Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 35:140 (Oct 1878)
Article: Isocrates
Author: R. D. C. Robbins

BSac 35:140 (Oct 1878) p. 593

Isocrates

R. D. C. Robbins

(Continued from p. 424.)

Objections To Isocrates As Writer And Teacher, In His Own Age

The defamers of Isocrates in his own age were of such a character that he did not feel called upon to reply to them until he was quite advanced in life (eighty-two years old), and then only because he saw that the multitude did not understand the nature of his studies and instruction and the manner of his life; so that he would be placed in a false position not only among his contemporaries, but also in the estimation of succeeding ages. He says: “Although I have known that my manner of life is the subject of calumny with some of the sophists, who accuse me of drawing up petty pleas for the courts, just as one might dare to call Phidias who made the statue of Minerva a mere puppet-maker, or Zeuxis and Parrhasius as painters of sign-boards, — still, I have not defended myself against their petty slanders, because I supposed their prating was without influence, and that I had made it evident to all that I had taken upon myself not to speak and write upon petty private contracts, but upon subjects of such magnitude and importance that no one else except my pupils and their imitators have ventured to handle them. On account of this my choice of labor, and my study

BSac 35:140 (Oct 1878) p. 594

to consult for things that make for peace, I supposed, even until quite an old man, that I had the good will of all those in private life.” “But now, unexpectedly, when near the end of life,….I have found out that some of these are not so well disposed toward me as I had hoped. A part of them because they are quite ignorant of my course of life, and disposed to listen to those who have anything to say prejudicial to me; and others who, although they know well how I pass my time, are envious, and are of like mind with the sophists, and rejoice that others have an erroneous opinion concerning me.” “I therefore cast about me to see how I could best make posterity acquainted with the character I have established, the life I lead, and the instructions I give to others, and not allow myself to be misunderstood in reference to these things, and remain at the mercy of my detractors; ….and I concluded to write a discourse as a picture of my thoughts and actions, which should remain as a memorial more honorable than any statue of brass.” 1

That he did not consider his course a failure, or unworthy of the approbation of his contemporaries, notwithstanding the opposition that he met, and his inability to attain to his aspirations or control adverse circumstances, a passage in a letter written in his old age shows: “Although,” he says, “I have kep...