These (the aforementioned) are a sampling of the ways of the sages of Greece and of those who follow in their footsteps, the chief of their teachings in their attempt to build the edifice of character improvement. If I attempted to enumerate all of them individually, they would outnumber the sands (of the sea). Their common denominator is that they are of no great benefit in leading the populace on the path of virtue, their teachings not being based on the natural foundation that is in truth common to all men.