφιστιῶντος ὁ τοιοῦτος ἔπαινος οὐδὲ κρότον οὐδὲ ποππυσμὸν αἰτοῦντος, ἀλλὰ τὴν ἀρετὴν καὶ τὴν ἐπιστήμην ἐνέχυρον τοῦ θαρρεῖν τοῖς φίλοις διδόντος.
And Antigonus II was in other respects free from pride and moderate, but in the naval battle of Cos, when one of his friends said: "Do you not see how many more the enemy ships are?" he said: "Against how many, then, do you set me myself?" And Homer also seems to have perceived this; for he has made Odysseus, when his companions were shrinking in fear before the noise and the surge around Charybdis, reminding them of his own skill and courage: "This is indeed no greater evil than when the Cyclops penned us in his hollow cave by his strong might; but even from there, by my courage, counsel, and mind, we escaped." For such praise is not that of a demagogue or a sophist, nor of one asking for applause or acclaim, but of one giving his own virtue and knowledge as a pledge of confidence to friends.
μέγα γὰρ ἐν καιροῖς ἐπισφαλέσι πρὸς σωτηρίαν δόξα καὶ πίστις ἀνδρὸς ἡγεμονικὴν ἐμπειρίαν καὶ δύναμιν ἔχοντος·
For the reputation and credibility of a man possessing commanding experience and power is a great thing for safety in precarious times.