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Moreover, as a supplement to this take the declaration of Diogenes,Quoted again in Moralia, 21 E. which is thoroughly philosophic and statesmanlike: How shall I defend myself against my enemy ? By proving yourself good and honourable. Men are much distressed when they see their enemies’ horses winning renown or their dogs gaining approval. At the sight of a well-tilled field or a flourishing garden they groan. What, think you, would be their state of mind if you were to show yourself to be an honest, sensible man and a useful citizen, of high repute in speech, clean in actions, orderly in living, Reaping the deep-sown furrow of your mind From which all goodly counsels spring? Aeschylus Seven against Thebes, 593; quoted also in Moralia, 32 D, 186 B, and Life of Aristides, chap. iii. (p. 320 B). Pindar Pindar, Frag. 229 (ed. Christ). says, The vanquished are bound In the fetters of silence profound, not absolutely or universally, however, but only those who realize that they are outdone by their enemies in diligence, goodness, magnanimity, kindly deeds, and good works. These are the things which, as Demosthenes Demosthenes, Or. xix. (De falsa legatione) 208 (p. 406). puts it, retard the tongue, stop the mouth, constrict the throat, and leave one with nothing to say. Be thou unlike the base; this thou canst do. Euripides, Orestes, 251. If you wish to distress the man who hates you, do not revile him as lewd, effeminate, licentious, vulgar, Pindar, Frag. 229 (ed. Christ). d Demosthenes, Or. xix. (De falsa legatione) 208 (p. 406). e Euripides, Orestes, 251. or illiberal, but be a man yourself, show self-control, be truthful, and treat with kindness and justice those who have to deal with you. And if you are led into reviling, remove yourself as far as possible from the things for which you revile him. Enter within the portals of your own soul, look about to see if there be any rottenness there, lest some vice lurking somewhere within whisper to you the words of the tragedian: Wouldst thou heal others, full of sores thyself ? From an unknown play of Euripides; cf. Nauck, Trag. Graec. Frag., Euripides, No. 1086; Plutarch quotes the line also in Moralia 1 F, 481 A, and 1110 E. If you call your enemy uneducated, strive to intensify in yourself the love of learning and industry; if you call him a coward, rouse even more your selfreliance and manliness; if you call him unchaste and licentious, obliterate from your soul whatever trace of devotion to pleasure may be lurking there unperceived. For there is nothing more disgraceful or painful than evil-speaking that recoils upon its author. So reflected light appears to be the more troublesome in cases of weak eyesight, and the same is true of censures that by the truth are brought back upon the very persons who are responsible for them. For as surely the north-east wind Proverbial; cf. Aristotle, Problem. 26. 1; Theophrastus, De ventis, p. 410; Pliny, Nat. Hist.ii. 48; Plutarch, Moralia, 823 B, and Nauck, Trag. Graec. Frag., Adespota, No. 75. brings the clouds, so surely does a bad life bring revilings upon itself.
