Isocrates, To Philip, George Norlin (Translator), 12

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[12] Nevertheless, disregarding all these difficulties, I have become so ambitious in my old age that I have determined by addressing my discourse to you at the same time to set an example to my disciples and make it evident to them that to burden our national assemblies with oratory and to address all the people who there throng together is, in reality, to address no one at all;¹ that such speeches are quite as ineffectual as the legal codes and constitutions² drawn up by the sophists;

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

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Current edition Perseus

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

Editions (1)

Φίλιππος Perseus (Isocrates, Vol. 1. Norlin, George, editor. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd., 1928 (printing).) — 12 focus

[12] ἀλλʼ ὅμως ἐγὼ ταύτας τὰς δυσχερείας ὑπεριδὼν οὕτως ἐπὶ γήρως γέγονα φιλότιμος, ὥστʼ ἠβουλήθην ἅμα τοῖς πρὸς σὲ λεγομένοις καὶ τοῖς μετʼ ἐμοῦ διατρίψασιν ὑποδεῖξαι καὶ ποιῆσαι φανερόν, ὅτι τὸ μὲν ταῖς πανηγύρεσιν ἐνοχλεῖν καὶ πρὸς ἅπαντας λέγειν τοὺς συντρέχοντας ἐν αὐταῖς πρὸς οὐδένα λέγειν ἐστίν, ἀλλʼ ὁμοίως οἱ τοιοῦτοι τῶν λόγων ἄκυροι τυγχάνουσιν ὄντες τοῖς νόμοις καὶ ταῖς πολιτείαις ταῖς ὑπὸ τῶν σοφιστῶν γεγραμμέναις,

Notes on the current edition

To Philip

1. The same sentiment is expressed in Isoc. Letter 1.6-7 . See General Introd. pp. xxxvi. ff.

2. Possibly a disparagement of Plato’s Republic and Laws (see Blass, Die attische Beredsamkeit, ii. p. 4), but more probably of Isocrates’ unfriendly rival, Antisthenes, who, according to Diog. Laert. 6.1.16 , wrote a work On Law, or the Constitution of a State.

Isocrates To Philip 12

George Norlin (Translator)

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