Book 1, Chapter 7

Let us here turn and consider whether by deterring his associates from quackery and false seeming he did not directly stimulate them to the pursuit of virtue. ¹ He used often to say there was no better road to renown than the one by which a man became good at that wherein he desired to be reputed good. ² The truth of the concept he enforced as follows: "Let us reflect on what a man would be driven to do who wanted to be thought a good flute player, without really being so. He would be forced to imitate the good flute player in the externals of his art, would he not? and first or all, seeing that these artists always have a splendid equipment, ³ and travel about with a long train of attendants, he must have the same; in the next place, they can command the plaudits of a multitude, he therefore must pack a conclave of clackers. But one thing is clear: nothing must induce him to give a performance, or he will be exposed at once, and find himself a laughing-stock not only as a sorry sort of flute player, but as a wretched imposter. And now he has a host of expenses to meet; and not one advantage to be reaped; and worse than all his evil reputation. What is left him but to lead a life stale and unprofitable, the scorn and mockery of men? Let us try another case. Suppose a man wished to be thought a good general or a good pilot, though he were really nothing of the sort, let us picture to our minds how it will fare with him. Of two misfortunes one: either with a strong desire to be thought proficient in these matters, he will fail to get others to agree with him, which will be bad enough; or he will succeed, with worse result; since it stands to reason that anyone appointed to work a vessel or lead an army without the requisite knowledge will speedily ruin a number of people whom he least desires to hurt, and will make but a sorry exit from the stage himself." Thus first by one instance and then another would he demonstrate the unprofitableness of trying to appear rich, or courageous, or strong, without really being the thing pretended. "You are sure sooner or later to have commands laid upon you beyond your power to execute, and failing just where you are credited with capacity, the world will give you no commiseration." "I call that man a cheat, and a great cheat too," he would say, "who gets money or goods out of some one by persuasion, and defrauds him; but of all imposters he surely is the biggest who can delude people into thinking that he is fit to lead the state, when all the while he is a worthless creature." ⁴

Let us now consider whether he encouraged his associates to pursue virtue by discouraging fakery and false appearances. ¹ He often said that the best way to earn a good reputation was to become good at whatever one wanted to be known for. ² He explained the truth of this idea as follows: "Consider what a man would have to do if he wanted to be thought a good flute player without really being one. He would have to imitate the outward signs of a good flute player's art, wouldn't he? First, these artists always have splendid equipment ³ and travel with a large group of attendants. So he would have to do the same. Next, they can draw applause from a crowd, so he would have to fill the audience with hired applauders. But one thing is clear: nothing must persuade him to perform. If he did, he would be exposed at once and become a laughingstock. People would laugh at him not only as a poor flute player but also as a miserable impostor. And now he has many expenses to meet and no benefit to gain. Worst of all, he has a bad reputation. What can he do but lead a stale, unprofitable life, scorned and mocked by others? "Let us try another example. Suppose a man wanted to be thought a good general or a good ship's pilot, though he was really neither. Let us imagine what would happen to him. One of two misfortunes would follow. He might strongly desire to be thought skilled in these matters but fail to convince others, which would be bad enough. Or he might succeed, with a worse result. For anyone appointed to steer a ship or lead an army without the necessary knowledge will obviously soon ruin many people he least wants to hurt. He himself will also come to a sorry end." With one example after another, he showed how pointless it was to appear rich, courageous, or strong without actually being so. "Sooner or later, you are sure to be ordered to do things beyond your ability. When you fail at the very task people think you can do, the world will show you no pity." "I call a man a cheat, and a great cheat at that," he would say, "if he persuades someone to give him money or goods and then defrauds him. But the greatest impostor of all is surely the man who fools people into thinking he is fit to lead the state, when he is really a worthless creature." ⁴