Ch. 26
What the rule of life is.
S some one was reading hypothetical propositions, Epictetus remarked that it was a rule in
these to admit whatever was in accordance with the
hypothesis, but much more a rule in life to do what
was in accordance with nature. For, if we desire in
every matter and on every occasion to conform to nature, we must on every occasion evidently make it
our aim, neither to omit anything thus conformabley
nor to admit anything inconsistent. Philosophers,
therefore, first exercise us in theory, which is the
more easy task, and then lead us to the more difficult; for in theory there is nothing to hinder our following what we are taught, but in life there are many
things to draw us aside. It is ridiculous, then, to say
we must begin with these applications, for it is not
easy to begin with the most difficult; and this excuse
children should make to those parents who dislike
that they should study philosophy. " Am I to blame
then, sir, and ignorant of my duty, and of what is
incumbent on me? If this is neither to be learned,
nor taught, why do you find fault with me? If it
is to be taught, pray teach me yourself; or, if you
cannot, let me learn it from those who profess to
understand it. For what think you; that I voluntarily fall into evil, and miss good? Heaven forbid !
What, then, is the cause of my faults? Ignorance.
Are you not willing, then, that I should get rid of
my ignorance? Who was ever taught the art of
music, or navigation, by anger? Do you expect,
then, that your anger should teach me the art of
living? "
This, however, can properly be said only by one
who is really in earnest. But he who reads these
things, and applies to the philosophers, merely for the
sake of showing, at some entertainment, that he
understands hypothetical reasonings, what aim has
he but to be admired by some senator, who happens
to sit near him? 21 Great possessions may be won by
such aims as that, but what we hold as wealth passes
there for folly. It is hard, therefore, to overcome by
appearances, where vain things thus pass for great.
I once saw a person weeping and embracing the
Knees of Epaphroditus, and deploring his hard fortune, that he had not more than 150,000 drachmae
left. What said Epaphroditus then? Did he laugh
at him, as we should do? No; but cried out with
astonishment: " Poor man! How could you be silent
under it? How could you bear it? "
The first step, therefore, towards becoming a philosopher is to be sensible in what state the ruling
faculty of the mind is; for on knowing it to be weak,
no person will immediately employ it in great attempts. But, for want of this, some who can scarce
digest a crumb will yet buy and swallow whole treatises; and so they throw them up again, or cannot digest them; and then come colics, fluxes, and fevers.
Such persons ought to consider what they can bear.
Indeed, it is easy to convince an ignorant person, so
far as concerns theory; but in matters relating to life,
no one offers himself to conviction, and we hate those
who have convinced us. Socrates used to say, that
we ought not to live a life unexamined.22