صفحة 207 من 734

The Great-minded man is then, as far as greatness is concerned,

at the summit, but in respect of propriety he is in the mean,

because he estimates himself at his real value (the other

characters respectively are in excess and defect). Since then he

justly estimates himself at a high, or rather at the highest

possible rate, his character will have respect specially to one

thing: this term "rate" has reference of course to external

goods: and of these we should assume that to be the greatest

which we attribute to the gods, and which is the special object

of desire to those who are in power, and which is the prize

proposed to the most honourable actions: now honour answers to

these descriptions, being the greatest of external goods. So the

Great-minded man bears himself as he ought in respect of honour

and dishonour.