But more statesmanlike than this it is, not
merely to avoid, when rebuking them openly and
in public, any biting speech which violently represses and humiliates them, but rather in kindly
spirit to suggest and inculcate in private to those
who have natural ability for public affairs advantageous words and policies, urging them on towards
that which is noble, adding brilliancy to their
minds, and, after the manner of riding-teachers,
[p. 141]
enabling them at first to mount the populace when
it is tractable and gentle ; then, if the young man
fails in any way, not letting him be discouraged,
but setting him on his feet and encouraging him,
as Aristeides raised up and encouraged Cimon and
Mnesiphilus did the like for Themistocles when
they were at first disliked and decried in the city
as being rash and unrestrained. And there is also a
story that when Demosthenes had met with a reverse
in the assembly and was disheartened thereby, an
aged man who had formerly heard Pericles speak
touched him with his hand and told him that he
resembled that great man in natural ability and,
therefore, had been unjust in condemning himself.
And so also when TimotheĆ¼s was hissed for being
new-fangled and was said to be committing sacrilege
upon music, Euripides told him to be of good courage,
for in a little while the theatres would be at his feet.