Volume 1 - Discourses - Books I - II - College of Stoic Philosophers

BOOK II. xvi. 2-9one of us when by himself practise answering facts inthe way he answers these questions? "So it is day,,is it?" "Yes." "What then? Is itnight?""What "No."then? Is the number of the stars even?"" I cannot* say/' When you are shown money,have you practised giving the proper answer, namely,that it is not a good thing? Have you trainedyourself in answers of this kind., or merely to answersophisms ? Why, then, are you surprised to findthat in the fields in which you have practised yousurpass yourself, but in that in which you have notpractised you remain the same ? For whyis it thatthe orator, although he knows that he has composeda good speech, has memorized what he has writtenand isbringing a pleasing voice to his task, is stillanxious despite all that? Because he is not satisfiedwith the mere practice of oratory. What, then,does he want? Fie wants to be praised by hisaudience. Now he has trained himself with a view tobeing able to practise oratory, but he has not trainedhimself with reference to praise and blame. Forwhen did he ever hear any one say what praise is,what blame is, and what is the nature of each ?What kinds of praise are to be sought, and whatkinds of blame are to be avoided ? And when didhe ever go through this course of training in accordancewith these principles? Why, then, are youany longer surprised because he surpasses all others inthe field in which he has studied, but in that in whichhe has not practised he is no better than the multitude? He is like a citharoede who knows how toplay to the harp, sings well, has a beautiful flowinggown, and still trembles when he comes upon thestage for all that has ; gone before he knows, but323