h we have heard against
important questions being frequently debated. I think the two things
most opposed to good counsel are haste and passion; haste usually goes
hand in hand with folly, passion with coarseness and narrowness of mind.
As for the argument that speech ought not to be the exponent of action,
the man who uses it must be either senseless or interested: senseless
if he believes it possible to treat of the uncertain future through any
other medium; interested if, wishing to carry a disgraceful measure and
doubting his ability to speak well in a bad cause, he thinks to
frighten opponents and hearers by well-aimed calumny. What is still more
intolerable is to accuse a speaker of making a display in order to be
paid for it. If ignorance only were imputed, an unsuccessful speaker
might retire with a reputation for honesty, if not for wisdom; while the
charge of dishonesty makes him suspected, if successful, and thought, if
defeated, not only a fool but a rogue. The city is no gainer by such a
system, since fear deprives it of its advisers; although in truth, if
our speakers are to make such assertions, it would be better for the
country if they could not speak at all, as we should then make fewer
blunders. The good citizen ought to triumph not by frightening his
opponents but by beating them fairly in argument; and a wise city,
without over-distinguishing its best advisers, will nevertheless
not deprive them of their due, and, far from punishing an unlucky
counsellor, will not even regard him as disgraced. In this way
successful orators would be least tempted to sacrifice their convictions
to popularity, in the hope of still higher honours, and unsuccessful
speakers to resort to the same popular arts in order to win over the
multitude.

"This is not our way; and, besides, the moment that a man is suspected
of giving advice, however good, from corrupt motives, we feel such a
grudge against him for the gain which after all we are not certain he
will receive, that we deprive the city of its certain benefit. Plain
good advice has thus come to be no less suspected than bad; and the
advocate of the most monstrous measures is not more obliged to use
deceit to gain the people, than the best counsellor is to lie in order
to be believed. The city and the city only, owing to these refinements,
can never be served openly and without disguise; he who does serve it
openly being always suspected of serving himself in some secr