Polybius, Histories

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Book 6 - Chapter 47

1
<w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="die%2Fcimen">διέξιμεν</w>. <w lemma="e%29gw%5C">ἐγὼ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="oi%29%3Dmai">οἶμαι</w> <w lemma="du%2F%27">δύ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29rxa%5Cs">ἀρχὰς</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fshs">πάσης</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fas">πολιτείας</w>, <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="ai%28reta%5Cs">αἱρετὰς</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="feukta%5Cs">φευκτὰς</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnesqai">γίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fs">τάς</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="susta%2Fseis:">συστάσεις·</w> <w lemma="au%28%3Dtai">αὗται</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29si%5Cn">εἰσὶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fqh">ἔθη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="no%2Fmoi:">νόμοι·</w>
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<w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ai%28reta%5C">αἱρετὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Fs">τούς</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fous">βίους</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpwn">ἀνθρώπων</w> <w lemma="o%28si%2Fous">ὁσίους</w> <w lemma="a%29potelei%3D">ἀποτελεῖ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sw%2Ffronas">σώφρονας</w> <w lemma="to%2F">τό</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="koino%5Cn">κοινὸν</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dqos">ἦθος</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="h%28%2Fmeron">ἥμερον</w> <w lemma="a%29perga%2Fzetai">ἀπεργάζεται</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="di%2Fkaion">δίκαιον</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="feukta%5C">φευκτὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%29nanti%2Fon">τοὐναντίον</w>.
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<w lemma="w%28%2Fsper">ὥσπερ</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29qismou%5Cs">ἐθισμοὺς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="no%2Fmous">νόμους</w> <w lemma="kati%2Fdwmen">κατίδωμεν</w> <w lemma="para%2F">παρά</w> <w lemma="tisi">τισι</w> <w lemma="spoudai%2Fous">σπουδαίους</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxontas">ὑπάρχοντας</w>, <w lemma="qarrou%3Dntes">θαρροῦντες</w> <w lemma="a%29pofaino%2Fmeqa">ἀποφαινόμεθα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndras">ἄνδρας</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsesqai">ἔσεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fan">πολιτείαν</w> <w lemma="spoudai%2Fan">σπουδαίαν</w>,
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<w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Fs">τούς</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fous">βίους</w> <w lemma="tinw%3Dn">τινῶν</w> <w lemma="pleonektikou%5Cs">πλεονεκτικοὺς</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fs">τάς</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="koina%5Cs">κοινὰς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w> <w lemma="a%29di%2Fkous">ἀδίκους</w> <w lemma="qewrh%2Fswmen">θεωρήσωμεν</w>, <w lemma="dh%3Dlon">δῆλον</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%5Cs">εἰκὸς</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgein">λέγειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="no%2Fmous">νόμους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fqh">ἤθη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flhn">ὅλην</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fan">πολιτείαν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="fau%2Flhn">φαύλην</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fqh">ἤθη</w> <w lemma="doliw%2Ftera">δολιώτερα</w> <w lemma="%2Akrhtaie%2Fwn">Κρηταιέων</w> <w lemma="eu%28%2Froi">εὕροι</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="plh%5Cn">πλὴν</w> <w lemma="telei%2Fws">τελείως</w> <w lemma="o%29li%2Fgwn">ὀλίγων</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="koino%5Cn">κοινὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29pibola%5Cs">ἐπιβολὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29dikwte%2Fras">ἀδικωτέρας</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fq%27">οὔθ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28moi%2Fan">ὁμοίαν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%5Cn">αὐτὴν</w> <w lemma="h%28gou%2Fmenoi">ἡγούμενοι</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimoni%2Fwn">Λακεδαιμονίων</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllws">ἄλλως</w> <w lemma="ai%28reth%5Cn">αἱρετὴν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="zhlwth%5Cn">ζηλωτὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29podokima%2Fzomen">ἀποδοκιμάζομεν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnhs">προειρημένης</w> <w lemma="sugkri%2Fsews">συγκρίσεως</w>.
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<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2Akai%5C">Καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Apla%2Ftwnos">Πλάτωνος</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fan">πολιτείαν</w> <w lemma="di%2Fkaion">δίκαιον</w> <w lemma="pareisagagei%3Dn">παρεισαγαγεῖν</w>, <w lemma="e%29peidh%5C">ἐπειδὴ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="tine%5Cs">τινὲς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="filoso%2Ffwn">φιλοσόφων</w> <w lemma="e%29cumnou%3Dsin">ἐξυμνοῦσιν</w>.
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<w lemma="w%28%2Fsper">ὥσπερ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="texnitw%3Dn">τεχνιτῶν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29qlhtw%3Dn">ἀθλητῶν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Fs">τούς</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="nenemhme%2Fnous">νενεμημένους</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="seswmaskhko%2Ftas">σεσωμασκηκότας</w> <w lemma="pari%2Femen">παρίεμεν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29qlhtikou%5Cs">ἀθλητικοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29gw%3Dnas">ἀγῶνας</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="xrh%5C">χρὴ</w> <w lemma="pareisagagei%3Dn">παρεισαγαγεῖν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="prwtei%2Fwn">πρωτείων</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fmillan">ἅμιλλαν</w>, <w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="e%29pidei%2Fchtai%2F">ἐπιδείξηταί</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%28auth%3Ds">ἑαυτῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgwn">ἔργων</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqinw%3Ds">ἀληθινῶς</w>.
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<w lemma="me%2Fxri">μέχρι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="paraplh%2Fsios">παραπλήσιος</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="fanei%2Fh">φανείη</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgos">λόγος</w>, <w lemma="a%29gome%2Fnhs">ἀγομένης</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="su%2Fgkrisin">σύγκρισιν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Aspartiatw%3Dn">Σπαρτιατῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fan">πολιτείαν</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29galma%2Ftwn">ἀγαλμάτων</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="e%28%5Cn">ἓν</w> <w lemma="proqe%2Fmenos">προθέμενος</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="sugkri%2Fnoi">συγκρίνοι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="zw%3Dsi">ζῶσι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pepnume%2Fnois">πεπνυμένοις</w> <w lemma="a%29ndra%2Fsi">ἀνδράσι</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flws">ὅλως</w> <w lemma="e%29paineto%5Cn">ἐπαινετὸν</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxh%7C">ὑπάρχῃ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="te%2Fxnhn">τέχνην</w>, <w lemma="th%2Fn">τήν</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="su%2Fgkrisin">σύγκρισιν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29yu%2Fxwn">ἀψύχων</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29myu%2Fxois">ἐμψύχοις</w> <w lemma="e%29ndeh%3D">ἐνδεῆ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="telei%2Fws">τελείως</w> <w lemma="a%29pemfai%2Fnousan">ἀπεμφαίνουσαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%5Cs">εἰκὸς</w> <w lemma="prospi%2Fptein">προσπίπτειν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="qewme%2Fnois">θεωμένοις</w>.
In my opinion there are two fundamental things in every state, by virtue of which its principle and constitution is either desirable or the reverse.
I mean customs and laws. What is desirable in these makes men's private lives righteous and well ordered and the general character of the state gentle and just, while what is to be avoided has the opposite effect.
So just as when we observe the laws and customs of a people to be good, we have no hesitation in pronouncing that the citizens and the state will consequently be good also, thus when we notice that men are covetous in their private lives and that their public actions are unjust, we are plainly justified in saying that their laws, their particular customs, and the state as a whole are bad.
Now it would be impossible to find except in some rare instances personal conduct more treacherous or a public policy more unjust than in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Crete&groupId=505&placeId=949">Crete</a>.
Holding then the Cretan constitution to be neither similar to that of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a> nor in any way deserving of praise and imitation, I dismiss it from the comparison which I have proposed to make.
Nor again is it fair to introduce Plato's republic which also is much belauded by some philosophers.
For just as we do not admit to athletic contests artists or athletes who are not duly entered and have not been in training, so we have no right to admit this constitution to the competition for the prize of merit, unless it first give an exhibition of its actual working.
Up to the present it would be just the same thing to discuss it with a view to comparison with the constitutions of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a>, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>, and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a>, as to take some statue and compare it with living and breathing men.
For even if the workmanship of the statue were altogether praiseworthy, the comparison of a lifeless thing with a living being would strike spectators as entirely imperfect and incongruous.