Clement of Alexandria: STROMATA (MISCELLANIES), Part III, Complete

Translated by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson.

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Page 89

"The mob, then," said I, "cannot become philosopher." [2984]

"Many rod-bearers there are, but few Bacchi," according to Plato. "For many are called, but few chosen." [2985] "Knowledge is not in all," [2986] says the apostle. "And pray that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith." [2987] And the Poetics of Cleanthes, the Stoic, writes to the following effect:--

"Look not to glory, wishing to be suddenly wise,

And fear not the undiscerning and rash opinion of the many;

For the multitude has not an intelligent, or wise, or right judgment,

And it is in few men that you will find this." [2988]

And more sententiously the comic poet briefly says:--

"It is a shame to judge of what is right by much noise."

[2984] Plato, Republic, vi. p. 678.

[2985] Matt. xx. 16.

[2986] 1 Cor. viii. 7.

[2987] 2 Thess. iii. 1, 2.

[2988] Quoted by Socrates in the Phaedo, p. 52.

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