Pagina 136 de 734

Again, those also who are ignorant of legal regulations which

they are bound to know, and which are not hard to know, they

chastise; and similarly in all other cases where neglect is

thought to be the cause of the ignorance, under the notion that

it was in their power to prevent their ignorance, because they

might have paid attention.

But perhaps a man is of such a character that he cannot attend to

such things: still men are themselves the causes of having become

such characters by living carelessly, and also of being unjust or

destitute of self-control, the former by doing evil actions, the

latter by spending their time in drinking and such-like; because

the particular acts of working form corresponding characters, as

is shown by those who are practising for any contest or

particular course of action, for such men persevere in the acts

of working.