They envy the good fortune of those who are able to use words eloquently; yet they reproach the youth who aspire to win this distinction. There is no one of them who would not pray the gods to bestow the power of eloquence upon himself, first of all, and failing that, upon his sons and his own kin;
yet when men strive through work and study to accomplish for themselves what these people would like to have as a gift from the gods, they accuse them of going utterly astray. At one moment they make believe to mock at them as dupes and victims; and then again, for no reason at all, they change about and denounce them as adepts in grasping their own advantage.
When any danger threatens the city, they seek counsel from those who can speak best upon
the question at issue and act upon their advice; but when men devote their efforts to
preparing themselves to serve the state in just such crises, they think it proper to
traduce them. And they reproach the Thebans and our other enemies for their
ignorance;