Section 15
Original Latin
Chapter 7
quaeret quispiam: “quid? illi ipsi summi viri quorum virtutes litteris proditae sunt istane doctrina quam tu effers laudibus eruditi fuerunt?” difficile est hoc de omnibus confirmare, sed tamen est certum quid respondeam. ego multos homines excellenti animo ac virtute fuisse sine doctrina, et naturae ipsius habitu prope divino per se ipsos et moderatos et gravis exstitisse fateor; etiam illud adiungo, saepius ad laudem atque virtutem naturam sine doctrina quam sine natura valuisse doctrinam. atque idem ego hoc contendo, cum ad naturam eximiam et inlustrem accesserit ratio quaedam conformatioque doctrinae, tum illud nescio quid praeclarum ac singulare solere exsistere.
Musean translation
Complete machine-assisted Musean translation made directly from the Latin in Clark’s 1911 edition; source-language model review recorded. Perseus transcription: CC BY-SA 4.0, credited to the Perseus Project, Tufts University.
Chapter 7
Someone will ask: “What, then? Were those very great men whose virtues literature has preserved educated in the learning you praise so highly?” It is difficult to assert this of them all; but I nevertheless have a definite answer. I admit that many men have possessed exceptional spirit and virtue without learning, and that through an almost divine natural disposition they have become self-controlled and serious-minded by their own efforts. I would even add that nature without learning has more often led to glory and virtue than learning without nature. Yet I also maintain this: when an exceptional and distinguished nature is joined by the discipline and cultivation of learning, something splendid and unique is generally the result.
Plain English translation
Complete machine-assisted Plain English translation made independently and directly from the Latin, not from the Musean edition; source-language model review recorded. Perseus transcription: CC BY-SA 4.0, credited to the Perseus Project, Tufts University.
Chapter 7
Someone will ask: “Those great men whose virtues survive in writing—did they actually receive this education you admire so much?”
It is hard to say this of all of them. Still, I have a definite answer. I admit that many people have had outstanding character and courage without formal learning. Their natural gifts, almost divine, have made them self-controlled and responsible without outside help. I would add this: natural ability without learning has led to distinction and good character more often than learning without natural ability has.
But I also insist on this. When an exceptional and brilliant natural ability gains the guidance and training that learning provides, something remarkable and unique usually results.
About this section
Section 15 is part of For Archias the Poet by Marcus Tullius Cicero. This page sets the Latin original beside 2 direct-source translations, so any line can be checked against the source. It is section 15 of 32 in the work, which is kept in the Roman tradition.
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