Simonides Quote

From Lyra Graeca Volume 2 trans j m edmonds 1924 ed

Simonides of Ceos bk 5 Eulogies Eucomiums Ode to Scopas

Quoted by Plato's Protagoras 339a - 347a

strophe b

οὐδέ μοι ἐμμελέως τὸ Πιττακεῖον νέμεται,

καίτοι σοφοῦ παρὰ φωτὸς εἰρημένον.

Χαλεπὸν φάτ̓ ἐσθλὸν ἔμμεναι.

(I do not  agree with pittakos tho a wise man what he said difficult thing good / noble to be / remain )

…. I skipped a line

ἄνδρα δ̓ οὐκ ἔστι μὴ οὐ κακὸν ἔμμεναι,

ὃν ἀμάχανος συμφορὰ καθέλῃ.

And for a man not is nought but become evil when or what time being un able to plan for devise plan for calamity event overcome

….. they are best (who) the gods love

κἀπὶ πλεῖστον ἄριστοι τοὺς θεοὶ φιλῶσιν.

Basically its about the difficulty of being virtuous