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

To Euagoras. (363) I am indeed older than you, but I do not think I am the better in natural gift; rather, I came by way of toils, while you are still on your way. Since, then, the likely outcome prevails, you will do just as I do. Being already wise, therefore, you praise yourself in the very terms in which you praise me. But know this well: you sing a praise greater than what I do and than what I shall do. For let my own work be set, if you please, alongside that of Demosthenes-no one will begrudge it, knowing that one and the same chest often holds both rags and the finest raiment. Yet do not honor me in the same way as those men, nor straightway place me [...] right after [...], lest someone, taking the very phrase of Demosthenes-but that I will not say-; I am afraid, however, that by admiring my affairs too greatly you may dispose them for the worse.

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