按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
virtue； and all such opposites； for the harmony of the whole。
XXVII
Have this thought ever present with thee； when thou losest
any outward thing； what thou gainest in its stead； and if this be
the more precious； say not； I have suffered loss。
XXVIII
Concerning the Gods； there are who deny the very existence
of the Godhead； others say that it exists； but neither bestirs
nor concerns itself norhas forethought for anything。 A third
party attribute to it existence and forethought； but only for
great and heavenly matters； not for anything that is on earth。 A
fourth party admit things on earth as well as in heaven； but only
in general； and not with respect to each individual。 A fifth； of
whom were Ulysses and Socrates are those that cry：
I move not without Thy knowledge！
XXIX
Considering all these things； the good and true man submits
his judgement to Him that administers the Universe； even as good
citizens to the law of the State。 And he that is being instructed
should come thus minded：How may I in all things follow the
Gods； and； How may I rest satisfied with the Divine
Administration； and； How may I become free？ For he is free for
whom all things come to pass according to his will； and whom none
can hinder。 What then； is freedom madness？ God forbid。 For
madness and freedom exist not together。
〃But I wish all that I desire to come to pass and in the
manner that I desire。〃
You are mad； you are beside yourself。 Know you not that
Freedom is a glorious thing and of great worth？ But that what I
desired at random I should wish at random to come to pass； so far
from being noble； may well be exceeding base。
XXX
You must know that it is no easy thing for a principle to
become a man's own； unless each day he maintain it and hear it
maintained； as well as work it out in life。
XXXI
You must know that it is no easy thing for a principle to
become a man's own； unless each day he maintain it and hear it
maintained； as well as work it out in life。
XXXII
What then is the chastisement of those who accept it not？ To
be as they are。 Is any discontented with being alone？ let him be
in solitude。 Is any discontented with his parents？ let him be a
bad son； and lament。 Is any discontented with his children？ let
him be a bad father。〃Throw him into prision！〃What prision？
Where he is already： for he is there against his will； and
wherever a man is against his will； that to him is a prision。
Thus Socrates was not in prision； since he was there with his own
consent。
XXXIII
Knowest thou what a speck thou art in comparison with the
Universe？…That is； with respect to the body； since with respect
to Reason； thou art not inferior to the Gods； nor less than they。
For the greatness of Reason is not measured by length or height；
but by the resolves of the mind。 Place then thy happiness in that
wherein thou art equal to the Gods。
XXXIV
Asked how a man might eat acceptably to the Gods； Epictetus
replied：If when he eats； he can be just； cheerful； equable；
temperate； and orderly； can he not thus eat acceptably to the
Gods？ But when you call for warm water； and your slave does not
answer； or when he answers brings it lukewarm； or is not even
found to be in the house at all； then not to be vexed nor burst
with anger； is not that acceptable to the Gods？
〃But how can one endure such people？〃
Slave； will you not endure your own brother； that has God to
his forefather； even as a son sprung from the same stock； and of
the same high descent as yourself？ And if you are stationed in a
high position； are you therefor forthwith set up for a tyrant？
Remember who you are； and whom you rule； that they are by nature
your kinsmen； your brothers； the offspring of God。
〃But I paid a price for them； not they for me。〃
Do you see whither you are lookingdown to the earth； to
the pit； to those despicable laws of the dead？ But to the laws of
the Gods you do not look。
XXXV
When we are invited to a banquet； we take what is set before
us； and were one to call upon his host to set fish upon the table
or sweet things； he would be deemed absurd。 Yet in a word； we ask
the Gods for what they do not give； and that； although they have
given us so many things！
XXXVI
Asked how a man might convince himself that every single act
of his was under the eye of God； Epictetus answered：
〃Do you not hold that things on earth and things in heaven
are continuous and in unison with each other？〃
〃I do；〃 was the reply。
〃Else how should the trees so regularly； as though by God's
command； at His bidding flower； at His bidding send forth shoots；
bear fruit and ripen it； at His bidding let it fall and shed
their leaves； and folded up upon themselves lie in quietness and
rest？ How else； as the Moon waxes and wanes； as the Sun
approaches and recedes； can it be that such vicissitude and
alternation is seen in earthly things？
〃If then all things that grow； nay； our own bodies； are thus
bound up with the whole； is not this still truer of our souls？
And if our souls are bound up and in contact with God； as being
very parts and fragments plucked from Himself； shall He not feel
every movement of theirs as though it were His own； and belonging
to His own nature？〃
XXXVII
〃But；〃 you say； 〃I cannot comprehend all this at once。〃
〃Why； who told you that your powers were equal to God's？〃
Yet God hath placed by the side of each a man's own Guardian
Spirit； who is charged to watch over hima Guardian who sleeps
not nor is deceived。 For to what better or more watchful Guardian
could He have committed wach of us？ So when you have shut the
doors and made a darkness within； remember never to say that you
are alone； for you are not alone； but God is within； and your
Guardian Spirit； and what light do they need to behold what you
do？ To this God you also should have sworn allegiance； even as
soliders unto Caesar。 They； when their service is hired； swear to
hold the life of Caesar dearer than all else： and will you not
swear your oath； that are deemed worthy of so many and great
gifts？ And will you not keep your oath when you have sworn it？
And what oath will you swear？ Never to disobey； never to arraign
or murmur at aught that comes to you from His hand： never
unwillingly to do or suffer aught that necessity lays upon you。
〃Is this oath like theirs？〃
They swear to hold no other dearer than Caesar： you； to hold
our true selves dearer than all else beside。
XXXVIII
〃How shall my brother cease to be wroth with me？〃
Bring him to me； and I will tell him。 But to thee I have
nothing to say about his anger。
XXXIX
When one took counsel of Epictetus； saying； 〃What I seek is
this； how even though my brother be not reconciled to me； I may
still remain as Nature would have me to be；〃 he replied： 〃All
great things are slow of growth； nay； this is true even of a
grape or of a fig。 If then you say to me now； I desire a fig； I
shall answer； It needs time： wait till it first flower； then cast
its blossom； then ripen。 Whereas then the fruit of the fig…tree
reaches not maturity suddenly nor yet in a single hour； do you
nevertheless desire so quickly； and easily to reap the fruit of
the mind of man？ Nay； expect it not； even though I bade you！〃
XL
Epaphroditus had a shoemaker whom he sold as being good…for…nothing。
This fellow； by some accident； was afterwards
purchased by one of Caesar's men； and became a shoemaker to
Caesar。 You should have seen what respect Epaphroditus paid him
then。 〃How does the good Felicion？ Kindly let me know！〃 And if
any of us inquired； 〃What is Epaphroditus doing？〃 the answer was；
〃He is consulting about so and so with Felicion。〃 Had he not
sold him as good…for…nothing？ Who had in a trice converted him
into a wiseacre？
This is what comes of holding of importance anything but the
things that depend on the Will。
XLI
What you shun enduring yourself； attempt not to impose on
others。 You shun slavery beware of enslaving others！ If you can
endure to do that； one would thing you had been once upon a time
a slave yourself。 For Vice has nothing in common with virtue； nor
Freedom with slavery。
XLII
Has a man been raised to tribuneship？ Every one that he
meets congratulates him。 One kisses him on the eyes； another on
the neck； while the slaves kiss his hands。 He goes home to find
torches burning； he ascends to the Capitol to sacrifice。 Who
ever sacrificed for having had right desires； for having
conceived such inclinations as Nature would have him？ In truth we
thank the Gods for that wherein we place our h