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Hence the young man is not a fit student of Moral Philosophy, for

he has no experience in the actions of life, while all that is

said presupposes and is concerned with these: and in the next

place, since he is apt to follow the impulses of his passions, he

will hear as though he heard not, and to no profit, the end in

view being practice and not mere knowledge.

And I draw no distinction between young in years, and youthful in

temper and disposition: the defect to which I allude being no

direct result of the time, but of living at the beck and call of

passion, and following each object as it rises.[3] For to them

that are such the knowledge comes to be unprofitable, as to those

of imperfect self-control: but, to those who form their desires

and act in accordance with reason, to have knowledge on these

points must be very profitable.