§48Ἐπικτήτου. 48. (58).
Of Epictetus. 48. (58).
Ὥσπερ ἀληθὴς ζυγὸς οὔτε πρὸς ἀληθοῦς εὐθύνεται ζυγοῦ οὔθʼ ὑπὸ ψευδοῦς κρίνεται, οὕτω καὶ ὁ δίκαιος κριτὴς οὔθʼ ὑπὸ δικαίων εὐθύνεται οὔτε παρʼ ἀδίκοις δικάζεται.
Just as a true balance is neither corrected by a true balance nor judged by a false one, so also the just judge is neither corrected by just men nor judged by unjust men.
§4949. (59).
49. (59).
Ὥσπερ τὸ εὐθὺ εὐθέος οὐ δεῖται, οὕτως οὐδὲ τὸ δίκαιον δικαίου.
Just as the straight does not need the straight, so neither does the just need the just.
§5050. (60).
50. (60).
Μὴ πρότερον 〈ἐν〉 ἑτέρῳ δικαστηρίῳ δικάσῃς, πρὶν 〈ἂν〉 αὐτὸς παρὰ τῇ δίκῃ κριθῇς.
Do not judge in another court before you yourself have been judged by Justice.
§5151. (61).
51. (61).
Εἰ βούλει τὰς κρίσεις δικαίας ποιεῖσθαι, μηδένα τῶν δικαζομένων καὶ δικαιολογούντων ἐπιγίγνωσκε, ἀλλʼ αὐτὴν τὴν δίκην.
If you wish to make your judgments just, take no notice of any of those who are on trial or presenting their cases, but of justice itself.
§5252. (62).
52. (62).
Ἥκιστα πταίσεις ἐν ταῖς κρίσεσιν, ἐὰν αὐτὸς ἐν τῷ βίῳ ἄπταιστος διατελῇς.
You will stumble least in your judgments if you yourself continue without stumbling in your life.
§5353. (63).
53. (63).
Ἄμεινον δικαίως κρίναντα πρὸς τοῦ καταδικασθέντος ἀδίκως μεμφθῆναι ἢ ἀδίκως κρίναντα παρὰ τῇ φύσει δικαίως ψέγεσθαι.
It is better, having judged justly, to be blamed unjustly by the one condemned, than, having judged unjustly, to be blamed justly by nature.
§5454. (64).
54. (64).
Καθάπερ ἡ τὸν χρυσὸν δοκιμάζουσα λίθος οὐκέτι καὶ αὐτὴ πρὸς τοῦ χρυσοῦ δοκιμάζεται, οὕτω καὶ ὁ τὸ κριτήριον ἔχων.
Just as the touchstone that tests gold is not itself tested by the gold, so also is he who possesses the standard of judgment.
§5555. (65).
55. (65).
Αἰσχρὸν τὸν δικαστὴν πρὸς ἑτέρων δικάζεσθαι.
It is shameful for the judge to be judged by others.
§5656. (66).
56. (66).
Καθάπερ ὀρθοῦ οὐδὲν ὀρθότερον, οὕτως οὐδὲ δικαίου οὐδὲν δικαιότερον.
Just as nothing is straighter than the straight, so nothing is more just than the just.
§57Ἐπικτήτου. 57. (78).
Of Epictetus. 57. (78).
Ὥσπερ οἱ ἐπὶ τῶν λιμένων πυρσοὶ διʼ ὀλίγων φρυγάνων πολλὴν ἀνάψαντες φλόγα ταῖς ἀλωμέναις ἀνὰ τὸ πέλαγος ναυσὶν ἱκανὴν ἐργάζονται βοήθειαν, οὕτω καὶ ἀνὴρ λαμπρὸς ἐν πόλει χειμαζομένῃ αὐτὸς ὀλίγοις ἀρκούμενος μεγάλα τοὺς πολίτας εὐεργετεῖ.
Just as harbor beacons, having kindled a great flame from a few twigs, provide sufficient help to ships wandering on the sea, so also a brilliant man in a storm-tossed city, being himself content with little, greatly benefits the citizens.
§58Ἐπικτήτου. 58. (79), Ὥσπερ εἰ ναῦν κυβερνᾶν ἐπεχείρεις, πάντως ἂν τὴν κυβερνητικὴν ἐξεμάθανες τέχνην, ἐξέσται γάρ σοι, ὥσπερ ἐξεμάνθανες ἐκεῖσε πᾶσαν, οὕτω κἀνθάδε πᾶσαν κυβερνᾶν πόλιν.
Of Epictetus. 58. (79), Just as if you were attempting to pilot a ship, you would by all means have thoroughly learned the art of piloting—for it will be possible for you, just as you learned the whole art there, so also here to pilot the whole city.
§59Τοῦ αὐτοῦ. 59. (80).
Of the same. 59. (80).
Εἰ πρόκειταί σοι τὴν πόλιν ἀναθήμασι κοσμεῖν, σεαυτῷ πρῶτον ἀνάθες τὸ κάλλιστον ἡμερότητος καὶ δικαιοσύνης καὶ εὐποιίας ἀνάθημα.
If you intend to adorn the city with dedications, first dedicate in yourself the most beautiful dedication of gentleness, justice, and beneficence.
§60Τοῦ αὐτοῦ 60. (81).
Of the same 60. (81).
Εὐποιήσεις σὺ τὰ μέγιστα τὴν πόλιν, εἰ μὴ τοὺς ὀρόφους ὑψώσεις, ἀλλὰ τὰς ψυχὰς αὐξήσεις.
You will do the greatest good to the city, not if you raise the roofs, but if you enlarge the souls.
ἄμεινον γὰρ ἐν μικροῖς οἰκήμασι μεγάλας οἰκεῖν ψυχὰς ἢ ἐν μεγάλαις οἰκίαις ταπεινὰ φωλεύειν ἀνδράποδα.
For it is better for great souls to dwell in small dwellings than for low slaves to lurk in large houses.
§61Τοῦ αὐτοῦ. 61. (82).
Of the same. 61. (82).
Μὴ τοῖς ἐξ Εὐβοίας καὶ Σπάρτης λίθοις τοὺς τοίχους τῆς κατασκευῆς ποίκιλλε, ἀλλὰ γὰρ τῇ ἐκ τῆς Ἐλλάδος παιδείᾳ τὰ στέρνα τῶν πολιτῶν καὶ τῶν πολιτευομένων διακόσμει.
Do not variegate the walls of your building with stones from Euboea and Sparta, but rather adorn the breasts of the citizens and those who govern with the education that comes from Greece.
γνώμαις γὰρ ἀνδρῶν εὖ οἰκοῦνται πόλεις, ἀλλʼ οὐ λίθοις καὶ ξύλοις.
For cities are well-administered by the judgments of men, but not by stones and woods.
§62Τοῦ αὐτοῦ. 62. (83).
Of the same. 62. (83).
Ὥσπερ, εἰ λέοντας ἐβούλου τρέφειν, οὐκ ἄν σοι τῆς πολυτελείας τῶν ζωγρείων ἔμελεν, ἀλλὰ τῆς πράξεως τῶν ζῴων· οὕτως, εἰ πολιτῶν πειρᾷ προίστασθαι, μὴ τοσοῦτον τῆς πολυτελείας τῶν ἀναστημάτων φρόντιζε, ὁπόσον τῆς ἀνδρείας τῶν ἐνδιατριβότεν ἐπιμελοῦ.
Just as, if you wished to rear lions, you would not care about the luxury of their cages, but about the activity of the animals; so, if you attempt to preside over citizens, do not care so much for the luxury of the buildings, but look after the courage of those who dwell in them.
§63Τοῦ αὐτοῦ. 63. (84).
Of the same. 63. (84).
Καθάπερ ἀγαθὸς πωλοδάμνης οὐ τῶν πώλων τοὺς μὲν ἀγαθοὺς τρέφει, τοὺς δὲ δυσηνίους λιμώττειν ἐᾷ, ἀλλὰ τρέφει μὲν ἐπʼ ἴσης ἄμφω, κολάζει δὲ μᾶλλον θάτερον ἐξισοῦν θατέρῳ βιαζόμενος μέρει· οὕτω καὶ κηδεμονικὸς ἀνὴρ καὶ πολιτικῆς ἐπιστήμων δυνάμεως τῶν πολιτῶν τοὺς μὲν εὐγνώμονας ποιεῖν ἐπιχειρεῖ, τοὺς δὲ ἔμπαλιν οὐ καθάπαξ διαφθείρεσθαι, ἀλλὰ τροφῆς μὲν ἀμφοῖν ἥκιστα φθονεῖ, παιδεύει δὲ καὶ σφοδρότερον ἐπισπέρχει τὸν ἀντιβαίνοντα τῷ λόγῳ καὶ τῷ νόμῳ.
Just as a good horse-trainer does not feed the good colts and let the hard-to-manage ones starve, but feeds both equally, while punishing the latter more, forcing it to become equal to the other; so also a caring man and one skilled in political power attempts to make some of the citizens sensible, and not to let the opposite ones be utterly destroyed, but least of all begrudges food to both, while he educates and more vigorously urges on the one who opposes reason and law.
§64Τοῦ αὐτοῦ. 64. (85).
Of the same. 64. (85).
Καθάπερ οὔτε κλαγγῇ χὴν οὔτε βληχῇ καταπλήσσεται πρόβατον, οὕτω μηδὲ πλήθους ἀνοήτου σε δεδιττέσθω φωνή.
Just as neither a goose is frightened by cackling nor a sheep by bleating, so let not the voice of an unthinking multitude terrify you.
§65Τοῦ αὐτοῦ. 65. (86).
Of the same. 65. (86).
Ὥσπερ πλῆθος ἀκρίτως αἰτοῦν τί σε τῶν ἰδίων οὐ δυσωπεῖ, οὕτω μηδὲ ὄχλον ἀδίκως σε δυσωποῦντα διατραπῇς.
Just as a multitude asking for something of your own without judgment does not embarrass you, so do not be turned aside by a crowd that unjustly importunes you.
§66Τοῦ αὐτοῦ. 66. (87).
Of the same. 66. (87).
Ὅπερ ἐπιβάλλει τῇ πόλει, τοῦτο εἴσφερε φθάνων· καὶ οὐδέποτε αἰτηθήσῃ τὰ μὴ ἐπιβάλλοντα.
What is your duty to the city, contribute this beforehand; and you will never be asked for what is not your duty.
§67Τοῦ αὐτοῦ. 67. (88).
Of the same. 67. (88).
Ὥσπερ ὁ ἥλιος οὐ περιμένει λιτὰς καὶ γοητείας, ἵνʼ ἀνατείλῃ, ἀλλʼ εὐθὺς λάμπει καὶ πρὸς ἁπάντων ἀσπάζεται, οὕτω μηδὲ σὺ περίμενε κρότους καὶ ψόφους καὶ ἐπαίνους, ἵνʼ εὐποιήσῃς, ἀλλʼ ἑκοντὴς εὐεργέτει καὶ ἴσα τῷ ἡλίῳ φιληθήσῃ.
Just as the sun does not wait for prayers and incantations in order to rise, but straightway shines and is welcomed by all, so do not wait for applause and noise and praises in order to do good, but benefit willingly and you will be loved just as the sun is.