And the cause of this inconsistency and confusion is that men believe that the office of
 king is, like that of priest, The priestly office in
 Greece demanded care in the administration of
 ritual, but, apart from this, no special competence; it was often hereditary and
 sometimes filled by lot. one which any man can fill, whereas it is the most
 important of human functions and demands the greatest wisdom. Now as to each particular
 course of action, it is the business of those who are at the time associated with a king
 to advise him how he may handle it in the best way possible, and how he may both preserve
 what is good and prevent disaster; but as regards a king's conduct in general, I shall
 attempt to set forth the objects at which he should aim and the pursuits to which he
 should devote himself. Whether the gift when finished shall be worthy of the design, it is hard to tell at the
 beginning; for many writings both in verse and in prose, while still in the minds of their
 composers, have aroused high expectations; but when completed and shown to the world have
 won a repute far inferior to their promise. And yet the mere attempt is well worth while—to seek a field that has been neglected by
 others and lay down principles for monarchs; for those who educate men in private stations
 benefit them alone, but if one can turn those who rule over the multitude toward a life of
 virtue, he will help both classes, both those who hold positions of authority and their
 subjects; for he will give to kings a greater security in office and to the people a
 milder government. First, then, we must consider what is the function of kings; for if we can properly
 encompass the essence of the whole matter in a general principle For the habit of definition in Isocrates see General Introd. p. xvii. 
 we shall, with this before us, speak to better purpose about its parts. I think that all
 would agree that it is a king's business to relieve the state when it is in distress, to
 maintain it in prosperity, and to make it great when it is small; for it is with these
 ends in view that the other duties which present themselves day by day must be performed.
 And surely this much is clear, that those who are able to do all this, and who pronounce
 on matters of so great moment, must not be indolent nor careless, but must see to it that
 they are superior to all others in intelligence; for it is evident that they will reign
 well or ill according to the manner in which they equip their own minds. Cf. Isoc. 9.41 .