Plato, Protagoras

[344e] so that when an irresistible mischance overthrows him who is resourceful, wise, and good, he cannot but be bad; and you say, Pittacus, that it is hard to be good—that is, to become good, indeed, is hard, though possible, but to be good is impossible: for—¹

“If he hath fared well, every man is good;
Bad, if ill.
”

Simonides Fr. 37.1.17

Now what is good faring in letters—the thing