Furthermore, those who wish to be successful in the other arts eat little and drink little, like invalids, and it is impossible to learn them while one is rejoicing the inner man with plenty of food and plenty of wine.

The other arts, moreover, cannot be of use to their possessor without tools, for it is impossible to pipe without a pipe or to strum without a lyre or to ride without a horse; but this one is so genial and presents so little difficulty to the artisan that even one who has no tools can follow it.

And we pay, it is likely, for our lessons in the other arts, but get paid in this one.

Besides, the other arts have teachers, but Parasitic has none; like the Art of Poetry according to the definition of Socrates, it comes by some divine dispensation.

Plato, Ion 534 B-c.

Reflect, too, that we cannot exercise the other arts while on a journey or a voyage, but this one can be plied both on the road and at sea.