Ch. 10
Concerning those who seek preferment at Rome.
If we all applied ourselves as heartily to our proper
business as the old politicians at Rome to their
schemes, perhaps we too might accomplish something.
I know a man older than I am, who is now a commissary at Rome. When he passed through this place,
on his return from exile, what an account did he give
me of his former life; and how did he promise that
for the future, when he had returned he would apply
himself to nothing but how to spend the remainder of
his days in repose and tranquillity. "For how few
have I now remaining! " he said. "You will not do
it," said I. "When you are once within reach of
Rome you will forget all this; and if you can but
once gain admittance to court, you will be rejoiced
and thank God." "It you ever find me, Epictetus,"
said he, "putting one foot into the court, think of me
whatever you please." Yet, after all, how did he act?
Before he entered the city he was met by a letter
from Caesar. On receiving it he forgot all his former
resolutions; and has ever since been accumulating
affairs upon himself. I should be glad now to have
an opportunity of putting him in mind of his discourse
upon the road, and of pointing out by how much I
was the truer prophet.
What, then, do I say? that man is made for an inactive life? No, surely. But why is not this life of
ours fill of action? For my own part, I wake at
dawn with my head full of my lessons for the coming
day, and then say to myself, quickly, What is it to me
how such a one recites? My present business is to
sleep.
What comparison can be made between their kind
of activity and ours? If you consider what it is they
do, you will see; for about what are they employed
the whole day but in calculating, contriving, consulting, - about provisions, about an estate, or other
interests like these? Is there any likeness, then,
between reading a petition, " I entreat you to give me
a permission to export corn," and this, " I entreat
you to learn from Chrysippus what the administration
of the universe is, and what place a reasonable creature holds in it; learn, too, what you yourself are,
and wherein your good and evil consist"? Are these
things at all alike? Do they require an equal degree
of application? And is it no more shameful to neglect the one than the other?
Well, then, are we older men the only idle dreamers?
No, but you young men are so in a greater degree.
And as we old folks, when we see young ones trifling,
are tempted to trifle with them; so, much more, if
I were to see you earnest and ardent, I should be
excited to labor with you.