De parasito sive artem esse parasiticam

Lucian of Samosata

Lucian, Vol. 3. Harmon, A. M., editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1921.

TYCHIADES Quite true.

SIMON Moreover, Tychiades, it seems to me that the other arts stand in need of this one, but this one does not stand in need of any other.[*](This point is not dwelt upon here because the author proposes to use it with great effect later at the expense of philosophy (§$ 31 ff.). ) TYCHIADES But, I say, don’t you think that people who take what belongs to someone else do wrong ?

SIMON Certainly.

TYCHIADES How is it, then, that the parasite is the only one that does not do wrong in taking what belongs to someone else?