De Amicitia 26

Flatterers and the self-flattering

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Amic. 26.1Quod sī in scēnā, id est in contiōne, in quā rēbus fictīs et adumbrātīs locī plūrimum est, tamen vērum valet, sī modo id patefactum et illūstrātum est, quid in amīcitiā fierī oportet, quae tōta vēritāte perpenditur?But if on the stage, that is, in the assembly, where there is the greatest room for fictions and semblances, truth still prevails, provided only that it is laid open and brought to light, what ought to happen in friendship, which is weighed entirely by truth? Amic. 26.1In quā nisi, ut dīcitur, apertum pectus videās tuumque ostendās, nihil fīdum, nihil explōrātum habeās, nē amāre quidem aut amārī, cum id quam vērē fīat ignōrēs.In friendship, unless, as the saying goes, you see an open heart and show your own, you can have nothing trustworthy, nothing certain, not even loving or being loved, since you do not know how truly it is done. Amic. 26.1Quamquam ista assentātiō, quamvīs perniciōsa sit, nocēre tamen nēminī potest nisi eī, quī eam recipit atque eā dēlectātur.And yet this flattery, however pernicious it may be, can harm no one except the man who welcomes it and takes delight in it. Amic. 26.1Ita fit ut is assentātōribus patefaciat aurīs suās maximē, quī ipse sibi assentētur et sē maximē ipse dēlectet.So it comes about that the man who opens his ears widest to flatterers is the one who flatters himself and is most delighted with himself.

Amic. 26.98Omnīnō est amāns suī virtūs;Virtue, certainly, loves itself; Amic. 26.98optimē enim sē ipsa nōvit quamquē amābilis sit intellegit: ego autem nōn dē virtūte nunc loquor, sed dē virtūtis opīniōne.for it knows itself best and understands how lovable it is: but I am not speaking now of virtue, but of a reputation for virtue. Amic. 26.98Virtūte enim ipsā nōn tam multī praeditī esse quam vidērī volunt.For not so many wish to be endowed with virtue itself as wish to seem so. Amic. 26.98Hōs dēlectat assentātiō, hīs fictus ad ipsōrum voluntātem sermō cum adhibētur, ōrātiōnem illam vānam testimōnium esse laudum suārum putant.These men flattery delights; when talk shaped to their own wishes is offered them, they think that empty speech a testimony to their merits. Amic. 26.98Nūlla est igitur haec amīcitia, cum alter vērum audīre nōn volt, alter ad mentiendum parātus est.This, then, is no friendship, when one will not hear the truth and the other is ready to lie. Amic. 26.98Nec parasītōrum in cōmoediīs assentātiō facēta nōbīs vidērētur, nisi essent mīlitēs glōriōsī.Nor would the flattery of parasites in comedies seem witty to us, if there were no boastful soldiers. Amic. 26.98" magnās vērō agere grātiās Thāis mihi?'Did Thais really give me great thanks?' Amic. 26.98" Satis erat respondēre "magnās."It would have been enough to answer, 'Great.' Amic. 26.98" Ingentīs," inquit Semper auget assentātor id, quod is, cuius ad voluntātem dīcitur, volt esse magnum.'Enormous,' he says. The flatterer always magnifies what the man to whose wishes he speaks wants to be great.

Amic. 26.99Quam ob rem, quamquam blanda ista vānitās apud eōs valet, quī ipsī illam adlectant et invītant, tamen etiam graviōrēs cōnstantiōrēsque admonendī sunt, ut animadvertant nē callidā assentātiōne capiantur.Wherefore, though that coaxing emptiness has power with those who themselves court and invite it, yet even weightier and steadier men must be warned to take care that they are not caught by cunning flattery. Amic. 26.99Apertē enim adūlantem nēmō nōn videt, nisi quī admodum est excors: callidus ille et occultus nē sē īnsinuet studiōsē cavendum est.For everyone sees an open flatterer, unless he is quite witless: we must take careful precautions that the cunning, hidden one does not worm his way in. Amic. 26.99Nec enim facillimē agnōscitur, quippe quī etiam adversandō saepe assentētur et lītigāre sē simulāns blandiātur atque ad extrēmum det manūs vincīque sē patiātur, ut is, quī illūsus sit, plūs vīdisse videātur.For he is not very easily recognised, since he often flatters even by opposing, and pretending to quarrel he fawns, and at the end gives in and lets himself be beaten, so that the man who has been fooled may seem to have seen further. Amic. 26.99Quid autem turpius quam illūdī?And what is more disgraceful than to be fooled?

Amic. 26.99Quod ut nē accidat magis cavendum est: " ut mē hodiē ante omnīs cōmicōs stultōs senēs versārīs atque illusseris lautissimē!We must take all the more care that this does not happen: 'How you have tricked me today and fooled me most splendidly, beyond all the foolish old men of comedy!' Amic. 26.99" Haec enim etiam in fābulīs stultissima persōna est imprōvidōrum et crēdulōrum senum.For even in plays the most foolish character is that of improvident and credulous old men. Amic. 26.100Sed nesciō quō pactō ab amīcitiīs perfectōrum hominum, id est sapientium—dē hāc dīcō sapientiā, quae vidētur in hominem cadere posse—ad levīs amīcitiās dēflūxit ōrātiō.But somehow our talk has drifted down from the friendships of perfect men, that is, of the wise (I mean the wisdom that seems able to fall to a human being), to fickle friendships. Amic. 26.100Quam ob rem ad illa prīma redeāmus eaque ipsa conclūdāmus aliquandō.Wherefore let us return to those first points and at last bring them to a close.

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Grammar in this passage: ablative absolute ×1, indirect statement ×4, gerunds and gerundives ×5, purpose clauses ×3

Latin vocabulary for this passage (185 words)

quod, conj.	that, in that, because
sī, conj.	if
in, prep. with acc. and abl.	with acc.: into, onto, against; with abl.: in, on
scaena, -ae f.	stage, theatre
is, ea, id, dem. pron.	this, that; he, she, it, they
sum, esse, fuī, futūrus	be
cōntiō, -ōnis f.	assembly, meeting; speech to an assembly
quī, quae, quod, rel. pron.	who, which
rēs, reī, f.	thing, matter, affair, circumstance, situation; rē vērā, in truth, in fact, really
fingō, fingere, finxī, fictus	invent, make up
et, conj.	and; et ... et, both ... and
adumbrō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	sketch, outline; imitate, feign; (ppp.) shadowy, sham
locus, -ī, m., plur. loca, -orum, n.	place, situation
multus, -a, -um	much, great; plur., many
tamen, adv.	however, yet, nevertheless
vērum (conj.)	but, but in fact; nōn modo ... vērum etiam: not only ... but also
valeō, -ēre, -uī, -itūrus	be strong or effectual, have effect, prevail
modo, adv.	only
patefaciō, -facere, -fēcī, -factus	throw, or lay open, open
illūstrō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	bring to light, make clear, reveal
quis, quid, interrog. pron.	who? which? what?
amīcitia, -ae f.	friendship, alliance
fīō, fierī, factus sum	be done or made, become, happen
oportet, -ēre, oportuit (impersonal)	it is right, it is necessary
tōtus, -a, -um	all the, the whole or entire
vēritās, -ātis f.	truth
perpendō, -ere, -pendī, -pēnsus	weigh carefully, consider, assess
nisi, conj.	if not, unless
ut, conj.	as; when; that; ita ut, as
dīcō, dīcere, dīxī, dictus	say, speak; diem dīcere, to appoint or set a day
apertus, -a, -um	open
pectus, pectoris, n.	breast
videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsus	see; pass., seem
tuus, -a, -um	thy, thine, your
que, enclitic conj.	and
ostendō, -tendere, -tendī, -tentus	stretch out before, show, explain
nihil, n., indecl.	nothing
fīdus, -a, -um	faithful, loyal, trustworthy
explōrō, -plōrāre, -plōrāvī, -plōrātus	search out, explore
habeō, -ēre, -uī, -itus	have, hold; consider
nē, adv.	not; nē ... quidem, not ... even; conj., that not, lest
amō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	love
quidem, adv.	in fact, indeed, certainly; nē ... quidem, not ... even
aut, conj.	or; aut ... aut, either ... or
cum, conj.	when, while, after; since; although
quam, adv.	how? as; than; with superl., as ... as possible
vērē (adv.)	truly, really
ignōrō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	be ignorant of
quamquam, conj.	however much, although
iste, ista, istud, dem. pron.	that of yours, that
assentātiō (adsentātiō), -ōnis f.	flattery, servile agreement
quamvīs (adv.)	however much, as … as you like
perniciōsus, -a, -um	destructive, ruinous, dangerous
noceō, -ēre, nocuī, nocitum (+ dat.)	harm, hurt
nēmō, nēminis, m. and f.	no one, nobody
possum, posse, potuī	be able, have power, can
recipiō, -cipere, -cēpī, -ceptus	take or get back, recover; sē recipere, to betake oneself, withdraw; to collect oneself, recover
atque, ac (conj.)	and; after comparisons: as, than (ac only before consonants)
dēlectō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	please, delight; passive: enjoy, take pleasure in
ita, adv.	in this manner, thus, so; ita ut, as
assentātor (adsentātor), -ōris m.	flatterer, yes-man
auris, -is, f.	ear
suus, -a, -um	his, her, its, or their own; his, her, its, their
maximē, adv.	very greatly, exceedingly, especially
ipse, ipsa, ipsum, intensive pron.	self, himself, herself, itself, themselves; often to be rendered by very
suī, sibi, sē or sēsē, reflexive pron.	himself, herself, itself, themselves
assentor (adsentor), -ārī, -ātus sum	agree with everything, flatter
omnīnō, adv.	altogether, wholly, entirely
virtūs, -tūtis, f.	manliness, courage, bravery
bene, adv.	well; successfully
enim, conj.	for
nōscō, -ere, nōvī, nōtum	get to know (perf. nōvī: know)
amābilis, -e	lovable, lovely, delightful
intellegō, -legere, -lēxī, -lēctus	perceive, understand
ego, meī, pers. pron.	I
autem, conj.	moreover; but, however; now
nōn, adv.	not
dē, prep, with abl.	down from, from, out of; about, concerning, of
nunc, adv.	now
loquor, loquī, locūtus	speak
sed, conj.	but
opīniō, -ōnis, f.	opinion, expectation; reputation
tam, adv.	so
praeditus, -a, -um	endowed with, possessed of (+ abl.)
volō, velle, voluī	wish
hic, haec, hoc, dem. pron.	this; ille ... hīc, that ... this, the former ... the latter
ad, prep. with acc.	to, toward; at, near; for
voluntās, -tātis, f.	wish, will
sermō, -ōnis, m.	conversation, talk, speech
adhibeō, -hibēre, -hibuī, -hibitus	hold to, employ, show
ōrātiō, -ōnis, f.	speech; ōrātiōnem habēre, to deliver an oration, speak
ille, illa, illud, dem. pron.	that; he, she, it, they; ille ... hīc, see hīc
vānus, -a, -um	empty, idle, vain; in vanum: in vain
testimōnium, -ī n.	evidence, proof
laus, laudis f.	praise, glory
putō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	think
nūllus, -a, -um	not any, none, no
igitur, conj.	therefore
alter, -era, -erum	one or the other (of two); another, second
audiō, -īre, -īvī, -ītus	hear; listen or attend to
mentior, -īrī, -ītus sum	lie, tell a lie
parātus, -a, -um	prepared, equipped, ready
neque or nec, conj.	and not, nor; neque ... neque, neither ... nor; neque enim, for ... not
parasītus, -ī m.	parasite, sponger, hanger-on (stock comic character)
cōmoedia, -ae f.	comedy
facētus, -a, -um	witty, clever; elegant, fine
nōs	plur. of ego
mīles, mīlitis, m.	soldier
glōriōsus, -a, -um	glorious; boastful
magnus, -a, -um	large, big, great, mighty; loud
vērō, adv.	in truth, indeed; however
agō, agere, ēgī, āctus	drive; do; pass, lead; grātiās agere, see grātia
grātia, -ae, f.	favor; gratitude, thanks; plur., thanks; grātiās agere, to give thanks, thank; grātiam referre, to return a favor, show gratitude, requite
satis, adv.	enough, sufficiently
respondeō, -spondēre, -spondī, -spōnsus	reply, answer
ingēns, -gentis, adj.	huge, vast
inquam, inquis, inquit, defective verb	I say, you say, he says
semper, adv.	always
augeō, -ēre, auxī, auctum	increase, enlarge
ob, prep. with acc.	on account of, for; in compounds, to, against
blandus, -a, -um	coaxing, caressing, charming
vānitās, -ātis f.	emptiness; boastfulness, idle talk
apud, prep, with acc.	among, with
adlectō (allectō), -āre	entice, allure, encourage
invītō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	invite
etiam, adv.	and now, also, too, even
gravis, -e	heavy; severe, grievous, serious
cōnstāns, -antis	steadfast, firm, resolute; consistent
admoneō, -ēre, -uī, -itus	remind, warn, advise
animadvertō, -vertere, -vertī, -versus	turn the mind to, observe
callidus, -a, -um	clever, crafty
capiō, capere, cēpī, captus	take, catch, seize; receive, suffer; adopt
apertē (adv.)	openly, plainly
adūlor, -ārī, -ātus sum	flatter, fawn upon
admodum (adv.)	very, quite
excors, -cordis	senseless, stupid
occultus, -a, -um	hidden, secret
īnsinuō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	push in; (with sē) work one's way in
studiōsē (adv.)	eagerly, carefully
caveō, cavēre, cāvī, cautus	beware, take care; be on one's guard against, beware of
facile, adv.	easily
agnōscō, -gnōscere, -gnōvī, -gnitus, recognize
quippe (adv.)	of course, indeed, for
adversor, -ārī, -ātus sum (+ dat.)	oppose, resist
saepe, adv.	often, frequently
lītigō, -āre, -āvī	quarrel, dispute
simulō, -āre, -āvī, -ātum	pretend
blandior, -īrī, -ītus sum	flatter, coax, fawn on; be pleasing, allure
extrēmus, -a, -um	last, extreme, furthest
dō, dare, dedī, datus	give
manus, -ūs, f.	hand
vincō, -ere, vīcī, victum	conquer, defeat
patior, patī, passus, bear	suffer, allow
illūdō, -ere, -lūsī, -lūsus	mock, make fun of (+ dat.)
plūs (adv.)	more
turpis, -e	disgraceful
accidō, -cidere, -cidī	fall to or upon; befall, happen
magis, comp. adv.	more, rather
hodiē (adv.)	today
ante, prep, with acc. and adv.	before
omnis, -e	all, every
cōmicus, -a, -um	of comedy, comic; (m. as noun) comic poet or actor
stultus, -a, -um	foolish, stupid
senex, senis, m.	old man
versō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	turn about; (pass. or reflexive) move about, be engaged
lautē (adv.)	splendidly, elegantly; (ironic) thoroughly, finely
fābula, -ae, f.	story
persōna, -ae f.	mask; character, role; personal standing
imprōvidus, -a, -um	not foreseeing, heedless
crēdulus, -a, -um	trusting, credulous, too ready to believe
nesciō, -scīre, -scīvī	not know, be ignorant; nesciō quis, I know not who, some one or other (nesciō is thus used with other interrogative words also)
quī, quae, quod, interrog. pron. adj.	what?
pactum, -ī n.	agreement; quō pactō: in what way, how
ā, ab (prep. + abl.)	away from, from; by (ā only before consonants)
perfectus, -a, -um	complete, perfect; blameless
homō, hominis, m.	man
sapiēns, -entis	wise; as noun, a wise man, a philosopher
sapientia, -ae f.	wisdom, good sense
cadō, cadere, cecidī, cāsūrus	fall
levis, -e	light, slight
dēfluō, -ere, -flūxī	flow down, fall down
prīmus, -a, -um	first, foremost
redeō, -īre, -iī, -itus	go back, return
conclūdō, -ere, -clūsī, -clūsum	shut in, enclose
aliquandō, adv.	at some time or other; finally, at length

Cicero, De Amicitia. Latin text: W. A. Falconer, Cicero: De Senectute, De Amicitia, De Divinatione (Loeb, 1923), public domain; digital text from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA. Word analysis: drafted by our own tagger (trained on the hand-checked texts on this site), with every doubtful word checked by hand. English translation and section titles: written for this app, each checked against the Latin by a second reader.