Ch. 14
Certain miscellaneous matters.
As bad506 tragic actors cannot sing alone, but in company
with many: so some persons cannot walk about alone.
Man, if you are anything, both walk alone and talk to
yourself, and do not hide yourself in the chorus. Examine
a little at last, look around, stir yourself up, that you may
know who you are.
When a man drinks water, or does anything for the
sake of practice (discipline), whenever there is an
opportunity he tells it to all: 'I drink water.' Is it for
this that you drink water, for the purpose of drinking
water? Man, if it is good for you to drink, drink; but if
not, you are acting ridiculously. But if it is good for you
and you do drink, say nothing about it to those who are
displeased with water-drinkers. What then, do you wish
to please these very men?
Of things that are done some are done with a final
purpose (προηγουμένως), some according to occasion, others
with a certain reference to circumstances, others for the
purpose of complying with others, and some according to
a fixed scheme of life.507
You must root out of men these two things, arrogance
(pride) and distrust. Arrogance then is the opinion that
you want nothing (are deficient in nothing): but distrust
is the opinion that you cannot be happy when so many
circumstances surround you. Arrogance is removed by
confutation; and Socrates was the first who practised this.
And (to know) that the thing is not impossible inquire
and seek. This search will do you no harm; and in a
manner this is philosophizing, to seek how it is possible to employ desire and aversion (ἐκκλίσει) without
impediment.
I am superior to you, for my father is a man of consular
rank. Another says, I have been a tribune, but you have
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not. If we were horses, would you say, My father was
swifter? I have much barley and fodder, or elegant neck
ornaments. If then while you were saying this, I said,
Be it so: let us run then. Well, is there nothing in a man
such as running in a horse, by which it will be known
which is superior and inferior? Is there not modesty
(αἰδὼς), fidelity, justice? Show yourself superior in these,
that you may be superior as a man. If you tell me that
you can kick violently, I also will say to you, that you
are proud of that which is the act of an ass.