Plutarch, Aquane an ignis sit utilior, Harold Cherniss (Translator), William C. Helmbold (Translator), 11

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[11] ¹ For to say that man ever exists without fire is absurd, nor can he exist at all without it; but there are differences in kind as in other things. As for men who have no need of fire from without, they have this experience not because they do not need it, but because their own heat more than suffices. This must be predicated also of other animals which do not need fire.² So that in this respect, too, the use of fire is probably superior. Water is never in such a condition as to need no external support, but fire is self-sufficient because of its great excellence. As, then, a general is better who manages the affairs of his city so that it needs no allies from without, so also an element is superior which does not often need external assistance.

Yet, to take the opposite point of view, that is more useful which we alone make great use of, since by the powers of our reason we are able to choose what is better. For what is more useful and more profitable to man than reason? But brute beasts do not have it. What then? Is what has been discovered by the foresight of our better part for this reason less useful?

Aquane an ignis sit utilior. Plutarch. Harold Cherniss (Translator), William C. Helmbold (Translator). Cambridge, MA. 1957.

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Current edition Perseus

Whether fire or water is most useful (English) (Plutarch. Moralia, Vol. XII. Cherniss, Harold, and Helmbold, William C., translators. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann Ltd., 1957 (printing).)

Editions (1)

Περὶ τοῦ πότερον ὕδωρ ἢ πῦρ χρησιμώτερον Perseus (Plutarch. Plutarchi Chaeronensis Moralia, Vol. VI. Vernardakēs, Grēgorios N., editor. Leipzig: Teubner, 1895.) — 11 focus

[11] τὸ γὰρ λέγειν ὡς ἔστι ποτὲ ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἄνευ πυρὸς οὐδʼ ὅλως δύναται γενέσθαι ὁ ἄνθρωπος. διαφοραὶ δʼ εἰσὶν ἐν γένει καθάπερ καὶ ἐν ἄλλοις. καὶ τὴν θάλατταν ἡ θερμότης ὠφελιμωτέραν ἐποίησεν, ὡς μᾶλλον καταθερῆ τῶν ὑδάτων, 20 ἐπεὶ κατʼ αὑτό γε τῶν λοιπῶν οὐδὲν διέφερε. καὶ οἱ μὴ προσδεόμενοι δὲ τοῦ ἔξωθεν πυρὸς οὐχ ὡς ἀπροσδεεῖς τοῦτο πάσχουσιν, ἀλλὰ περιουσίᾳ καὶ πλεονασμῷ τοῦ ἐν αὑτοῖς θερμοῦ· ὥστε καὶ κατὰ τοῦθʼ ὑπερέχειν τὴν τοῦ πυρὸς χρείαν, ὡς εἰκός. τὸ μὲν ὕδωρ οὐδέποτε τοιοῦτον, ὥστε μὴ δεῖσθαι 958c τῶν ἐκτός, τὸ δὲ πῦρ ὑπʼ ἀρετῆς πολλῆς καὶ αὔταρκες, ὡς οὖν στρατηγὸς ἀμείνων ὁ παρασκευάσας 5 τὴν πόλιν μὴ δεῖσθαι τῶν ἔξωθεν συμμάχων, οὕτω καὶ στοιχεῖον τὸ τῆς ἔξωθεν ἐπικουρίας παρέχον πολλάκις μὴ δεόμενον ὑπερέχον. τοῦτο ῥητέον καὶ περὶ τῶν ἄλλων ζῴων, ὅσα μὴ πυρὸς δεῖται. καίτοι γʼ εἰς τοὐναντίον λάβοι τις ἄν, τὸ χρησιμώτερον 10 εἶναι τοῦτο, ᾧ χρώμεθα μόνοι οἱ καὶ μάλιστα τὸ βέλτιον ἐκ λογισμοῦ λαβεῖν δυνάμενοι· ἐπεὶ τί λόγου χρησιμώτερον ἢ μᾶλλον ἀνθρώποις λυσιτελέστερον; 958d ἀλλʼ οὐ πάρεστι τοῖς ἀλόγοις. τί οὖν; διὰ τοῦθʼ ἧττον ὠφέλιμον ἐκ τῆς προνοίας τοῦ βελτίονος 15 εὑρεθέν;

Translations (1)

Whether water or fire be most useful. Perseus (Plutarch. Plutarch's Morals, Vol. V. Goodwin, William W., editor; Fetherston, F., translator. Boston: Little, Brown, and Company, 1874.) — 11 focus

[11] Then to say that man did once subsist without fire is a mistake, it being impossible that man should be without it. But we must acknowledge there are differences in this kind, as well as in other things. Thus heat has rendered the sea more beneficial, as having a greater portion of heat in it than other waters, from which it otherwise differs not at all. And as for those that have no need of outward fire, they do not avoid it because they do not want it, but because they abound in heat within themselves. So that the use of fire seems to be more excellent in this, that water is never in such a condition as not to want external aids, but fire, endued with manifold virtues, contents itself with its own sufficiency. Therefore, as he is the best commander who so manages the affairs of his city as not to have any need of foreign assistance, so that element excels that supplies us in such a manner as to want the least of other helps from without. And this is to be said of other creatures that have no need of external heat.

Now, to argue on the other side, a man may say thus, that whatever we singly and alone make use of is more profitable, since we are by our reason best fitted to choose what is best. For what is more useful and beneficial to us than reason? And yet brute animals want fire. What then? Is it the less profitable, because found out by foresight of a higher power?

Notes on the current edition

Whether fire or water is most useful

1. The order of the sentences in this chapter, in addition to its many other corruptions, has been badly disturbed.

2. This clause was transferred here by the editor from 958 c infra at the end of the paragraph.

Plutarch Aquane an ignis sit utilior 11

Harold Cherniss (Translator), William C. Helmbold (Translator)

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