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！
they cannot pull it out again； and then they fall to tears。
〃Let go a few of them； and then you can draw out the rest！〃
You； too； let your desire go！ covet not many things； and you will
obtain。
XCVI
Pittacus wronged by one whom he had it in his power to
punish； let him go free； saying； Forgiveness is better than
revenge。 The one shows native gentleness； the other savagery。
XCVII
〃My brother ought not to have treated me thus。〃
True： but he must see to that。 However he may treat me； I
must deal rightly by him。 This is what lies with me； what none
can hinder。
XCVIII
Nevertheless a man should also be prepared to be sufficient
unto himselfto dwell with himself alone； even as God dwells
with Himself alone； shares His repose with none； and considers
the nature of His own administration； intent upon such thoughts
as are meet unto Himself。 So should we also be able to converse
with ourselves； to need none else beside； to sigh for no
distraction； to bend our thoughts upon the Divine Administration；
and how we stand related to all else； to observe how human
accidents touched us of old； and how they touch us now； what
things they are that still have power to hurt us； and how they
may be cured or removed； to perfect what needs perfecting as
Reason would direct。
XCIX
If a man has frequent intercourse with others； either in the
way of conversation； entertainment； or simple familiarity； he
must either become like them； or change them to his own fashion。
A live coal placed next a dead one will either kindle that or be
quenched by it。 Such being the risk； it is well to be cautious in
admitting intimacies of this sort； remembering that one cannot
rub shoulders with a soot…stained man without sharing the soot
oneself。 What will you do； supposing the talk turns on
gladiators； or horses； or prize…fighters； or （what is worse） on
persons； condemning this and that； approving the other？ Or
suppose a man sneers and jeers or shows a malignant temper？ Has
any among us the skill of the lute…player； who knows at the first
touch which strings are out of tune and sets the instrument
right： has any of you such power as Socrates had； in all his
intercourse with men； of winning them over to his own
convictions？ Nay； but you must needs be swayed hither and thither
by the uninstructed。 How comes it then that they prove so much
stronger than you？ Because they speak from the fulness of the
hearttheir low； corrupt views are their real convictions：
whereas your fine sentiments are but from the lips； outwards；
that is why they are so nerveless and dead。 It turns one's
stomach to listen to your exhortations； and hear of your
miserable Virtue； that you prate of up and down。 Thus it is that
the Vulgar prove too strong for you。 Everywhere strength；
everywhere victory waits your conviction！
C
In general； any methods of discipline applied to the body
which tend to modify its desires or repulsions； are goodfor
ascetic ends。 But if done for display； they betray at once a man
who keeps an eye on outward show； who has an ulterior purpose；
and is looking for spectators to shout； 〃Oh what a great man！〃
This is why Apollonius so well said： 〃If you are bent upon a
little private discipline； wait till you are choking with heat
some daythen take a mouthful of cold water； and spit it out
again； and tell no man！〃
CI
Study how to give as one that is sick： that thou mayest
hereafter give as one that is whole。 Fast； drink water only；
abstain altogether from desire； that thou mayest hereafter
conform thy desire to Reason。
CII
Thou wouldst do good unto men？ then show them by thine own
example what kind of men philosophy can make； and cease from
foolish trifling。 Eating； do good to them that eat with thee；
drinking； to them that drink with thee； yield unto all； give way；
and bear with them。 Thus shalt thou do them good： but vent not
upon them thine own evil humour！
CIII
Even as bad actors cannot sing alone； but only in chorus： so
some cannot walk alone。
Man； if thou art aught； strive to walk alone and hold
converse with thyself； instead of skulking in the chorus！ at
length think； look aroung thee； bestir thyself； that thou mayest
know who thou art！
CIV
You would fain be victor at the Olympic games； you say。 Yes；
but weigh the conditions； weigh the consequences； then and then
only； lay to your handif it be for your profit。 You must live
by rule； submit to diet； abstain from dainty meats； exercise your
body perforce at stated hours； in heat or in cold； drink no cold
water； nor； it may be； wine。 In a word； you must surrender
yourself wholly to your trainer； as though to a physician。
Then in the hour of contest； you will have to delve the
ground； it may chance dislocate an arm； sprain an ankle； gulp
down abundance of yellow sand； be scourge with the whipand with
all this sometimes lose the victory。 Count the costand then； if
your desire still holds； try the wrestler's life。 Else let me
tell you that you will be behaving like a pack of children
playing now at wrestlers； now at gladiators； presently falling to
trumpeting and anon to stageplaying； when the fancy takes them
for what they have seen。 And you are even the same： wrestler；
gladiator； philosopher； orator all by turns and none of them with
your whole soul。 Like an ape； you mimic what you see； to one
thing constant never； the thing that is familiar charms no more。
This is because you never undertook aught with due consideration；
nor after strictly testing and viewing it from every side； no；
your choice was thoughtless； the glow of your desire had waxed
cold 。 。 。 。
Friend； bethink you first what it is you would do； and then
what your own nature is able to bear。 Would you be a wrestler；
consider your shoulders； your thighs； your lionsnot all men are
formed to the same end。 Think you to be a philosopher while
acting as you do？ think you go on thus eating； thus drinking；
giving way in like manner to wrath and to displeasure？ Nay； you
must watch； you must labour； overcome certain desires； quit your
familiar friends； submit to be despised by your slave； to be held
in derision by them that meet you； to take the lower place in all
things； in office； in positions of authority； in courts of law。
Weigh these things fully； and then； if you will； lay to your
hand； if as the price of these things you would gain Freedom；
Tranquillity； and passionless Serenity。
CV
He that hath no musical instruction is a child in Music； he
that hath no letters is a child in Learning； he that is untaught
is a child in Life。
CVI
Can any profit be derived from these men？ Aye； from all。
〃What； even from a reviler？〃
〃Why； tell me what profit a wrestler gains from him y