The Patron of Rascals

The Patron of Rascals is a lover of vice. He tells you that the scoundrel is quite a gentleman, if you will only give him a chance, and that while be admits that most things people say about him are true, he asserts there are other things untrue. "He is a witty fellow," for instance, "and a true friend and tactful," and he declares during his apology for him that he never met a more capable man. He shows his friendliness to him in his speech in the assembly, or as defendant in an action, and he is always telling the jury that it has nothing to do with the man, it is the case that is the point: "But the defendant, gentlemen, is the watch-dog of the state, he keeps a guard over evil-doers. We will have no one to be roused over public wrongs if we lose such men." Then he is certain to set up as a supporter of rascals and to form conspiracies in the courts for bad causes to get the verdict, and when he is on the jury he puts the worst construction on what the two parties say. In a word, the patronizing of rascals is sister to rascality itself, for very true are the words of the proverb "Like draws to Like."

From "The Characters of Theophrastus." -- Theophrastus was a Greek Philosopher, the successor to Aristotle in the Peripatetic school. He came to Athens at a young age and initially studied in Plato's school. After Plato's death, he attached himself to Aristotle. Born: 371 BC, Eresos, Greece.
Died: 287 BC, Athens, Greece.

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