1Though he was defamed by most, three very weighty historians have extolled him with the highest praise: Thucydides, who was of his own time, Theopompus, born somewhat later, and Timaeus; and these two, most abusive as they are, somehow agree in praising him alone. 2For they told of him what we have written above, and more besides: that, though born at Athens, a most splendid state, he surpassed everyone in the splendour and dignity of his life; 3that after he had been driven out from there and come to Thebes, he devoted himself to their pursuits so thoroughly that no one could equal him in toil and bodily strength (for all Boeotians pay more attention to strength of body than to sharpness of mind); 4that among the Spartans, by whose customs the highest virtue was placed in endurance, he gave himself up to hardship so thoroughly that he outdid all the Spartans in the frugality of his food and dress; 4that he lived among the Thracians, men given to drink and to the pleasures of love: these too he surpassed in such things; 5that he came to the Persians, among whom the highest praise was to hunt bravely and live luxuriously: he so imitated their way of life that they themselves admired him above all in these things.
6By these means he brought it about that, among whatever people he was, he was ranked first and held most dear. 6But enough of him: let us begin on the rest.