229
And yet who that engages in the practice of injustice and of evildoing would be willing to live more continently than the rest? Whom have these traducers ever seen reserving and treasuring up their depravities for future use instead of indulging from the first the evil instincts present in their nature?
230
But, apart from these considerations, if it be true that cleverness in speech results in plotting against other people’s property, we should expect all able speakers to be intriguers and sycophants; for the same cause produces in every instance the same effect.
231
In fact, however, you will find that among our public men who are living today or who have but lately passed away those who give most study to the art of words are the best of the statesmen who come before you on the rostrum, and, furthermore, that among the ancients it was the greatest and the most illustrious orators who brought to the city most of her blessings.