Ch. 8
How we must exercise ourselves against appearances
(φαντασίας).
As we exercise ourselves against sophistical questions, so
we ought to exercise ourselves daily against appearances;
for these appearances also propose questions to us. A
certain person's son is dead. Answer; the thing is not
within the power of the will': it is not an evil. A father
has disinherited a certain son. What do you think of it?
It is a thing beyond the power of the will, not an evil.
Caesar has condemned a person. It is a thing beyond the
power of the will, not an evil. The man is afflicted at this.
Affliction is a thing which depends on the will: it is an
evil. He has borne the condemnation bravely. That is a
thing within the power of the will: it is a good. If we
train ourselves in this manner, we shall make progress;
for we shall never assent to any thing of which there is not
an appearance capable of being comprehended. Your son
is dead. What has happened? Your son is dead. Nothing
more? Nothing. Your ship is lost. What has happened?
Your ship is lost. A man has been led to prison. What has
happened? He has been led to prison. But that herein he
has fared badly, every man adds from his own opinion. But
Zeus, you say, does not do right in these matters. Why?
because he has made you capable of endurance? because he
has made you magnanimous? because he has taken from that
which befalls you the power of being evils? because it is in
your power to be happy while you are suffering what you
suffer; because he has opened the door to you,471 when things
do not please you?472 Man, go out and do not complain.
Hear how the Romans feel towards philosophers, if you
would like to know. Italicus, who was the most in repute
of the philosophers, once when I was present being vexed
with his own friends and as if he was suffering something
intolerable said, I cannot bear it, you are killing me: you
will make me such as that man is; pointing to me.473
[p. 219]