Wider Ancient Witness Archive · 4.2 Greek and Greco-Roman Moral Wisdom Background Archive
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Isocrates — To Demonicus
This text is included as a comparative, historical, philosophical, ritual, textual, or fragmentary witness. It is not presented as part of the Restored Bible.
Isocrates — To Demonicus
[Selected ethical counsels from the address to the young Demonicus.]
In many things, Demonicus, the ways of the good and the wicked differ; but most of all in their friendships. Honor the gods always, but especially with the city; for so you will be thought both to sacrifice to the gods and to abide by the laws.
Be such toward your parents as you would wish your own children to be toward you. Practice self-control in all the things by which it is shameful for the soul to be ruled: gain, anger, pleasure, and pain. Make no friend in haste, but when you have made one, do not cast him off. Train your body not by the exercises that make for strength, but by those that make for health.
Pursue the enjoyments that come from honest toil, for pleasures bought by shame bring grief. Be courteous in manner, and warm in friendship. Say nothing of which you are not sure; consider not only that a thing is true, but whether it is fitting to say. Let your speech follow upon thought.
Guard above all your reputation for honor; for it is better to die with a good name than to live in disgrace. Regard nothing in human life as secure; so you will not rejoice or grieve overmuch. Be slow to deliberate, but quick to carry out what you have resolved. The best thing the gods give is good fortune; the best thing within ourselves is good judgment. What is shameful to do, never think it honorable to say.
Practice these things, and you will become what I would have you be; and you will not only be honored by others, but will hold fast the friends you have, and gain a good name, which is a better inheritance than great wealth; for wealth passes away, but a noble name endures.