Humanitext Reader

Theophrastus · Fragments §143.1

The Role of Praise in Fostering Virtue in Youth

Passage 148 of 196 · Greek

Summary

Presents Theophrastus' view that young and ambitious people should be allowed to take pride in their achievements, as praise confirms and fosters their budding virtues.

§143.1Fr. 143 Νέῳ ἔτι ὄντι καὶ φιλοτίμῳ δοτέον ἀπὸ τῶν καλῶν ἔργων καὶ δόξῃ τι καλλωπίζεσθαι καὶ κομπάσαι· φυόμεναι γὰρ ἐν τοῖς τηλικούτοις αἱ ἀρεταὶ καὶ βλαστάνουσαι τό τε κατορθούμενον, ὥς φησι Θ., ἐπιβεβαιοῦνται τοῖς ἐπαίνοις καὶ τὸ λοιπὸν αὔξονται μετὰ φρονήματος ἐπαιρόμεναι.
Fr. 143 To one who is still young and ambitious, it must be allowed to adorn oneself and to boast somewhat on account of fine deeds and reputation; for virtues, growing and budding in people of such an age, confirm what is achieved, as Theophrastus says, by means of praises, and henceforth grow, being elevated with pride.

Notes

  1. §143.1δοτέον — A verbal adjective used impersonally (with ἐστί omitted). The agent is expressed by the dative νέῳ ἔτι ὄντι καὶ φιλοτίμῳ ("to one who is still young and ambitious"), and the infinitives καλλωπίζεσθαι καὶ κομπάσαι ("to adorn oneself and to boast") function as the subject of the necessity.
  2. §143.1τό τε κατορθούμενον — The direct object (accusative) of the compound verb ἐπιβεβαιοῦνται (whose subject is the plural nominative αἱ ἀρεταὶ, "virtues"). It is a substantive use of the neuter singular present participle, meaning "that which is successfully achieved".

Cite this passage

Theophrastus, Fragments §143.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0093.tlg010x09.humanitext-grc1:143.1

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