Letter 801: I am older than you, but I do not think myself better in nature.

To Euagoras. (363 AD) I am older than you, but I do not think myself better in nature. I reached my position through toil, and you are on the same path. Since probability prevails, you will accomplish what I accomplish. Being already wise, then, you praise yourself when you praise me. But know this: you sing praises greater than what I have done or shall do. Let my works, if you like, be placed alongside those of Demosthenes — no one who knows will begrudge it, since rags and the finest garments often share a single chest. But do not honor them equally with his, nor place mine right after his, lest someone take up Demosthenes' own remark — but that I will not say. I do fear, however, that by admiring me too much you may do your own work a disservice.

Εὐαγόρᾳ. (363) Ἐγὼ σοῦ πρεσβύτερος μέν εἰμι, τὴν φύσιν δὲ οὐκ οἶμαι εἶναι βελτίων διὰ δὲ πόνων ἐγὼ μὲν ἦλθον, σὺ δὲ ἔρχῃ. τοῦ δὴ εἰκότος νικῶντος ποιήσεις οἷα ποιῶ. σοφὸς οὖν ὢν ἤδη σαυτὸν ἐπαινεῖς ἐν οἷς ἐμέ. ἀλλ’, εὖ ἴσθι, καὶ ὧν ποιῶ καὶ ὧν ποιήσω μείζω τὸν ἔπαινον ᾄδεις κείσθω μὲν γάρ, εἰ δοκεῖ, τἀμὰ μετὰ τῶν Δημοσθένους, νεμεσήσει γὰρ οὐδεὶς εἰδὼς ὅτι καὶ ῥάκια καὶ τὴν καλλίστην ἐσθῆτα πολλάκις ‘ὲν δέχεται κιβώτιον· τίμα δὲ μήθ’ ὁμοίως ἐκείνοις μήτ’ εὐθὺς μετ’ ἐΜ μὴ τὸ τοῦ Δημοσθένους αὐτό τις λαβών — ἀλλ᾿ ἐκεῖνο μὲν οὐ ἐρῶ —, δέδοικα μέντοι μὴ τῷ ἄγαν ἐμὲ θαυ- μάζειν τὰ σὰ χεῖρον διάθῃ