Isocrates, To Nicocles, George Norlin (Translator), 32

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[32] Consider it more important to leave to your children a good name than great riches; for riches endure for a day, a good name for all time; a good name may bring wealth,¹ but wealth cannot buy a good name; wealth comes even to men of no account, but a good name can only be acquired by men of superior merit.² Be sumptuous in your dress and personal adornment, but simple and severe, as befits a king, in your other habits, that those who see you may judge from your appearance that you are worthy of your office, and that those who are intimate with you may form the same opinion from your strength of soul.

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

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Current edition Perseus

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

Editions (1)

Πρὸς Νικόκλεα Perseus (Isocrates, Vol. 1. Norlin, George, editor. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd., 1928 (printing).) — 32 focus

[32] περὶ πλείονος ποιοῦ δόξαν καλὴν ἢ πλοῦτον μέγαν τοῖς παισὶ καταλιπεῖν· ὁ μὲν γὰρ θνητός, ἡ δʼ ἀθάνατος, καὶ δόξῃ μὲν χρήματα κτητά, δόξα δὲ χρημάτων οὐκ ὠνητή, καὶ τὰ μὲν καὶ φαύλοις παραγίγνεται, τὴν δʼ οὐχ οἷόν τε ἀλλʼ ἢ τοὺς διενεγκόντας κτήσασθαι. τρύφα μὲν ἐν ταῖς ἐσθῆσι καὶ τοῖς περὶ τὸ σῶμα κόσμοις, καρτέρει δὲ ὡς χρὴ τοὺς βασιλεύοντας ἐν τοῖς ἄλλοις ἐπιτηδεύμασιν, ἵνʼ οἱ μὲν ὁρῶντες διὰ τὴν ὄψιν ἄξιόν σε τῆς ἀρχῆς εἶναι νομίζωσιν, οἱ δὲ συνόντες διὰ τὴν τῆς ψυχῆς ῥώμην τὴν αὐτὴν ἐκείνοις γνώμην ἔχωσιν.

Notes on the current edition

To Nicocles

1. Cf. Isoc. 3.50 .

2. It is a commonplace of Greek ethics that “virtue” (wisdom, justice, temperance) and the good name which it ensures are enduring possessions in which the worthy only may share, as distinguished from such transitory goods as wealth, power, beauty, etc., which are shared even by the base. Cf. 30; Isoc. 1.6 , 19, 38; Isoc. 2.32 ; Isoc. 5.135 ff.

Isocrates To Nicocles 32

George Norlin (Translator)

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