next, those who are decent and honorable in their intercourse with all with whom they
 associate, tolerating easily and good-naturedly what is unpleasant or offensive in others
 and being themselves as agreeable and reasonable to their associates as it is possible to
 be; furthermore, those who hold their pleasures always under control Cf. Isoc. 1.21 and note; Isoc. 2.29 . and are not unduly overcome by their misfortunes, See Isoc. 1.42 and note. 
 bearing up under them bravely and in a manner worthy of our common nature; finally, and most important of all, those who are not spoiled by successes and do not
 desert their true selves and become arrogant, Cf. Isoc. 12.196-197 . but hold their ground steadfastly as
 intelligent men, not rejoicing in the good things which have come to them through chance
 rather than in those which through their own nature and intelligence are theirs from their
 birth. Those who have a character which is in accord, not with one of these things, but
 with all of them—these, I contend, are wise and complete men, possessed of all the
 virtues. These then are the views which I hold regarding educated men. As to the poetry of Homer
 and Hesiod and the rest, I would fain speak—for I think that I could silence those who
 chant their verses and prate about these poets in the Lyceum—but I perceive that I am
 being carried beyond the due limits which have been assigned to an introduction; and it behoves a man of taste not to indulge his resourcefulness, when he has more to say
 on a given subject than the other speakers, but to preserve always the element of
 timeliness no matter on what subject he may have occasion to speak—a principle which I
 must observe. Therefore I shall speak on the poets at another time A promise not fulfilled. provided that my age does not first carry me
 off and that I do not have something to say on subjects more important than this. I shall now proceed to discourse upon the benefactions of Athens to the Hellenes, not that I have not sung the
 praises of our city more than all others put together who have written in poetry or
 prose. Cf. Isoc.
 15.168 . I shall not speak, however, as on former occasions; for then I
 celebrated Athens incidentally to other matters, whereas now Athens herself shall be my
 theme.