εἰ θ̓έλοιμεν . . . εὑρήσομεν: for this slightly irregular conditional sentence see note on E. 66 τίνα γὰρ εὑρήσομεν . . . εἰ . . . σκοποῖμεν;
οὔτε τῶν σιτίων χαίροντας κτἑ: for this analogy between choice of action and choice of diet cp. ad Dem. 45 (quoted in note on § 42) and de Pace 100.
οὔτε τῶν θρεμμάτων τοῖς ὠφελιμωτάτοις: the reading θρεμμάτων (see critical note) is defended by Cobet (N. L. p. 154), who points out that Isocr. is here thinking of the useless animals, gamecocks, quails, &c., kept for sporting purposes (cp. Plato, Legg. 789 B).
καρτερικούς: καρτερεῖν has two meanings: (1) ‘to persevere (in some course)’; (2) ‘to hold out (against anything)’, so καρτερικός might mean either ‘plodding’ or ‘ascetic’; the latter perhaps is best here.
