Otherwise, you'll act like children. Kids play wrestler one day, gladiator the next. They pretend to blow trumpets. They act out tragedies. Why? Because they saw these shows and thought they looked cool. You'll do the same thing. One day you'll be a wrestler. The next day a gladiator. Then a philosopher. Then a speaker. But you won't be serious about any of it. You'll copy everything you see like a monkey. You'll get excited about one thing after another. But as soon as the novelty wears off, you'll move on. Why? Because you never think things through. You never examine what's really involved. You just jump in halfheartedly.
Otherwise, take notice, you will behave like children who sometimes play wrestlers, sometimes gladiators, sometimes blow a trumpet, and sometimes act a tragedy, when they happen to have seen and admired these shows. Thus you too will be at one time a wrestler, and another a gladiator; now a philosopher, now an orator; but nothing in earnest. Like an ape you mimic all you see, and one thing after another is sure to please you, but is out of favor as soon as it becomes familiar. For you have never entered upon anything considerately; nor after having surveyed and tested the whole matter, but carelessly, and with a halfway zeal.