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Xenophon's Banquet； and you will see how many quarrels he put an
end to。 This is why the Poets are right in so highly commending
this faculty：
Quickly and wisely withal even bitter feuds would he settle。
Nevertheless the practice is not very safe at present；
especially in Rome。 One who adopts it； I need not say； ought not
to carry it out in an obscure corner； but boldly accost； if
occasion serve； some personage of rank or wealth。
〃Can you tell me； sir； to whose care you entrust your
horses？〃
〃I can。〃
〃Is it to the first corner； who knows nothing about them？〃
〃Certainly not。〃
〃Well； what of the man who takes care of your gold； your
silver or your raiment？〃
〃He must be experienced also。〃
〃And your bodyhave you ever considered about entrusting
it to any one's care？〃
〃Of course I have。〃
〃And no doubt to a person of experience as a trainer； a
physician？〃
〃Surely。〃
〃And these things the best you possess； or have you anything
more precious？〃
〃What can you mean？〃
〃I mean that which employs these； which weights all things；
which takes counsel and resolve。〃
〃Oh； you mean the soul。〃
〃You take me rightly； I do mean the soul。 By Heaven； I hold
that far more precious than all else I possess。 Can you show me
then what care you bestow on a soul？ For it can scarcely be
thought that a man of your wisdom and consideration in the city
would suffer your most precious possession to go to ruin through
carelessness and neglect。〃
〃Certainly not。〃
〃Well； do you take care of it yourself？ Did any one teach
you the right method； or did you discover it yourself？〃
Now here comes in the danger： first； that the great man may
answer； 〃Why； what is that to you； my good fellow？ are you my
master？〃 And then； if you persist in troubling him； may raise his
hand to strike you。 It is a practice of which I was myself a warm
admirer until such experiences as these befell me。
LXV
When a youth was giving himself airs in the Theatre and
saying； 〃I am wise； for I have conversed with many wise men；〃
Epictetus replied； 〃I too have conversed with many rich men； yet
I am not rich！〃
LXVI
We see that a carpenter becomes a carpenter by learning
certain things： that a pilot； by learning certain things； becomes
a pilot。 Possibly also in the present case the mere desire to be
wise and good is not enough。 It is necessary to learn certain
things。 This is then the object of our search。 The Philosophers
would have us first learn that there is a God； and that His
Providence directs the Universe； further； that to hide from Him
not only one's acts but even one's thoughts and intentions is
impossible； secondly； what the nature of God is。 Whatever that
nature is discovered to be； the man who would please and obey Him
must strive with all his might to be made like unto him。 If the
Divine is faithful； he also must be faithful； if free； he also
must be free； if beneficent； he also must be beneficent； if
magnanimous； he also must be magnanimous。 Thus as an imitator of
God must he follow Him in every deed and word。
LXVII
If I show you； that you lack just what is most important and
necessary to happiness； that hitherto your attention has been
bestowed on everything rather than that which claims it most；
and； to crown all； that you know neither what God nor Man is
neither what Good or Evil is： why； that you are ignorant of
everything else； perhaps you may bear to be told； but to hear
that you know nothing of yourself； how could you submit to that？
How could you stand your ground and suffer that to be proved？
Clearly not at all。 You instantly turn away in wrath。 Yet what
harm have I done to you？ Unless indeed the mirror harms the
ill…favoured man by showing him to himself just as he is； unless the
physician can be thought to insult his patient； when he tells
him：〃Friend； do you suppose there is nothing wrong with you？
why； you have a fever。 Eat nothing to…day； and drink only water。〃
Yet no one says； 〃What an insufferable insult！〃 Whereas if you
say to a man； 〃Your desires are inflamed； your instincts of
rejection are weak and low； your aims are inconsistent； your
impulses are not in harmony with Nature； your opinions are rash
and false；〃 he forthwith goes away and complains that you have
insulted him。
LXVIII
Our way of life resembles a fair。 The flocks and herds are
passing along to be sold； and the greater part of the crowd to
buy and sell。 But there are some few who come only to look at the
fair； to inquire how and why it is being held； upon what
authority and with what object。 So too； in this great Fair of
life； some； like the cattle； trouble themselves about nothing but
the fodder。 Know all of you； who are busied about land； slaves
and public posts； that these are nothing but fodder！ Some few
there are attending the Fair； who love to contemplate what the
world is； what He that administers it。 Can there be no
Administrator？ is it possible； that while neither city nor
household could endure even a moment without one to administer
and see to its welfare； this Fabric； so fair； so vast； should be
administered in order so harmonious； without a purpose and by
blind chance？ There is therefore an Administrator。 What is His
nature and how does He administer？ And who are we that are His
children and what work were we born to perform？ Have we any close
connection or relation with Him or not？
Such are the impressions of the few of whom I speak。 And
further； they apply themselves solely to considering and
examining the great assembly before they depart。 Well； they are
derided by the multitude。 So are the lookers…on by the traders：
aye； and if the beasts had any sense； they would deride those who
thought much of anything but fodder！
LXIX
I think I know now what I never knew beforethe meaning of
the common saying； A fool you can neither bend nor break。 Pray
heaven I may never have a wise fool for my friend！ There is
nothing more intractable。〃My resolve is fixed！〃Why so madman
say too； but the more firmly they believe in their delusions； the
more they stand in need of treatment。
LXX
〃O！ when shall I see Athens and its Acropolis again？〃
Miserable man！ art thou not contented with the daily sights that
meet thine eyes？ canst thou behold aught greater or nobler than
the Sun； Moon； and Stars； than the outspread Earth and Sea？ If
indeed thous apprehendest Him who administers the universe； if
thou bearest Him about within thee； canst thou still hanker after
mere fragments of stone and fine rock？ When thou art about to bid
farewell to the Sun and Moon itself； wilt thou sit down and cry
like a child？ Why； what didst thou hear； what didst thou learn？
why didst thou write thyself down a philosopher； when thou
mightest have written what was the fact； namely； 〃I have made one