the golden sayings-第7章
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！
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
or two Conpendiums； I have read some works of Chrysippus； and I
have not even touched the hem of Philosophy's robe〃！
LXXI
Friend； lay hold with a desperate grasp； ere it is too late；
on Freedom； on Tranquility； on Greatness of soul！ Lift up thy
head； as one escaped from slavery； dare to look up to God； and
say：〃Deal with me henceforth as Thou wilt； Thou and I are of
one mind。 I am Thine： I refuse nothing that seeeth good to Thee；
lead on whither Thou wilt； clothe me in what garb Thou pleasest；
wilt Thou have me a ruler or a subjectat home or in exile
poor or rich？ All these things will I justify unto men for Thee。
I will show the true nature of each。 。 。 。〃
Who would Hercules have been had he loitered at home？ no
Hercules； but Eurystheus。 And in his wanderings through the world
how many friends and comrades did he find？ but nothing dearer to
him than God。 Wherefore he was believed to be God's son； as
indeed he was。 So then in obedience to Him； he went about
delivering the earth from injustice and lawlessness。
But thou art not Hercules； thou sayest； and canst not
deliver others from their iniquitynot even Theseus； to deliver
the soil of Attica from its monsters？ Purge away thine own； cast
forth thencefrom thine own mind； not robbers and monsters； but
Fear； Desire； Envy； Malignity； Avarice； Effeminacy； Intemperance。
And these may not be cast out； except by looking to God alone； by
fixing thy affections on Him only； and by consecrating thyself to
His commands。 If thou choosest aught else； with sighs and groans
thou wilt be forced to follow a Might greater than thine own；
ever seeking Tranquillity without； and never able to attain unto
her。 For thou seekest her where she is not to be found； and where
she is； there thou seekest her not！
LXXII
If a man would pursue Philosophy； his first task is to throw
away conceit。 For it is impossible for a man to begin to learn
what he has a conceit that he already knows。
LXXIII
Give me but one young man； that has come to the School with
this intention； who stands forth a champion of this cause； and
says； 〃All else I renounce； content if I am but able to pass my
life free from hindrance and trouble； to raise my head aloft and
face all things as a free man； to look up to heaven as a friend
of God； fearing nothing that may come to pass！〃 Point out such a
one to me； that I may say； 〃Enter； young man； into possession of
that which is thine own。 For thy lot is to adorn Philosophy。
Thine are these possessions； thine these books； these
discourses！〃
And when our champion has duly exercised himself in this
part of the subject； I hope he will come back to me and say：
〃What I desire is to be free from passion and from perturbation；
as one who grudges no pains in the pursuit of piety and
philosophy； what I desire is to know my duty to the Gods； my duty
to my parents； to my brothers； to my country； to strangers。〃
〃Enter then on the second part of the subject； it is thine
also。〃
〃But I have already mastered the second part； only I wished
to stand firm and unshakenas firm when asleep as when awake；
as firm when elated with wine as in despondency and dejection。〃
〃Friend； you are verily a God！ you cherish great designs。〃
LXXIV
〃The question at stake；〃 said Epictetus； 〃is no common one；
it is this：Are we in our senses； or are we not？〃
LXXV
If you have given way to anger； be sure that over and above
the evil involved therein； you have strengthened the habit； and
added fuel to the fire。 If overcome by a temptation of the flesh；
do not reckon it a single defeat； but that you have also
strengthened your dissolute habits。 Habits and faculties are
necessarily affected by the corresponding acts。 Those that were
not there before； spring up： the rest gain in strength and
extent。 This is the account which Philosophers give of the origin
of diseases of the mind：Suppose you have once lusted after
money： if reason sufficient to produce a sense of evil be
applied； then the lust is checked； and the mind at once regains
its original authority； whereas if you have recourse to no
remedy； you can no longer look for this returnon the contrary；
the next time it is excited by the corresponding object； the
flame of desire leaps up more quickly than before。 By frequent
repetition； the mind in the long run becomes callous； and thus
this mental disease produces confirmed Avarice。
One who has had fever； even when it has left him； is not in
the same condition of health as before； unless indeed his cure is
complete。 Something of the same sort is true also of diseases of
the mind。 Behind； there remains a legacy of traces and blisters：
and unless these are effectually erased； subsequent blows on the
same spot will produce no longer mere blisters； but sores。 If you
do not wish to be prone to anger； do not feed the habit； give it
nothing which may tend its increase。 At first； keep quiet and
count the days when you were not angry： 〃I used to be angry every
day； then every other day： next every two； next every three
days！〃 and if you succeed in passing thirty days； sacrifice to
the Gods in thanksgiving。
LXXVI
How then may this be attained？Resolve； now if never
before； to approve thyself to thyself； resolve to show thyself
fair in God's sight； long to be pure with thine own pure self and
God！
LXXVII
That is the true athlete； that trains himself to resist such
outward impressions as these。
〃Stay； wretched man！ suffer not thyself to be carried away！〃
Great is the combat； divine the task！ you are fighting for
Kingship； for Liberty； for Happiness； for Tranquillity。 Remember
God： call upon Him to aid thee； like a comrade that stands beside
thee in the fight。
LXXVIII
Who then is a Stoicin the sense that we call a statue of
Phidias which is modelled after that master's art？ Show me a man
in this sense modelled after the doctrines that are ever upon his
lips。 Show me a man that is sickand happy； an exileand happy；
in evil reportand happy！ Show me him； I ask again。 So help me
Heaven； I long to see one Stoic！ Nay； if you cannot show me one
fully modelled； let me at least see one in whom the process is at
workone whose bent is in that direction。 Do me that favour！
Grudge it not to an old man； to behold a sight he has never yet
beheld。 Think you I wish to see the Zeus or Athena of Phidias；
bedecked with gold and ivory？Nay； show me； one of you； a human
soul； desiring to be of one mind with God； no more to lay blame
on God or man； to suffer nothing to disappoint； nothing to cross
him； to yield neither to anger； envy； nor jealousyin a word；
why disguise the matter？ one that from a man would fan become a
God； one that while still
