226 l/-95
which produces what is fitting by means of toil in a manner which is
unapprehensive; but none of the base is unapprehensive with regard
to toil.
Nor does any of the base make the estimation of virtue which is in
accordance with its value; for the estimation is a virtuous thing, since it is
knowledge in accordance with which we think we are acquiring something
worth considering. But none of the virtuous things belongs to the base,
so that none of the base makes the proper estimation of virtue. For if
any of the imprudent made the estimation which is in accordance with
the value of virtue, then in so far as they honoured this, they would
regulate vice out [of their lives]. But every imprudent man is pleasantly
inured to his own vice. For one should not consider their external [i.e.,
verbalized] discourse, which is base, 5° but rather the discourse of their
actions. For by their actions it is proven that they are not committed to
honourable and virtuous actions, but rather to slavish and unmeasured
pleasures.
They hold that every [moral] mistake is an act of impiety; for to do
anything contrary to the wish of god is a sign of impiety. For since the
gods find virtue and its works congenial and find vice and its products
uncongenial, and since a [moral] mistake is an action in accordance with
vice, obviously every [moral] mistake turned out to be displeasing to the
gods-and that [sort of thing] is an act of impiety; for in every [moral]
mistake the base man does something displeasing to the gods.
Again, since every base man does all that he does in accordance with
vice, just as the virtuous man [does all that he does] in accordance with
virtue, [it is] also [true that] he who has one vice has all. And among
these [vices] one sees impiety, not the impiety which is classified as an
activity, but the condition opposite to piety. And what is done in accor-
dance with impiety is an act of impiety;
is an act of impiety.
Again, they also hold that every imprudent man is an enemy to the
gods. For hostility is a lack of consonance and lack of concord
the [practical] concerns of life, just as friendship is consonance and
concord. But the base disagree with the gods about the [practical] concerns
of life; and that is why every imprudent man is an enemy to the gods.
Again, if every one believes that those who are opposed to them are
enemies, and if the base man is opposed to the virtuous, and if god is
virtuous, then the base man is an enemy to the gods.
- This word is probably corrupt; perhaps the text should say 'deceptive' or something
similar.