Theophrastus · Fragments §86d.1

Praise Nurturing Virtue in Youth and the Perils of Excess

Passage 91 of 196 · Greek

Summary

Pointing out, with reference to Theophrastus, that virtues sprouting in the young are strengthened and grow through praise, and warning that excess in anything is precarious.

§86d.1Fr. 86d 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.

For virtues, when budding and sprouting in those of such an age, confirm what is rightly done, as Theophrastus says, by praises, and for the future they increase, being elevated with pride.

Τὸ δὲ ἄγαν πανταχοῦ μὲν ἐπισφαλές.

But excess is everywhere precarious.

Notes

86d.1τοῖς τηλικούτοις — Substantive use of the masculine plural dative of the adjective τηλικούτος (of such an age), referring to "those of such an age" (specifically young people or children). It serves as the object of the preposition ἐν.
86d.1ἐπιβεβαιοῦνται — Third-person plural present middle-passive of the verb ἐπιβεβαιόω. The subject is the feminine plural αἱ ἀρεταὶ. Since it takes the accusative τό ... κατορθούμενον (what is rightly done) as its object, it functions as a middle voice ("confirm/secure for themselves").
86d.1Τὸ δὲ ἄγαν — The adverb ἄγαν (excessively) nominalized by the neuter singular article τό, meaning "excess" or "what is too much." It serves as the subject of the sentence, paired with the predicate adjective ἐπισφαλές (precarious), with the copula ἐστί omitted.

Cite this passage

Theophrastus, Fragments §86d.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0093.tlg010x09.humanitext-grc1:86d.1

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