PLATO is of opinion that it is very pardonable in a
man to acknowledge that he has any extraordinary passion
for himself; and yet the humor is attended with this ill
consequent, besides several others, that it renders us incapable of making a right judgment of ourselves. For our
affections usually blind our discerning faculties, unless we
have learned to raise them above the sordid level of things
congenial and familiar to us, to those which are truly noble
and excellent in themselves. And hence it is that we are
so frequently exposed to the attempts of a parasite, under
the disguise and vizard of a friend. For self-love, that
grand flatterer within, willingly entertains another from
without, who will but soothe up and second the man in
the good opinions he has conceived of himself. For he
who deservedly lies under the character of one that loves
to be flattered is doubtless sufficiently fond of himself: and
through abundance of complaisance to his own person, not
only wishes but thinks himself master of all those perfections which may recommend him to others. And though
indeed it be laudable enough to covet such accomplishments, yet is it altogether unsafe for any man to fancy
them inherent in him.
Now, if truth be a ray of the divinity, as Plato says it
is, and the source of all the good that derives upon either
Gods or men, then certainly the flatterer must be looked
[p. 101]
upon as a public enemy to all the Gods, and especially to
Apollo; for he always acts counter to that celebrated
oracle of his, Know thyself, endeavoring to make every
man his own cheat, by keeping him ignorant of the good
and ill qualities that are in him; whereupon the good
never arrive at perfection, and the ill grow incorrigible.
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