Book 2
21.9
The use of maxims is suitable for one who is advanced in years, and in regard to things in which one has experience; since the use of maxims before such an age is unseemly, as also is story-telling; and to speak about things of which one has no experience shows foolishness and lack of education. A sufficient proof of this is that rustics especially are fond of coining maxims and ready to make display of them.
21.10
To express in general terms what is not general is especially suitable in complaint or exaggeration, and then either at the beginning or after the demonstration.
21.11
One should even make use of common and frequently quoted maxims, if they are useful; for because they are common, they seem to be true, since all as it were acknowledge them as such; for instance, one who is exhorting his soldiers to brave danger before having sacrificed may say, The best of omens is to defend one's country,Hom. Il. 12.243. and if they are inferior in numbers, The chances of war are the same for both,Hom. Il. 18.309. and if advising them to destroy the children of the enemy even though they are innocent of wrong, Foolish is he who, having slain the father, suffers the children to live.1.15.14.
21.12
Further, some proverbs are also maxims; for example, An Attic neighbor.Cf. Thuc. 1.70, where the Corinthians complain of the lack of energy shown by the Spartans, as compared with their own restless and troublesome neighbors, the Athenians.
