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Aristotle · Rhetoric §2.15.1-2.15.3

Effects of Noble Birth on Character and Degeneration

Passage 53 of 98 · Greek

Summary

Discussing the influence of goods of fortune on character, Aristotle first addresses noble birth, distinguishing between "noble birth" (eugenes) and "noble character" (gennaion). He explains how even excellent lineages tend to degenerate over generations into either madness or sluggishness.

§2.15.1περὶ 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.
§2.15.2εὐγενείας 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.
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.
καὶ καταφρονητικὸν καὶ τῶν ὁμοίων ἐστὶν τοῖς προγόνοις αὑτῶν, διότι πόρρω ταὐτὰ μᾶλλον ἢ ἐγγὺς γιγνόμενα ἐντιμότερα καὶ εὐαλαζόνευτα.
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.
§2.15.3ἔστι 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·
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.
φορὰ γὰρ τίς ἐστιν ἐν τοῖς γένεσιν ἀνδρῶν ὥσπερ ἐν τοῖς κατὰ τὰς χώρας γιγνομένοις, καὶ ἐνίοτε ἂν ᾖ ἀγαθὸν τὸ γένος, ἐγγίνονται διά τινος χρόνου ἄνδρες περιττοί, κἄπειτα πάλιν ἀναδίδωσιν.
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.
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.
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.

Notes

  1. ¦20¦καὶ 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. ¦25¦φορὰ 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).
  3. §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).

Cite this passage

Aristotle, Rhetoric §2.15.1-2.15.3. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0086.tlg038.humanitext-grc2:2.15.1-2.15.3

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