Isocrates, To Demonicus, George Norlin (Translator), 42

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

← Previous Next →

[42] Consider that nothing in human life is stable;¹ for then you will not exult overmuch in prosperity, nor grieve overmuch in adversity.² Rejoice over the good things which come to you, but grieve in moderation over the evils which befall you, and in either case do not expose your heart to others;³ for it were strange to hide away one’s treasure in the house, and yet walk about laying bare one’s feelings to the world.

To Demonicus. Isocrates. George Norlin (Translator). Cambridge, MA. 1928.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Perseus

To Demonicus (English) (Isocrates, Vol. 1. Norlin, George, translator. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd., 1928 (printing).)

Editions (1)

Πρὸς Δημόνικον Perseus (Isocrates, Vol. 1. Norlin, George, editor. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd., 1928 (printing).) — 42 focus

[42] νόμιζε μηδὲν εἶναι τῶν ἀνθρωπίνων βέβαιον· οὕτω γὰρ οὔτʼ εὐτυχῶν ἔσει περιχαρὴς οὔτε δυστυχῶν περίλυπος. χαῖρε μὲν ἐπὶ τοῖς συμβαίνουσι τῶν ἀγαθῶν, λυποῦ δὲ μετρίως ἐπὶ τοῖς γιγνομένοις τῶν κακῶν, γίγνου δὲ τοῖς ἄλλοις μηδʼ ἐν ἑτέροις ὢν κατάδηλος· ἄτοπον γὰρ τὴν μὲν οὐσίαν ἐν ταῖς οἰκίαις ἀποκρύπτειν, τὴν δὲ διάνοιαν φανερὰν ἔχοντα περιπατεῖν.

Notes on the current edition

To Demonicus

1. Cf. Isoc. 1.29 ; Theog. 585 .

2. Cf. Isoc. 2.39 ; Isoc. 12.30 ; Theog. 591 ff. : τολμᾶν χρή, τὰ διδοῦσι θεοὶ θνητοῖσι βροτοῖσιν, ῥηιδίως δὲ φέρειν ἀμφοτέρων τὸ λάχος, μήτο κακοῖσιν ἀσῶντα λίην φρένα, μήτ′ ἀγαθοῖσιν τερφθέντ′ ἐξαπίνης, πρὶν τέλος ἄκρον ἰδεῖν. and Kipling: “If you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat these two imposters just the same.”

3. Cf. Theog. 1162 .

Isocrates To Demonicus 42

George Norlin (Translator)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition Perseus

Notes on the current edition

Stable identifiers