§10οὐδὲ ταπεινῶς διῴκει τὸν αὑτοῦ βίον, ἀλλὰ φιλόκαλος ἦν καὶ μεγαλοπρεπὴς καὶ τοῖς φίλοις κοινός, καὶ μᾶλλον ἐθαύμαζε τοὺς περὶ αὑτὸν σπουδάζοντας ἢ τοὺς γένει προσήκοντας· ἡγεῖτο γὰρ εἶναι πρὸς ἑταιρίαν πολλῷ κρείττω φύσιν νόμου καὶ τρόπον γένους καὶ προαίρεσιν ἀνάγκης.
Nor did he conduct his own life meanly, but was a lover of beauty, magnificent, and open-handed to his friends, and he admired those who were devoted to him more than those who were related by blood; for he thought that for friendship, nature was far better than law, character than lineage, and free choice than necessity.
§11ἐπιλίποι δʼ ἂν ἡμᾶς ὁ πᾶς χρόνος, εἰ πάσας τὰς ἐκείνου πράξεις καταριθμησαίμεθα.
And all time would fail us if we were to recount all his deeds.
ἀλλὰ τὸ μὲν ἀκριβὲς αὐτῶν ἐν ἑτέροις καιροῖς δηλώσομεν, δεῖγμα δὲ τῆς Ἱππονίκου φύσεως νῦν ἐξενηνόχαμεν, πρὸς ὃν δεῖ ζῆν σε ὥσπερ πρὸς παράδειγμα, νόμον μὲν τὸν ἐκείνου τρόπον ἡγησάμενον, μιμητὴν δὲ καὶ ζηλωτὴν τῆς πατρῴας ἀρετῆς γιγνόμενον· αἰσχρὸν γὰρ τοὺς μὲν γραφεῖς ἀπεικάζειν τὰ καλὰ τῶν ζῴων, τοὺς δὲ παῖδας μὴ μιμεῖσθαι τοὺς σπουδαίους τῶν γονέων.
But while we shall declare the exact details of them on other occasions, we have now presented a sample of the nature of Hipponicus, toward whom you must live as toward a model, regarding his character as law, and becoming an imitator and pursuer of your father's virtue; for it is shameful that painters should copy the beautiful among living creatures, but that children should not imitate their excellent parents.
§12ἡγοῦ δὲ μηδενὶ τῶν ἀθλητῶν οὕτω προσήκειν ἐπὶ τοὺς ἀνταγωνιστὰς ἀσκεῖν, ὡς σοὶ σκοπεῖν ὅπως ἐφάμιλλος γενήσει τοῖς τοῦ πατρὸς ἐπιτηδεύμασιν.
And consider that it does not so much belong to any of the athletes to train against their competitors, as it belongs to you to see to it that you become a rival to your father's practices.
οὕτω δὲ τὴν γνώμην οὐ δυνατὸν διατεθῆναι τὸν μὴ πολλῶν καὶ καλῶν ἀκουσμάτων πεπληρωμένον· τὰ μὲν γὰρ σώματα τοῖς συμμέτροις πόνοις, ἡ δὲ ψυχὴ τοῖς σπουδαίοις λόγοις αὔξεσθαι πέφυκε.
But it is not possible for a mind to be so disposed unless one is filled with many noble teachings; for bodies are by nature grown by moderate labors, but the soul by excellent discourses.
διόπερ ἐγώ σοι πειράσομαι συντόμως ὑποθέσθαι, διʼ ὧν ἄν μοι δοκεῖς ἐπιτηδευμάτων πλεῖστον πρὸς ἀρετὴν ἐπιδοῦναι καὶ παρὰ τοῖς ἄλλοις ἅπασιν ἀνθρώποις εὐδοκιμῆσαι.
Therefore, I will try to suggest to you briefly, by what practices you seem to me likely to make the greatest progress toward virtue and to win high repute among all other men.
§13πρῶτον μὲν οὖν εὐσέβει τὰ πρὸς τοὺς θεούς, μὴ μόνον θύων, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῖς ὅρκοις ἐμμένων· ἐκεῖνο μὲν γὰρ τῆς τῶν χρημάτων εὐπορίας σημεῖον, τοῦτο δὲ τῆς τῶν τρόπων καλοκαγαθίας τεκμήριον.
First, then, show piety in things relating to the gods, not only by sacrificing, but also by abiding by your oaths; for the former is a sign of abundance of wealth, but the latter is a proof of nobility of character.
τίμα τὸ δαιμόνιον ἀεὶ μέν, μάλιστα δὲ μετὰ τῆς πόλεως· οὕτω γὰρ δόξεις ἅμα τε τοῖς θεοῖς θύειν καὶ τοῖς νόμοις ἐμμένειν.
Honor the divine always, indeed, but especially in common with the city; for thus you will seem at once to sacrifice to the gods and to abide by the laws.
§14τοιοῦτος γίγνου περὶ τοὺς γονεῖς, οἵους ἂν εὔξαιο περὶ σεαυτὸν γενέσθαι τοὺς σεαυτοῦ παῖδας.
Behave toward your parents in such a manner as you would pray for your own children to behave toward you.
ἄσκει τῶν περὶ τὸ σῶμα γυμνασίων μὴ τὰ πρὸς τὴν ῥώμην ἀλλὰ τὰ πρὸς τὴν ὑγίειαν· τούτου δʼ ἂν ἐπιτύχοις, εἰ λήγοις τῶν πόνων ἔτι πονεῖν δυνάμενος.
Practice those of the bodily exercises which tend not to strength but to health; and you would attain this, if you should cease from labors while you are still able to labor.
§15μήτε γέλωτα προπετῆ στέργε, μήτε λόγον μετὰ θράσους ἀποδέχου· τὸ μὲν γὰρ ἀνόητον, τὸ δὲ μανικόν.
Neither love headlong laughter, nor accept speech with insolence; for the former is foolish, and the latter is mad.
ἃ ποιεῖν αἰσχρόν, ταῦτα νόμιζε μηδὲ λέγειν εἶναι καλόν.
What things it is shameful to do, these consider not even noble to speak of.
ἔθιζε σεαυτὸν εἶναι μὴ σκυθρωπὸν ἀλλὰ σύννουν· διʼ ἐκεῖνο μὲν γὰρ αὐθάδης, διὰ δὲ τοῦτο φρόνιμος εἶναι δόξεις.
Accustom yourself to be not sullen but thoughtful; for through the former you will seem to be self-willed, but through the latter wise.
ἡγοῦ μάλιστα σεαυτῷ πρέπειν κόσμον, αἰσχύνην δικαιοσύνην σωφροσύνην· τούτοις γὰρ ἅπασι δοκεῖ κρατεῖσθαι τὸ τῶν νεωτέρων ἦθος.
Consider that order, modesty, justice, and temperance especially become you as an ornament; for by all these the character of the young seems to be kept in check.
§16μηδέποτε μηδὲν αἰσχρὸν ποιήσας ἔλπιζε λήσειν· καὶ γὰρ ἂν τοὺς ἄλλους λάθῃς, σεαυτῷ συνειδήσεις.
Never, having done anything shameful, hope to escape notice; for even if you escape the notice of others, you will be conscious of it to yourself.
τοὺς μὲν θεοὺς φοβοῦ, τοὺς δὲ γονεῖς τίμα, τοὺς δὲ φίλους αἰσχύνου, τοῖς δὲ νόμοις πείθου.
Fear the gods, honor your parents, respect your friends, and obey the laws.
τὰς ἡδονὰς θήρευε τὰς μετὰ δόξης· τέρψις γὰρ σὺν τῷ καλῷ μὲν ἄριστον, ἄνευ δὲ τούτου κάκιστον.
Pursue those pleasures which are joined with glory; for delight with the beautiful is best, but without this, it is worst.
§17εὐλαβοῦ τὰς διαβολάς, κἂν ψευδεῖς ὦσιν· οἱ γὰρ πολλοὶ τὴν μὲν ἀλήθειαν ἀγνοοῦσι, πρὸς δὲ τὴν δόξαν ἀποβλέπουσιν.
Guard against slanders, even if they are false; for the multitude are ignorant of the truth, and look to reputation.
ἅπαντα δόκει ποιεῖν ὡς μηδένα λήσων· καὶ γὰρ ἃ παραυτίκα κρύψῃς, ὕστερον ὀφθήσει.
Resolve to do everything as if you would escape the notice of no one; for even what you conceal for the moment will be seen later.
μάλιστα δʼ ἂν εὐδοκιμοίης, εἰ φαίνοιο ταῦτα μὴ πράττων, ἃ τοῖς ἄλλοις ἂν πράττουσιν ἐπιτιμῴης.
You would gain the highest repute if you should be seen not doing those things which you would censure in others when they do them.
§18ἐὰν ᾖς φιλομαθής, ἔσει πολυμαθής.
If you are fond of learning, you will be rich in learning.
ἃ μὲν ἐπίστασαι, ταῦτα διαφύλαττε ταῖς μελέταις, ἃ δὲ μὴ μεμάθηκας, προσλάμβανε ταῖς ἐπιστήμαις· ὁμοίως γὰρ αἰσχρὸν ἀκούσαντα χρήσιμον λόγον μὴ μαθεῖν καὶ διδόμενόν τι ἀγαθὸν παρὰ τῶν φίλων μὴ λαβεῖν.
What things you understand, preserve these by practices; and what things you have not learned, acquire in addition by knowledges; for it is equally shameful, when having heard a useful discourse, not to learn it, as it is not to receive some good thing given by friends.
κατανάλισκε τὴν ἐν τῷ βίῳ σχολὴν εἰς τὴν τῶν λόγων φιληκοΐαν· οὕτω γὰρ τὰ τοῖς ἄλλοις χαλεπῶς εὑρημένα συμβήσεταί σοι ῥᾳδίως μανθάνειν.
Spend your leisure in life in the love of listening to discourses; for thus it will happen to you to learn easily what has been discovered with difficulty by others.