Epistles of Phalaris, IX: To Cleostratus
“It seems to me entirely appropriate to marvel (with a bit of laughter) at the chastisement which certain people have received from you. It is necessary for the one who has undertaken to pass judgment on others to first desist from knavery himself. But you, being guilty of all the same crimes (and more) as those on whom you pass judgment, nevertheless go on in this manner judging them without end.”
Κλεοστράτῳ.
Πάνυ μοι δοκεῖ μετὰ γέλωτος ἄξιον εἶναι θαυμάσαι τὸ σωφρονίζεσθαί τινας ὑπὸ σοῦ· τὸν γὰρ ἄλλοις ἐπιτιμᾶν ἐπιβαλλόμενον καὶ αὐτὸν ἀπηλλάχθαι χρὴ πάσης πονηρίας. σὺ δὲ ταῖς τῶν ὑπὸ σοῦ νουθετουμένων κακίαις ἔνοχος ὢν καὶ ταῖς ἄλλαις ἁπάσαις ὡς ἀνεπίληπτος εἰς πονηρίαν οὕτω νουθετεῖς.
