Counsels to a politician, 97. In the administration of public
affairs, be guided by reason and judgment, 98. Act not from
vain-glory, emulation, or want of other employment, 98, 99.
Accommodate yourself to the temper and disposition of the citizens,
99, 100. Having obtained power among the people, endeavor to reform
their disposition, 101. Do not give them an opportunity of finding
fault with your own life or manners, 102. Beware of little faults,
102, 103. Cultivate the graces of speech, 104, 105. Orators sway the
multitude, as in the case of Pericles, 106, 107. What the speech of
a statesman should be, 107. How to use satire and invective, 108,
109. Think before you speak, and speak right on, 110. Speak in full,
round tones, 110, 111. Two ways of entering on public life, 111.
First, with a bold, vigorous hand, like Aratus, Alcibiades, Scipio,
Pompey, &c., 112. Secondly, by procuring the assistance of some man
of influence and authority, 114. Be careful in the choice of your
man, lest your success inspire him with jealousy, 115. Pompey owed
his success to Sylla, 115. Avoid flatterers and favorites, 116. Do
not gratify friends in derogation of law and right, 117. Grant favors
to friends when consistent with duty and public advantage, 120. Be
generous and just towards your enemies, 121, 123. Let patriotism
overshadow all private griefs, 122. How to meet invective, 124. Allow
others to assist in public affairs, 128. Undertake nothing for which
you lack qualification, 128, 129. Keep the helm in your own hand,
but carry yourself with moderation; do not forget the limits of your
power, 130, 131. As Greece is under the Roman sway, it is well to
remember that fact, and to cultivate the favor of some powerful man
at Rome, 132. Yet you should avoid, as much as possible, foreign
interference, 133. Let the affairs of every city be settled by its
own citizens, 133. When commotions arise, try to compose them, 134.
One man’s virtue has often saved a state, 135. Treat colleagues in
office with honor and respect, 136. Plutarch relates an incident in
his own life, 137. Honor the magistrates, even if you are personally
their superior, 138. If a magistrate should be remiss in duty, do
what you can to supply the defect, 139. Yield to the multitude in
small things, that you may hinder their misdoings in greater, 140.
When the people desire something which would be injurious to the
state, use evasion and delay, 141. When about to undertake some
difficult affair, secure the assistance of well-qualified persons,
rather than of persons like yourself, 142. Divest yourself of the
desire for riches, and of a mean, ignoble ambition, 143, 144. Decline
not the honors which the people are disposed to bestow, 145, 146. The
good-will of the people towards a public servant helps him greatly
in the discharge of his duty, 147. If you are rich, and can give
largesses to the people, bestow them, but with due care, 148. If
you are poor, hesitate not to confess it, and incur no expense you
cannot afford, 149, 150. In case of a sedition, try to compose it,
152. Especially try to prevent seditions and commotions, 153. In the
present state of Greece, subject to the will of a Roman proconsul, no
good can arise from public commotions, 154.
WHICH ARE THE MOST CRAFTY, WATER-ANIMALS OR THOSE CREATURES THAT
BREED UPON THE LAND?