Ch. 16
That caution should be used, as to personal familiarity.
He who frequently mingles with others, either in
conversation or at entertainments, or in any
familiar way of living, must necessarily either become
like his companions, or bring them over to his own
way. For if a dead coal be applied to a live one,
either the first will quench the last, or the last kindle
the first. Since, then, the danger is so great, caution must be used in entering into these familiarities
with the crowd. remembering that it is impossible
to touch a chimney-sweeper without being partaker
of his soot. For what will you do if you have to
discuss gladiators, horses, wrestlers, and, what is
worse, men? "Such a one is good, another bad;
this was well, that ill, done." Besides, what if any
one should sneer, or ridicule, or be ill-natured? Are
any of you prepared, like a harper, who, when he
takes his harp and tries the strings, finds out which
notes are discordant, and knows how to put the instrument in tune? Have any of you such a faculty
as Socrates had, who in every conversation could
bring his companions to his own purpose? Whence
should you have it? You must therefore be carried
along by the crowd. And why are they more powerful than you? Because they utter their corrupt discourses from sincere opinion, and you your good ones
only from your lips. Hence they are without strength
or life; and it is disgusting to hear your exhortations
and your poor miserable virtue proclaimed up hill and
down. Thus it is that the crowd gets the better of
you; for sincere opinion is always strong, always invincible. Therefore before wise sentiments are fixed
in you, and you have acquired some power of self-defence, I advise you to be cautious in popular intercourse; otherwise, if you have any impressions made
on you in the schools, they will melt away daily like
wax before the sun. Get away then, far from the
sun, while you have these waxen opinions.
It is for this reason that the philosophers advise us
to leave our country; because habitual practices draw
the mind aside and prevent the formation of new
habits. We cannot bear that those who meet us
should say, "Hey-day! such a one is turned philosopher, who was formerly thus and so." Thus physicians send patients with lingering distempers to
another place and another air; and they do right.
Do you too import other manners instead of those
you carry out. Fix your opinions, and exercise
yourself in them. No; but you go hence to the
theatre, to the gladiators, to the walks, to the circus;
then hither again, then back again,- just the same
persons all the while ! No good habit, no criticism,
no animadversion upon ourselves. No observation
what use we make of the appearances presented to
our minds, - whether it be conformable, or contrary
to Nature; whether we interpret them rightly or
wrongly. Can I say to the inevitable that it is nothing to me? If this be not yet your case, flee from
your former habits; flee from the crowd if you would
ever begin to be anything.