Sunday, February 11, 2024
Stand Up
Stobaeus, Anthology 3.23.8 (vol. III, p. 597 Hense; tr. John Ferguson):
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Socrates used to say that if in the theatre there were an announcement asking for the shoemakers to stand up, they and only they would do so. So with the bronze-smiths, the weavers and all the other professional groups. But if the announcement were 'Will the intelligent, or the honest, people present stand up?' the whole theatre would rise. The greatest damage is done by the fact that the majority think that they are intelligent and are not.
Σωκράτης ἔλεγεν, εἴ τις ἐν θεάτρῳ ὑποκηρύττοι ἀνίστασθαι τοὺς σκυτοτόμους, ἐκείνους μόνους ἀναστήσεσθαι, ὁμοίως εἰ τοὺς χαλκοτύπους, τοὺς ὑφάντας, τοὺς ἄλλους κατὰ γένος· εἰ δὲ τοὺς φρονίμους ἢ δικαίους, πάντας ἀναστήσεσθαι. καὶ ἔστιν ἐν βίῳ βλάπτον μάλιστα τὸ ἀνοήτους ὄντας τοὺς πολλοὺς οἴεσθαι φρονίμους εἶναι.
