the golden sayings-第2章
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not true that death is no evil？ Are we not in a manner kinsmen of
the Gods； and have we not come from them？ Let us depart thither；
whence we came： let us be freed from these chains that confine
and press us down。 Here are thieves and robbers and tribunals：
and they that are called tyrants； who deem that they have after a
fashion power over us； because of the miserable body and what
appertains to it。 Let us show them that they have power over
none。〃
XVIII
And to this I reply：
〃Friends； wait for God。 When He gives the signal； and
releases you from this service； then depart to Him。 But for the
present； endure to dwell in the place wherein He hath assigned
you your post。 Short indeed is the time of your habitation
therein； and easy to those that are minded。 What tyrant； what
robber； what tribunals have any terrors for those who thus esteem
the body and all that belong to it as of no account？ Stay； depart
not rashly hence！〃
XIX
Something like that is what should pass between a teacher
and ingenuous youths。 As it is； what does pass？ The teacher is a
lifeless body； and you are lifeless bodies yourselves。 When you
have had enough to eat today； you sit down and weep about
tomorrow's food。 Slave！ if you have it； well and good； if not；
you will depart： the door is openwhy lament？ What further room
is there for tears？ What further occasion for flattery？ Why
should one envy another？ Why should you stand in awe of them that
have much or are placed in power； especially if they be also
strong and passionate？ Why； what should they do to us？ What they
can do； we will not regard： what does concern us； that they
cannot do。 Who then shall rule one that is thus minded？
XX
Seeing this then； and noting well the faculties which you
have； you should say；〃Send now； O God； any trial that Thou
wilt； lo； I have means and powers given me by Thee to acquit
myself with honour through whatever comes to pass！〃 No； but
there you sit； trembling for fear certain things should come to
pass； and moaning and groaning and lamenting over what does come
to pass。 And then you upbraid the Gods。 Such meanness of spirit
can have but one resultimpiety。
Yet God has not only given us these faculties by means of
which we may bear everything that comes to pass without being
curshed or depressed thereby； but like a good King and Father； He
has given us this without let or hindrance； placed wholly at our
own disposition； without reserving to Himself any power of
impediment or restraint。 Though possessing all these things free
and all you own； you do not use them！ you do not perceive what it
is you have received nor whence it comes； but sit moaning and
groaning； some of you blind to the Giver； making no
acknowledgment to your Benefactor； others basely giving
themselves to complaints and accusations against God。
Yet what faculties and powers you possess for attaining
courage and greatness of heart； I can easily show you； what you
have for upbraiding and accusation； it is for you to show me！
XXI
How did Socrates bear himself in this regard？ How else than
as became one who was fully assured that he was the kinsman of
Gods？
XXII
If God had made that part of His own nature which He severed
from Himself and gave to us； liable to be hindered or constrained
either by Himself or any other； He would not have been God； nor
would He have been taking care of us as He ought 。 。 。 。 If you
choose； you are free； if you choose； you need blame no man
accuse no man。 All things will be at once according to your mind
and according to the Mind of God。
XXIII
Petrifaction is of two sorts。 There is petrifaction of the
understanding； and also of the sense of shame。 This happens when
a man obstinately refuses to acknowledge plain truths； and
persists in maintaining what is self…contradictory。 Most of us
dread mortification of the body； and would spare no pains to
escape anything of that kind。 But of mortification of the soul we
are utterly heedless。 With regard； indeed； to the soul； if a man
is in such a state as to be incapable of following or
understanding anything； I grant you we do think him in a bad way。
But mortification of the sense of shame and modesty we go so far
as to dub strength of mind！
XXIV
If we were as intent upon our business as the old fellows at
Rome are upon what interests them； we too might perhaps
accomplish something。 I know a man older than I am； now
Superintendent of the Corn…market at Rome； and I remember when he
passed through this place on his way back from exile； what an
account he gave me of his former life； declaring that for the
future； once home again； his only care should be to pass his
remaining years in quiet and tranquility。 〃For how few years have
I left！〃 he cried。 〃That；〃 I said； 〃you will not do； but the
moment the scent of Rome is in your nostrils； you will forget it
all； and if you can but gain admission to Court； you will be glad
enough to elbow your way in； and thank God for it。〃 〃Epictetus；〃
he replied； 〃if ever you find me setting as much as one foot
within the Court； think what you will of me。〃
Well； as it was； what did he do？ Ere ever he entered the
city； he was met by a despatch from the Emperor。 He took it； and
forgot the whole of his resolutions。 From that moment； he has
been piling one thing upon another。 I should like to be beside
him to remind him of what he said when passing this way； and to
add； How much better a prophet I am than you！
What then？ do I say man is not made for an active life？ Far
from it！ 。 。 。 But there is a great difference between other
men's occupations and ours。 。 。 。 A glance at theirs will make it
clear to you。 All day long they do nothing but calculate；
contrive； consult how to wring their profit out of food…stuffs；
farm…plots and the like。 。 。 。 Whereas； I entreat you to learn
what the administration of the World is； and what place a Being
endowed with reason holds therein： to consider what you are
yourself； and wherein your Good and Evil consists。
XXV
A man asked me to write to Rome on his behalf who； as most
people thought； had met with misfortune； for having been before
wealthy and distinguished； he had afterwards lost all and was
living here。 So I wrote about him in a humble style。 He however
on reading the letter returned it to me； with the words： 〃I asked
for your help； not for your pity。 No evil has happened unto me。〃
XXVI
True instruction is this： to learn to wish that each thing
should come to pass as it does。 And how does it come to pass？ As
the Disposer has disposed it。 Now He has disposed that there
should be summer and winter； and plenty and dearth； and vice and
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 tho
