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CXI
Others may fence themselves with walls and houses； when they
do such deeds as these； and wrap themselves in darknessaye；
they have many a device to hide themselves。 Another may shut his
door and station one before his chamber to say； if any comes； He
has gone forth！ he is not at leisure！ But the true Cynic will
have none of these things； instead of them； he must wrap himself
in Modesty： else he will but bring himself to shame； naked and
under the open sky。 That is his house； that is his door； that is
the slave that guards his chamber； that is his darkness！
CXII
Death？ let it come when it will； whether it smite but a part
of the whole： Fly； you tell mefly！ But whither shall I fly？
Can any man cast me beyond the limits of the World？ It may not
be！ And whithersoever I go； there shall I still find Sun； Moon；
and Stars； there I shall find dreams； and omens； and converse
with the Gods！
CXIII
Furthermore the true Cynic must know that he is sent as a
Messenger from God to men； to show unto them that as touching
good and evil they are in error； looking for these where they are
not to be found； nor ever bethinking themselves where they are。
And like Diogenes when brought before Philip after the battle of
Chaeronea； the Cynic must remember that he is a Spy。 For a Spy he
really isto bring back word what things are on Man's side； and
what against him。 And when he had diligently observed all； he
must come back with a true report； not terrified into announcing
them to be foes that are no foes； nor otherwise perturbed or
confounded by the things of sense。
CXIV
How can it be that one who hath nothing； neither raimant；
nor house； nor home； nor bodily tendance； nor servant； nor city；
should yet live tranquil and contented？ Behold God hath sent you
a man to show you in act and deed that it may be so。 Behold me！ I
have neither house nor possessions nor servants： the ground is my
couch； I have no wife； no children； no shelternothing but
earth and sky； and one poor cloak。 And what lack I yet？ am I not
untouched by sorrow； by fear？ am I not free？ 。 。 。 when have I
laid anything to the charge of God or Man？ when have I accussed
any？ hath any of you seen me with a sorrowful countenance？ And in
what wise treat I those of whom you stand in fear and awe？ Is it
not as slaves？ Who when he seeth me doth not think that he
beholdeth his Master and his King？
CXV
Give thyself more diligently to reflection： know thyself：
take counsel with the Godhead： without God put thine hand unto
nothing！
CXVI
〃But to marry and to rear offspring；〃 said the young man；
〃will the Cynic hold himself bound to undertake this as a chief
duty？〃
Grant me a republic of wise men； answered Epictetus； and
perhaps none will lightly take the Cynic life upon him。 For on
whose account should he embrace that method of life？ Suppose
however that he does； there will then be nothing to hinder his
marrying and rearing offspring。 For his wife will be even such
another as himself； and likewise her father； and in like manner
will his children be brought up。
But in the present condition of things； which resembles an
Army in battle array； ought not the Cynic to be free from all
distraction and given wholly to the service of God； so that he
can go in and out among men； neither fettered by the duties nor
entangled by the relations of common life？ For if he transgress
them； he will forfeit the character of a good man and true；
whereas if he observe them； there is an end to him as the
Messenger； the Spy； the Herald of the Gods！
CXVII
Ask me if you choose if a Cynic shall engage in the
administration of the State。 O fool； seek you a nobler
administration that that in which he is engaged？ Ask you if a man
shall come forward in the Athenian assembly and talk about
revenue and supplies； when his business is to converse with all
men； Athenians； Corinthians； and Romans alike； not about
supplies； not about revenue； nor yet peace and war； but about
Happiness and Misery； Prosperity and Adversity； Slavery and
Freedom？
Ask you whether a man shall engage in the administration of
the State who has engaged in such an Administration as this？ Ask
me too if he shall govern； and again I will answer； Fool； what
greater government shall he hold than he holds already？
CXVIII
Such a man needs also to have a certain habit of body。 If he
appears consumptive； thin and pale； his testimony has no longer
the same authority。 He must not only prove to the unlearned by
showing them what his Soul is that it is possible to be a good
man apart from all that they admire； but he must also show them；
by his body； that a plain and simple manner of life under the
open sky does no harm to the body either。 〃See； I am proof of
this！ and my body also。〃 As Diogenes used to do； who went about
fresh of look and by the very appearance of his body drew men's
eyes。 But if a Cynic is an object of pity； he seems a mere
beggar； all turn away； all are offended at him。 Nor should he be
slovenly of look； so as not to scare men from him in this way
either； on the contrary； his very roughness should be clean and
attractive。
CXIX
Kings and tyrants have armed guards wherewith to chastise
certain persons； though they themselves be evil。 But to the Cynic
conscience gives this powernot arms and guards。 When he knows
that he has watched and laboured on behalf of mankind： that sleep
hath found him pure； and left him purer still： that his thoughts
have been the thought of a Friend of the Godsof a servant； yet
one that hath a part in the government of the Supreme God： that
the words are ever on his lips：
Lead me； O God； and thou； O Destiny！
as well as these：
If this be God's will； so let it be！
why should he not speak boldly unto his own brethren； unto his
childrenin a word； unto all that are akin to him！
CXX
Does a Philosopher apply to people to come and hear him？
does he not rather； of his own nature； attract those that will be
benefited by himlike the sun that warms； the food that sustains
them？ What Physician applies to men to come and be healed？
（Though indeed I hear that the Physicians at Rome do nowadays
apply for patientsin my time they were applied to。） I apply to
you to come and hear that you are in evil case； that what
deserves your attention most in the last thing to gain it； that
you know not good from evil； and are in short a hapless wretch； a
fine way to apply！ though unless the words of the Philosopher
affect you thus； speaker and speech are alike dead。
CXXI
A Philosopher's school is a Surgery： pain； not pleasure； you
should have felt therein。 For on entering none of you is whole。
One has a shoulder out of joint； another an abscess： a third
suffers from an issue； a fourth from pains in the head。 And am I
then to sit down and treat you to pretty sentiments and empty
flourishes； so that you may applaud me and depart； with neither
shoulder； nor head； nor issue； nor abscess a whit the better for
your visit？ Is it then for this that young men are to quit their
homes； and leave parents； friends； kinsmen and substance to mouth
out Bravo to your empty phrases！
CXXII
If any be unhappy； let him remember that he is unhappy by
reason of himself alone。 For God hath made all men to enjoy
felicity and constancy of good。
CXXIII
Shall we never wean ourselvesshall we never heed the
teachings of Philosophy （unless perchance they have been sounding
in our ears like and enchanter's drone）：
This World is one great City； and one if the substance
whereof it is fashioned： a certain period indeed there needs must
be； while these give place to those； some must perish for others
to succeed； some move and some abide： yet all is full of friends
first God； then Men； whom Nature hath bound by ties of kindred
each to each。
CXXIV
Nor did the hero weep and lament at leaving his children
orphans。 For he knew that no man is an orphan； but it is the
Father that careth for all continually and for evermore。 Not by
mere report had he heard that the Supreme God is the Father of
men： seeing that he called Him Father believing Him so to be； and
in all that he did had ever his eyes fixed upon Him。 Wherefore in
whatsoever place he was； there is was given him to live happily。
CXXV
Know you not that the thing is a warfare？ one man's duty is
to mount guard； another must go out to reconnoitre； a third to
battle； all cannot be in one place； nor would it even be
expedient。 But you； instead of executing you Commander's orders；
complain if aught harsher than usual is enjoined； not
understanding to what condition you are bringing the a