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第15章

the golden sayings-第15章

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not to be thought to know anything。 If any should make account of

thee; distrust thyself。





CLIX





Remember that in life thou shouldst order thy conduct as at

a banquet。 Has any dish that is being served reached thee?

Stretch forth thy hand and help thyself modestly。 Doth it pass

thee by? Seek not to detain it。 Has it not yet come? Send not

forth thy desire to meet it; but wait until it reaches thee。 Deal

thus with children; thus with wife; thus with office; thus with

wealthand one day thou wilt be meet to share the Banquets of

the Gods。 But if thou dost not so much as touch that which is

placed before thee; but despisest it; then shalt thou not only

share the Banquets of the Gods; but their Empire also。





CLX





Remember that thou art an actor in a play; and of such sort

as the Author chooses; whether long or short。 If it be his good

pleasure to assign thee the part of a beggar; a ruler; or a

simple citizen; thine it is to play it fitly。 For thy business is

to act the part assigned thee; well: to choose it; is another's。





CLXI





Keep death and exile daily before thine eyes; with all else

that men deem terrible; but more especially Death。 Then wilt thou

never think a mean though; nor covet anything beyond measure。





CLXII





As a mark is not set up in order to be missed; so neither is

such a thing as natural evil produced in the World。





CLXIII





Piety toward the Gods; to be sure; consists chiefly in

thinking rightly concerning themthat they are; and that they

govern the Universe with goodness and justice; and that thou

thyself art appointed to obey them; and to submit under all

circumstances that arise; acquiescing cheerfully in whatever may

happen; sure it is brought to pass and accomplished by the most

Perfect Understanding。 Thus thou wilt never find fault with the

Gods; nor charge them with neglecting thee。





CLXIV





Lose no time in setting before you a certain stamp of

character and behaviour both when by yourself and in company with

others。 Let silence be your general rule; or say only what is

necessary and in few words。 We shall; however; when occassion

demands; enter into discourse sparingly。 avoiding common topics

as gladiators; horse…races; athletes; and the perpetual talk

about food and drink。 Above all avoid speaking of persons; either

in way of praise or blame; or comparison。



If you can; win over the conversation of your company to

what it should be by your own。 But if you find yourself cut off

without escape among strangers and aliens; be silent。





CLXV





Laughter should not be much; nor frequent; nor unrestrained。





CLXVI





Refuse altogether to take an oath if you can; if not; as far

as may be。





CLXVII





Banquets of the unlearned and of them that are without;

avoid。 But if you have occasion to take part in them; let not

your attention be relaxed for a moment; lest you slip after all

into evil ways。 For you may rest assured that be a man ever so

pure himself; he cannot escape defilement if his associates are

impure。





CLXVIII





Take what relates to the body as far as the bare use

warrantsas meat; drink; raiment; house and servants。 But all

that makes for show and luxury reject。





CLXIX





If you are told that such an one speaks ill of you; make no

defence against what was said; but answer; He surely knew not my

other faults; else he would not have mentioned these only!





CLXX





When you visit any of those in power; bethink yourself that

you will not find him in: that you may not be admitted: that the

door may be shut in your face: that he may not concern himself

about you。 If with all this; it is your duty to go; bear what

happens; and never say to yourself; It was not worth the trouble!

For that would smack of the foolish and unlearned who suffer

outward things to touch them。





CLXXI





In company avoid frequent and undue talk about your own

actions and dangers。 However pleasant it may be to you to enlarge

upon the risks you have run; others may not find such pleasure in

listening to your adventures。 Avoid provoking laughter also: it

is a habit from which one easily slides into the ways of the

foolish; and apt to diminish the respect which your neighbors

feel for you。 To border on coarse talk is also dangerous。 On such

occasions; if a convenient opportunity offer; rebuke the speaker。

If not; at least by relapsing into silence; colouring; and

looking annoyed; show that you are displeased with the subject。





CLXXII





When you have decided that a thing ought to be done; and are

doing it; never shun being seen doing it; even though the

multitude should be likely to judge the matter amiss。 For if you

are not acting rightly; shun the act itself; if rightly; however;

why fear misplaced censure?





CLXXIII





It stamps a man of mean capacity to spend much time on the

things of the body; as to be long over bodily exercises; long

over eating; long over drinking; long over other bodily

functions。 Rather should these things take the second place;

while all your care is directed to the understanding。





CLXXIV





Everything has two handles; one by which it may be borne;

the other by which it may not。 If your brother sin against you

lay not hold of it by the handle of injustice; for by that it may

not be borne: but rather by this; that he is your brother; the

comrade of your youth; and thus you will lay hold on it so that

it may be borne。





CLXXV





Never call yourself a Philosopher nor talk much among the

unlearned about Principles; but do that which follows from them。

Thus at a banquet; do not discuss how people ought to eat; but

eat as you ought。 Remember that Socrates thus entirely avoided

ostentation。 Men would come to him desiring to be recommended to

philosophers; and he would conduct them thither himselfso well

did he bear being overlooked。 Accordingly if any talk concerning

principles should arise among the unlearned; be you for the most

part silent。 For you run great risk of spewing up what you have

ill digested。 And when a man tells you that you know nothing and

you are not nettled at it; then you may be sure that you have

begun the work。





CLXXVI





When you have brought yourself to supply the needs of the

body at small cost; do not pique yourself on that; nor if you

drink only water; keep saying on each occasion; I drink water!

And if you ever want to practise endurance and toil; do so unto

yourself and not unto othersdo not embrace statues!





CLXXVII





When a man prides himself on being able to understand and

interpret the writings of Chrysippus; say to yourself:



If Chrysippus had not written obscurely; this fellow would

have had nothing to be proud of。 But what is it that I desire? To

understand Nature; and to follow her! Accordingly I ask who is

the Interpreter。 On hearing that it is Chrysippus; I go to him。

But it seems I do not understand what he wrote。 So I seek one to

interpret that。 So far there is nothing to pride myself on。 But

when I have found my interpreter; what remains is to put in

practice his instructions。 This itself is the only thing to be

proud of。 But if I admire the interpretation and that alone; what

else have I turned out but a mere commentator instead of a lover

of wisdom?except indeed that I happen to be interpreting

Chrysippus instead of Homer。 So when any one says to me; Prithee;

read me Chrysippus; I am more inclined to blush; when I cannot

show my deeds to be in harmony and accordance with his sayings。



CLXXVIII





At feasts; remember that you are entertaining two guests;

body and soul。 What you give to the body; you presently lose;

what you give to the soul; you keep for ever。





CLXXIX





At meals; see to it that tho

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