§2.13.1ἐπεὶ δʼ ἐστίν, ὡς φαμέν, αὐτῷ πρὸς αὑτὸν φιλία, πότερον ὁ σπουδαῖος ἔσται φίλαυτος ἢ οὔ;
Since there is, as we say, friendship of a person toward himself, will the excellent person be a lover of self, or not?
ἔστιν δὲ φίλαυτος ὁ αὑτοῦ ἕνεκεν πάντα πράττων ἐν τοῖς κατὰ τὸ λυσιτελές.
And a lover of self is one who does everything for his own sake in matters concerning utility.
ὁ μὲν οὖν φαῦλος φίλαντος ἐστίν (αὐτὸς αὑτοῦ γὰρ ἕνεκεν πάντα πράττει)· ἀλλʼ οὐχ ὁ σπουδαῖος.
Now, the base person is a lover of self (for he does everything for his own sake); but the excellent person is not.
διὰ τοῦτο γάρ ἐστι σπουδαῖος, ὅτι ἄλλου ἕνεκεν τοῦτο πράττει· διὸ οὐκ ἔστιν φίλαυτος.
For he is excellent for this reason, that he does this for the sake of another; therefore he is not a lover of self.
§2.13.2ἀλλʼ ὁρμῶσι μὲν ἅπαντες ἐπὶ τἀγαθά, καὶ οἴονται αὑτοῖς δεῖν μάλιστα ὑπάρχειν.
But all people strive after good things, and think they ought to belong to themselves most of all.
τοῦτο δέ ἐστι μάλιστα φανερὸν ἐπὶ πλούτου καὶ ἀρχῆς.
And this is most manifest in the case of wealth and office.
ὁ μὲν οὖν σπουδαῖος ἐκστήσεται τούτων ἄλλῳ, οὐχ ὡς οὐ προσῇκον αὑτῷ μάλιστα, ἀλλʼ ἂν ὁρᾷ ἄλλον δυνησόμενον μᾶλλον τούτοις αὑτοῦ χρῆσθαι·
The excellent person, then, will yield these to another, not as though they do not belong to himself most of all, but if he sees that another will be able to use them more than himself.
οἱ δʼ ἄλλοι τοῦτο οὐ ποιήσουσι διʼ ἄγνοιαν (οὐ γὰρ οἴονται κακῶς ἂν χρήσασθαι τοῖς τοιούτοις ἀγαθοῖς) ἢ διὰ φιλοτιμίαν τοῦ ἄρχειν.
But the others will not do this, through ignorance (for they do not think they would use such goods badly) or through love of honor in ruling.
§2.13.3ὁ δὲ σπουδαῖος οὐδέτερον τούτων πείσεται· διὸ οὐδὲ φίλαυτος κατά γε τὰ τοιαῦτα ἀγαθά.
But the excellent person will experience neither of these; therefore he is not a lover of self, at least as regards such goods.
ἀλλʼ εἰ ἄρα, κατὰ τὸ καλόν.
But if indeed he is, it is as regards the noble.
τούτου γὰρ μόνον ἄλλῳ οὐκ ἂν ἐκσταίη, τὰ δὲ συμφέροντα καὶ ἡδέα ἐκστήσεται.
For of this alone he would not yield to another, but he will yield what is useful and pleasant.
§2.13.4τὴν μὲν οὖν κατὰ τὸ καλὸν αἵρεσιν φίλαντος ἔσται· τὴν δὲ κατὰ τὸ συμφέρον καὶ καθʼ ἡδονὴν λεγομένην οὐκ ἔσται ὁ σπουδαῖος, ἀλλὰ ὁ φαῦλος.
Therefore, in respect of the choice according to the noble, he will be a lover of self; but in respect of the so-called self-love according to utility and pleasure, the excellent person will not be so, but the base person will.