12.16
For they obey neither laws nor good words, for because they toil not, they do not discover what a good man ought to be, so that they cannot be pious or wise men; and being without education they constantly find fault with the educated.
12.17
In these men’s hands, therefore, nothing can prosper. All discoveries that have benefited mankind are due to the better sort.The argument, such as it is, would be better with the toilers, for the better sort, and the next words would then be those who are willing to toil, therefore, are the better men. Now the better sort are those who are willing to toil. And this has been proved by a great example.
12.18
For among the ancients the companions of Cheiron to whom I referred learnt many noble lessons in their youth, beginning with hunting; from these lessons there sprang in them great virtue, for which they are admired even today. That all desire Virtue is obvious, but because they must toil if they are to gain her, the many fall away.
12.19
For the achievement of her is hidden in obscurity, whereas the toils inseparable from herαὐτῷ, it, i.e., the achievement, would be an improvement. are manifest.
12.19
It may be that, if her body were visible, men would be less careless of virtue, knowing that she sees them as clearly as they see her.
12.20
For when he is seen by his beloved every man rises above himself and shrinks from what is ugly and evil in word or deed, for fear of being seen by him.
12.21
But in the presence of Virtue men do many evil and ugly things, supposing that they are not regarded by her because they do not see her. Yet she is present everywhere because she is immortal, and she honours those who are good to her, but casts off the bad. Therefore, if men knew that she is watching them, they would be impatient to undergo the toils and the discipline by which she is hardly to be captured, and would achieve her.
