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Of course, we must begin with what is known; but then this is of

two kinds, what we do know, and what we may know:[5] perhaps then

as individuals we must begin with what we do know. Hence the

necessity that he should have been well trained in habits, who is

to study, with any tolerable chance of profit, the principles of

nobleness and justice and moral philosophy generally. For a

principle is a matter of fact, and if the fact is sufficiently

clear to a man there will be no need in addition of the reason

for the fact. And he that has been thus trained either has

principles already, or can receive them easily: as for him who

neither has nor can receive them, let him hear his sentence from

Hesiod:

He is best of all who of himself conceiveth all things; Good

again is he too who can adopt a good suggestion; But whoso

neither of himself conceiveth nor hearing from another Layeth it

to heart;-he is a useless man.

Chapter III.

But to return from this digression.