BookFive
Inhemorningwhenthourisestunwillingly,letthisthoughtbepresent-Iamrisingtotheworkofahumanbeing.WhythenamIdissatisfiedifIamgoingtodothethingsforwhichIexistandforwhichIwasbroughtintotheworld?OrhaveIbeenmadeforthis,tolieinthebed-clothesandkeepmyselfwarm?-Butthisismorepleasant-Dostthouexistthentotakethypleasure,andnotatallforactionorexertion?Dostthounotseethelittleplants,thelittlebirds,theants,thespiders,thebeesworkingtogethertoputinordertheirseveralpartsoftheuniverse?Andartthouunwillingtodotheworkofahumanbeing,anddostthounotmakehastetodothatwhichisaccordingtothynature?-Butitisnecessarytotakerestalso-Itisnecessary:howevernaturehasfixedboundstothistoo:shehasfixedboundsbothtoeatinganddrinking,andyetthougoestbeyondthesebounds,beyondwhatissufficient;yetinthyactsitisnotso,butthoustoppestshortofwhatthoucanstdo.Sothoulovestnotthyself,forifthoudidst,thouwouldstlovethynatureandherwill.Butthosewholovetheirseveralartsexhaustthemselvesinworkingatthemunwashedandwithoutfood;butthouvaluestthyownownnaturelessthantheturnervaluestheturningart,orthedancerthedancingart,ortheloverofmoneyvalueshismoney,orthevaingloriousmanhislittleglory.Andsuchmen,whentheyhaveaviolentaffectiontoathing,chooseneithertoeatnortosleepratherthantoperfectthethingswhichtheycarefor.Butaretheactswhichconcernsocietymorevileinthyeyesandlessworthyofthylabour?
Howeasyitistorepelandtowipeawayeveryimpressionwhichistroublesomeorunsuitable,andimmediatelytobeinalltranquility.
Judgeeverywordanddeedwhichareaccordingtonaturetobefitforthee;andbenotdivertedbytheblamewhichfollowsfromanypeoplenorbytheirwords,butifathingisgoodtobedoneorsaid,donotconsideritunworthyofthee.Forthosepersonshavetheirpeculiarleadingprincipleandfollowtheirpeculiarmovement;whichthingsdonotthouregard,butgostraighton,followingthyownnatureandthecommonnature;andthewayofbothisone.
IgothroughthethingswhichhappenaccordingtonatureuntilIshallfallandrest,breathingoutmybreathintothatelementoutofwhichIdailydrawitin,andfallinguponthatearthoutofwhichmyfathercollectedtheseed,andmymothertheblood,andmynursethemilk;outofwhichduringsomanyyearsIhavebeensuppliedwithfoodanddrink;whichbearsmewhenItreadonitandabuseitforsomanypurposes.
Thousayest,Mencannotadmirethesharpnessofthywits-Beitso:buttherearemanyotherthingsofwhichthoucanstnotsay,Iamnotformedforthembynature.Showthosequalitiesthenwhicharealtogetherinthypower,sincerity,gravity,enduranceoflabour,aversiontopleasure,contentmentwiththyportionandwithfewthings,benevolence,frankness,noloveofsuperfluity,freedomfromtriflingmagnanimity.Dostthounotseehowmanyqualitiesthouartimmediatelyabletoexhibit,inwhichthereisnoexcuseofnaturalincapacityandunfitness,andyetthoustillremainestvoluntarilybelowthemark?Orartthoucompelledthroughbeingdefectivelyfurnishedbynaturetomurmur,andtobestingy,andtoflatter,andtofindfaultwiththypoorbody,andtotrytopleasemen,andtomakegreatdisplay,andtobesorestlessinthymind?No,bythegods:butthoumightesthavebeendeliveredfromthesethingslongago.Onlyifintruththoucanstbechargedwithbeingratherslowanddullofcomprehension,thoumustexertthyselfaboutthisalso,notneglectingitnoryettakingpleasureinthydulness.
Oneman,whenhehasdoneaservicetoanother,isreadytosetitdowntohisaccountasafavourconferred.Anotherisnotreadytodothis,butstillinhisownmindhethinksofthemanashisdebtor,andheknowswhathehasdone.Athirdinamannerdoesnotevenknowwhathehasdone,butheislikeavinewhichhasproducedgrapes,andseeksfornothingmoreafterithasonceproduceditsproperfruit.Asahorsewhenhehasrun,adogwhenhehastrackedthegame,abeewhenithasmadethehoney,soamanwhenhehasdoneagoodact,doesnotcalloutforotherstocomeandsee,buthegoesontoanotheract,asavinegoesontoproduceagainthegrapesinseason-Mustamanthenbeoneofthese,whoinamanneractthuswithoutobservingit?-Yes-Butthisverythingisnecessary,theobservationofwhatamanisdoing:for,itmaybesaid,itischaracteristicofthesocialanimaltoperceivethatheisworkinginasocialmanner,andindeedtowishthathissocialpartneralsoshouldperceiveit-Itistruewhatthousayest,butthoudostnotrightlyunderstandwhatisnowsaid:andforthisreasonthouwiltbecomeoneofthoseofwhomIspokebefore,foreventheyaremisledbyacertainshowofreason.Butifthouwiltchoosetounderstandthemeaningofwhatissaid,donotfearthatforthisreasonthouwiltomitanysocialact.
AprayeroftheAthenians:Rain,rain,OdearZeus,downontheploughedfieldsoftheAtheniansandontheplains-Intruthweoughtnottoprayatall,orweoughttoprayinthissimpleandnoblefashion.
Justaswemustunderstandwhenitissaid,ThatAesculapiusprescribedtothismanhorse-exercise,orbathingincoldwaterorgoingwithoutshoes;sowemustunderstanditwhenitissaid,Thatthenatureoftheuniverseprescribedtothismandiseaseormutilationorlossoranythingelseofthekind.ForinthefirstcasePrescribedmeanssomethinglikethis:heprescribedthisforthismanasathingadaptedtoprocurehealth;andinthesecondcaseitmeans:Thatwhichhappensto(or,suits)everymanisfixedinamannerforhimsuitablytohisdestiny.Forthisiswhatwemeanwhenwesaythatthingsaresuitabletous,astheworkmensayofsquaredstonesinwallsorthepyramids,thattheyaresuitable,whentheyfitthemtooneanotherinsomekindofconnexion.Forthereisaltogetheronefitness,harmony.Andastheuniverseismadeupoutofallbodiestobesuchabodyasitis,sooutofallexistingcausesnecessity(destiny)ismadeuptobesuchacauseasitis.AndeventhosewhoarecompletelyignorantunderstandwhatImean,fortheysay,It(necessity,destiny)broughtthistosuchaperson-Thisthenwasbroughtandthiswasprecribedtohim.Letusthenreceivethesethings,aswellasthosewhichAesculapiusprescribes.Manyasamatterofcourseevenamonghisprescriptionsaredisagreeable,butweaccepttheminthehopeofhealth.Lettheperfectingandaccomplishmentofthethings,whichthecommonnaturejudgestobegood,bejudgedbytheetobeofthesamekindasthyhealth.Andsoaccepteverythingwhichhappens,evenifitseemdisagreeable,becauseitleadstothis,tothehealthoftheuniverseandtotheprosperityandfelicityofZeus(theuniverse).Forhewouldnothavebroughtonanymanwhathehasbrought,ifitwerenotusefulforthewhole.Neitherdoesthenatureofanything,whateveritmaybe,causeanythingwhichisnotsuitabletothatwhichisdirectedbyit.Fortworeasonsthenitisrighttobecontentwiththatwhichhappenstothee;theone,becauseitwasdonefortheeandprescribedforthee,andinamannerhadreferencetothee,originallyfromthemostancientcausesspunwiththydestiny;andtheother,becauseeventhatwhichcomesseverallytoeverymanistothepowerwhichadministerstheuniverseacauseoffelicityandperfection,nayevenofitsverycontinuance.Fortheintegrityofthewholeismutilated,ifthoucuttestoffanythingwhateverfromtheconjunctionandthecontinuityeitherofthepartsorofthecauses.Andthoudostcutoff,asfarasitisinthypower,whenthouartdissatisfied,andinamannertriesttoputanythingoutoftheway.
Benotdisgusted,nordiscouraged,nordissatisfied,ifthoudostnotsucceedindoingeverythingaccordingtorightprinciples;butwhenthoubastfailed,returnbackagain,andbecontentifthegreaterpartofwhatthoudoestisconsistentwithman-snature,andlovethistowhichthoureturnest;anddonotreturntophilosophyasifshewereamaster,butactlikethosewhohavesoreeyesandapplyabitofspongeandegg,orasanotherappliesaplaster,ordrenchingwithwater.Forthusthouwiltnotfailtoobeyreason,andthouwiltreposeinit.Andrememberthatphilosophyrequiresonlythethingswhichthynaturerequires;butthouwouldsthavesomethingelsewhichisnotaccordingtonature-Itmaybeobjected,WhywhatismoreagreeablethanthiswhichIamdoing?-Butisnotthistheveryreasonwhypleasuredeceivesus?Andconsiderifmagnanimity,freedom,simplicity,equanimity,piety,arenotmoreagreeable.Forwhatismoreagreeablethanwisdomitself,whenthouthinkestofthesecurityandthehappycourseofallthingswhichdependonthefacultyofunderstandingandknowledge?
Thingsareinsuchakindofenvelopmentthattheyhaveseemedtophilosophers,notafewnorthosecommonphilosophers,altogetherunintelligible;nayeventotheStoicsthemselvestheyseemdifficulttounderstand.Andallourassentischangeable;forwhereisthemanwhoneverchanges?Carrythythoughtsthentotheobjectsthemselves,andconsiderhowshort-livedtheyareandworthless,andthattheymaybeinthepossessionofafilthywretchorawhoreorarobber.Thenturntothemoralsofthosewholivewiththee,anditishardlypossibletoendureeventhemostagreeableofthem,tosaynothingofamanbeinghardlyabletoendurehimself.Insuchdarknessthenanddirtandinsoconstantafluxbothofsubstanceandoftime,andofmotionandofthingsmoved,whatthereisworthbeinghighlyprizedorevenanobjectofseriouspursuit,Icannotimagine.Butonthecontraryitisaman-sdutytocomforthimself,andtowaitforthe
naturaldissolutionandnottobevexedatthedelay,buttorestintheseprinciplesonly:theone,thatnothingwillhappentomewhichisnotconformabletothenatureoftheuniverse;andtheother,thatitisinmypowernevertoactcontrarytomygodanddaemon:forthereisnomanwhowillcompelmetothis.
AboutwhatamInowemployingmyownsoul?OneveryoccasionImustaskmyselfthisquestion,andinquire,whathaveInowinthispartofmewhichtheycalltherulingprinciple?AndwhosesoulhaveInow?Thatofachild,orofayoungman,orofafeeblewoman,orofatyrant,orofadomesticanimal,orofawildbeast?
Whatkindofthingsthosearewhichappeargoodtothemany,wemaylearnevenfromthis.Forifanymanshouldconceivecertainthingsasbeingreallygood,suchasprudence,temperance,justice,fortitude,hewouldnotafterhavingfirstconceivedtheseenduretolistentoanythingwhichshouldnotbeinharmonywithwhatisreallygood.Butifamanhasfirstconceivedasgoodthethingswhichappeartothemanytobegood,hewilllistenandreadilyreceiveasveryapplicablethatwhichwassaidbythecomicwriter.Thuseventhemanyperceivethedifference.Forwereitnotso,thissayingwouldnotoffendandwouldnotberejectedinthefirstcase,whilewereceiveitwhenitissaidofwealth,andofthemeanswhichfurtherluxuryandfame,assaidfitlyandwittily.Goonthenandaskifweshouldvalueandthinkthosethingstobegood,towhichaftertheirfirstconceptioninthemindthewordsofthecomicwritermightbeaptlyapplied-thathewhohasthem,throughpureabundancehasnotaplacetoeasehimselfin.
Iamcomposedoftheformalandthematerial;andneitherofthemwillperishintonon-existence,asneitherofthemcameintoexistenceoutofnon-existence.Everypartofmethenwillbereducedbychangeintosomepartoftheuniverse,andthatagainwillchangeintoanotherpartoftheuniverse,andsoonforever.AndbyconsequenceofsuchachangeItooexist,andthosewhobegotme,andsoonforeverintheotherdirection.Fornothinghindersusfromsayingso,eveniftheuniverseisadministeredaccordingtodefiniteperiodsofrevolution.
Reasonandthereasoningart(philosophy)arepowerswhicharesufficientforthemselvesandfortheirownworks.Theymovethenfromafirstprinciplewhichistheirown,andtheymaketheirwaytotheendwhichisproposedtothem;andthisisthereasonwhysuchactsarenamedcatorthoseisorrightacts,whichwordsignifiesthattheyproceedbytherightroad.
Noneofthesethingsoughttobecalledaman-s,whichdonotbelongtoaman,asman.Theyarenotrequiredofaman,nordoesman-snaturepromisethem,noraretheythemeansofman-snatureattainingitsend.Neitherthendoestheendofmanlieinthesethings,noryetthatwhichaidstotheaccomplishmentofthisend,andthatwhichaidstowardsthisendisthatwhichisgood.Besides,ifanyofthesethingsdidbelongtoman,itwouldnotberightforamantodespisethemandtosethimselfagainstthem;norwouldamanbeworthyofpraisewhoshowedthathedidnotwantthesethings,norwouldhewhostintedhimselfinanyofthembegood,ifindeedthesethingsweregood.Butnowthemoreofthesethingsamandepriveshimselfof,orofotherthingslikethem,orevenwhenheisdeprivedofanyofthem,themorepatientlyheendurestheloss,justinthesamedegreeheisabetterman.
Suchasarethyhabitualthoughts,suchalsowillbethecharacterofthymind;forthesoulisdyedbythethoughts.Dyeitthenwithacontinuousseriesofsuchthoughtsasthese:forinstance,thatwhereamancanlive,therehecanalsolivewell.Buthemustliveinapalace;-wellthen,hecanalsolivewellinapalace.Andagain,considerthatforwhateverpurposeeachthinghasbeenconstituted,forthisithasbeenconstituted,andtowardsthisitiscarried;anditsendisinthattowardswhichitiscarried;andwheretheendis,therealsoistheadvantageandthegoodofeachthing.Nowthegoodforthereasonableanimalissociety;forthatwearemadeforsocietyhasbeenshownabove.Isitnotplainthattheinferiorexistforthesakeofthesuperior?Butthethingswhichhavelifearesuperiortothosewhichhavenotlife,andofthosewhichhavelifethesuperiorarethosewhichhavereason.
Toseekwhatisimpossibleismadness:anditisimpossiblethatthebadshouldnotdosomethingofthiskind.
Nothinghappenstoanymanwhichheisnotformedbynaturetobear.Thesamethingshappentoanother,andeitherbecausehedoesnotseethattheyhavehappenedorbecausehewouldshowagreatspiritheisfirmandremainsunharmed.Itisashamethenthatignoranceandconceitshouldbestrongerthanwisdom.
Thingsthemselvestouchnotthesoul,notintheleastdegree;norhavetheyadmissiontothesoul,norcantheyturnormovethesoul:butthesoulturnsandmovesitselfalone,andwhateverjudgementsitmaythinkpropertomake,suchitmakesforitselfthethingswhichpresentthemselvestoit.
Inonerespectmanisthenearestthingtome,sofarasImustdogoodtomenandendurethem.Butsofarassomemenmakethemselvesobstaclestomyproperacts,manbecomestomeoneofthethingswhichareindifferent,nolessthanthesunorwindorawildbeast.Nowitistruethatthesemayimpedemyaction,buttheyarenoimpedimentstomyaffectsanddisposition,whichhavethepowerofactingconditionallyandchanging:forthemindconvertsandchangeseveryhindrancetoitsactivityintoanaid;andsothatwhichisahindranceismadeafurtherancetoanact;andthatwhichisanobstacleontheroadhelpsusonthisroad.
Reverencethatwhichisbestintheuniverse;andthisisthatwhichmakesuseofallthingsanddirectsallthings.Andinlikemanneralsoreverencethatwhichisbestinthyself;andthisisofthesamekindasthat.Forinthyselfalso,thatwhichmakesuseofeverythingelse,isthis,andthylifeisdirectedbythis.
Thatwhichdoesnoharmtothestate,doesnoharmtothecitizen.Inthecaseofeveryappearanceofharmapplythisrule:ifthestateisnotharmedbythis,neitheramIharmed.Butifthestateisharmed,thoumustnotbeangrywithhimwhodoesharmtothestate.Showhimwherehiserroris.
Oftenthinkoftherapiditywithwhichthingspassbyanddisappear,boththethingswhichareandthethingswhichareproduced.Forsubstanceislikeariverinacontinualflow,andtheactivitiesofthingsareinconstantchange,andthecausesworkininfinitevarieties;andthereishardlyanythingwhichstandsstill.Andconsiderthiswhichisneartothee,thisboundlessabyssofthepastandofthefutureinwhichallthingsdisappear.Howthenishenotafoolwhoispuffedupwithsuchthingsorplaguedaboutthemandmakeshimselfmiserable?fortheyvexhimonlyforatime,andashorttime.
Thinkoftheuniversalsubstance,ofwhichthouhastaverysmallportion;andofuniversaltime,ofwhichashortandindivisibleintervalhasbeenassignedtothee;andofthatwhichisfixedbydestiny,andhowsmallapartofitthouart.
Doesanotherdomewrong?Lethimlooktoit.Hehashisowndisposition,hisownactivity.Inowhavewhattheuniversalnaturewillsmetohave;andIdowhatmynaturenowwillsmetodo.
Letthepartofthysoulwhichleadsandgovernsbeundisturbedbythemovementsintheflesh,whetherofpleasureorofpain;andletitnotunitewiththem,butletitcircumscribeitselfandlimitthoseaffectstotheirparts.Butwhentheseaffectsriseuptothemindbyvirtueofthatothersympathythatnaturallyexistsinabodywhichisallone,thenthoumustnotstrivetoresistthesensation,foritisnatural:butletnottherulingpartofitselfaddtothesensationtheopinionthatitiseithergoodorbad.
Livewiththegods.Andhedoeslivewiththegodswhoconstantlyshowstothem,hisownsoulissatisfiedwiththatwhichisassignedtohim,andthatitdoesallthatthedaemonwishes,whichZeushathgiventoeverymanforhisguardianandguide,aportionofhimself.Andthisiseveryman-sunderstandingandreason.
Artthouangrywithhimwhosearmpitsstink?Artthouangrywithhimwhosemouthsmellsfoul?Whatgoodwillthisdangerdothee?Hehassuchamouth,hehassucharm-pits:itisnecessarythatsuchanemanationmustcomefromsuchthings-butthemanhasreason,itwillbesaid,andheisable,ifhetakespain,todiscoverwhereinheoffends-Iwishtheewellofthydiscovery.Wellthen,andthouhastreason:bythyrationalfacultystiruphisrationalfaculty;showhimhiserror,admonishhim.Forifhelistens,thouwiltcurehim,andthereisnoneedofanger.Neithertragicactornorwhore
Asthouintendesttolivewhenthouartgoneout,soitisinthypowertolivehere.Butifmendonotpermitthee,thengetawayoutoflife,yetsoasifthouwertsufferingnoharm.Thehouseissmoky,andIquitit.Whydostthouthinkthatthisisanytrouble?Butsolongasnothingofthekinddrivesmeout,Iremain,amfree,andnomanshallhindermefromdoingwhatIchoose;andIchoosetodowhatisaccordingtothenatureoftherationalandsocialanimal.
Theintelligenceoftheuniverseissocial.Accordinglyithasmadetheinferiorthingsforthesakeofthesuperior,andithasfittedthesuperiortooneanother.Thouseesthowithassubordinated,co-ordinatedandassignedtoeverythingitsproperportion,andhasbroughttogetherintoconcordwithoneanotherthethingswhicharethebest.
Howhastthoubehavedhithertotothegods,thyparents,brethren,children,teachers,tothosewholookedafterthyinfancy,tothyfriends,kinsfolk,tothyslaves?Considerifthouhasthithertobehavedtoallinsuchawaythatthismaybesaidofthee:
Neverhaswrongedamanindeedorword.Andcalltorecollectionbothhowmanythingsthouhastpassedthrough,andhowmanythingsthouhastbeenabletoendure:andthatthehistoryofthylifeisnowcompleteandthyserviceisended:andhowmanybeautifulthingsthouhastseen:andhowmanypleasuresandpainsthouhastdespised;andhowmanythingscalledhonourablethouhastspurned;andtohowmanyill-mindedfolksthouhastshownakinddisposition.
Whydounskilledandignorantsoulsdisturbhimwhohasskillandknowledge?Whatsoulthenhasskillandknowledge?Thatwhichknowsbeginningandend,andknowsthereasonwhichpervadesallsubstanceandthroughalltimebyfixedperiods(revolutions)administerstheuniverse.
Soon,verysoon,thouwiltbeashes,oraskeleton,andeitheranameornotevenaname;butnameissoundandecho.Andthethingswhicharemuchvaluedinlifeareemptyandrottenandtrifling,andlikelittledogsbitingoneanother,andlittlechildrenquarrelling,laughing,andthenstraightwayweeping.Butfidelityandmodestyandjusticeandtrutharefled
UptoOlympusfromthewide-spreadearth.Whatthenistherewhichstilldetainstheehere?Iftheobjectsofsenseareeasilychangedandneverstandstill,andtheorgansofperceptionaredullandeasilyreceivefalseimpressions;andthepoorsoulitselfisanexhalationfromblood.Buttohavegoodreputeamidstsuchaworldasthisisanemptything.Whythendostthounotwaitintranquilityforthyend,whetheritisextinctionorremovaltoanotherstate?Anduntilthattimecomes,whatissufficient?Why,whatelsethantoveneratethegodsandblessthem,andtodogoodtomen,andtopractisetoleranceandself-restraint;butastoeverythingwhichisbeyondthelimitsofthepoorfleshandbreath,torememberthatthisisneitherthinenorinthypower.
Thoucanstpassthylifeinanequableflowofhappiness,ifthoucanstgobytherightway,andthinkandactintherightway.ThesetwothingsarecommonbothtothesoulofGodandtothesoulofman,andtothesoulofeveryrationalbeing,nottobehinderedbyanother;andtoholdgoodtoconsistinthedispositiontojusticeandthepracticeofit,andinthistoletthydesirefinditstermination.
Ifthisisneithermyownbadness,noraneffectofmyownbadness,andthecommonwealisnotinjured,whyamItroubledaboutit?Andwhatistheharmtothecommonweal?
Donotbecarriedalonginconsideratelybytheappearanceofthings,butgivehelptoallaccordingtothyabilityandtheirfitness;andiftheyshouldhavesustainedlossinmatterswhichareindifferent,donotimaginethistobeadamage.Foritisabadhabit.Butastheoldman,whenhewentaway,askedbackhisfoster-child-stop,rememberingthatitwasatop,sodothouinthiscasealso.
WhenthouartcallingoutontheRostra,hastthouforgotten,man,whatthesethingsare?-Yes;buttheyareobjectsofgreatconcerntothesepeople-wiltthoutoothenbemadeafoolforthesethings?-Iwasonceafortunateman,butIlostit,Iknownothow-Butfortunatemeansthatamanhasassignedtohimselfagoodfortune:andagoodfortuneisgooddispositionofthesoul,goodemotions,goodactions.