a wide scholarly consensus which has scarcely changed since the publication of Aars' study over a century ago:
It is hard to become a man truly noble, in hands and feet and mind, fashioned foursquare without reproach. [ . . .]
Nor do I think that the word of Pittacus was said harmoniously, although said by a wise man. He said that it is hard to be noble. God alone can have this privilege, and man cannot but be base, whomsoever irresistible misfortune has
