Leuitatem sicut loquendi ita et audiendi uitan
The High Cost of Pleasure
The author warns that leaders must guard their ears and eyes against triviality and vice, as the pursuit of pleasure inevitably leads to regret.
And the end of pleasure is regret. “Do everything with counsel,” it says, “and you won’t regret it after the fact.” Furthermore, just as it’s unbecoming for a leader to speak of trivial things, it’s equally unbecoming for him to be easily swayed into listening to them. For Wisdom says: “A leader who willingly listens to lying words has wicked servants.” When Venus throws herself with all her might into gossip and parties, anyone who willingly welcomes her first arrows will hardly escape being wounded more severely by the ones that follow. Sight, conversation, touch, and kisses—these lead to the act; and just as they follow one another in order, they necessarily bring about the birth of sorrow. The end of pleasure is, indeed, regret. If you don’t believe me, believe Demosthenes, who is said to have replied to Lais quite wittily on this very point.
The Wisdom of Demosthenes
Using the historical example of Demosthenes and Lais, the author illustrates that true wisdom lies in refusing to purchase fleeting pleasure at the price of lasting regret.
Lais of Corinth earned a fortune thanks to her elegance and charm; it was well-known that famous men from all over Greece gathered to see her, and she wouldn't admit anyone who didn't pay her asking price—which was enormous. This led to the common Greek proverb: It's useless to head to Corinth for Lais unless you can or will pay what she demands. Demosthenes once approached her in secret to ask for her favors. But Lais demanded a sum that, in our currency, would equal ten thousand denarii—the equivalent of half a major talent, which comes to twenty thousand of our denarii. Struck by her brazenness and the sheer size of the fee, Demosthenes was terrified and turned away, saying as he left, "I don't buy regret at such a price." Do you want closer examples? You know who said this: Every pleasure has this quality; it goads those who enjoy it like a swarm of bees, for where it has poured out sweet honey, it flees and strikes the heart it has wounded with a sting that clings too tightly. The beginnings of desire are sweeter than honey and the honeycomb, but the end is more bitter than any wormwood.
The Bitter End of Indulgence
The chapter concludes by reflecting on the destructive social and personal consequences of unchecked lust and idle chatter.
For what is the end of idle chatter at banquets and the indulgence of lust, if not a burning pyre that scatters the fires of desolation among all the citizens?
Read the original Latin
dam; et quodfinis uoluptatis penitentia est. Omnia, inquit, fac cum consilio et post factum non penitebis. Praeterea, sicut principem leuia proferre non decet, sic nec facilem quidem esse ad leuia audienda. Ait enim Sapientia: Princeps qui libenter audit uerba mendacii omnes ministros habet impios. Cum fabulationibus et conuiuiis se totis uiribus immiscet Venus, cuius qui prima missilia libenter admittit, quin posterioribus grauius uulneb retur uix euadit. Visus et alloquium, contactus et oscula, factum, sicut se praecedunt ordine, ita et ex necessitate doloris inferunt partum. Voluptatis siquidem finis penitentia est. Si michi non credis, uel Demosteni crede, qui satis urbane hoc Laidi dicitur respondisse.
Haec autem Lais Corinthia ob elegantiam uenustatemque formae gi-andem pecuniam demerebat; conuentusque ad eam diuorum hominum ex omni Graecia celebres erant, nec admittebat nisi qui dabat quae poscebat; poscebat autem illa nimium quantum. Hinc natum est frequens illud prouerbium apud Grecos: Frustra quis Corinthum tendit ad Laidem, nisi queat aut uelit dare quod poscitur. Ad hanc ille Demostenes clanculo adit et ut copiam sui faceret petit. At Lais hoc quantum poposcit quod nostratis nummi denarium faciat decies mille aequaturque medietati talenti maioris, quod nostratis denarii uiginti milia claudit. Tali petulantia mulieris atque pecuniae magnitudine ictus expauidusque Demostenes auertitur et discedens: Ego, inquit, penitere tanti non emo. Visne proximiora? Nosti quis dixerit quia: Habet hoc uoluptas omnis; stimulis agit fruentes apiumque par uolantum, ubi grata mella fudit, fugit et nimis tenaci ferit icta corda morsu. Initia namque cupidinis dulcia sunt super mel et fauum, at nouissima eius quouis absintio amariora sunt.
Quis est enim finis confabulationis conuiuiorum et expletae libidinis nisi pira incensa et quae in omnes ciues desolationis incendia spargit?
Policraticus companion
Study the argument weekly; pray the tradition daily
Pair the outline with the Chosen Portion app, which serves short daily portions from the same royal devotional tradition — free on iOS.
John of Salisbury argued that rulers must keep the law of God before their eyes daily; Chosen Portion gives modern readers that same daily discipline in five minutes a morning.
- 8 weeks, one book per week, with the 3-4 key chapters flagged in each
- Discussion questions usable for a reading group from week one
- A daily 5-minute companion portion in the app alongside your weekly study