God has put us in any place and way of life, we ought to desert
it.'" Socrates speaks like a man who is really a kinsman of the
gods. But we think about ourselves as if we were only stomachs, and
intestines, and shameful parts; we fear, we desire; we flatter those
who are able to help us in these matters, and we fear them also.

  A man asked me to write to Rome about him, a man who, as most people
thought, had been unfortunate, for formerly he was a man of rank and
rich, but had been stripped of all, and was living here. I wrote on
his behalf in a submissive manner; but when he had read the letter, he
gave it back to me and said, "I wished for your help, not your pity:
no evil has happened to me."

  Thus also Musonius Rufus, in order to try me, used to say: "This and
this will befall you from your master"; and I replied that these
were things which happen in the ordinary course of human affairs.
"Why, then," said he, "should I ask him for anything when I can obtain
it from you?" For, in fact, what a man has from himself, it is
superfluous and foolish to receive from another? Shall I, then, who am
able to receive from myself greatness of soul and a generous spirit,
receive from you land and money or a magisterial office? I hope not: I
will not be so ignorant about my own possessions. But when a man is
cowardly and mean, what else must be done for him than to write
letters as you would about a corpse. "Please to grant us the body of a
certain person and a sextarius of poor blood." For such a person is,
in fact, a carcass and a sextarius of blood, and nothing more. But
if he were anything more, he would know that one man is not
miserable through the means of another.

  CHAPTER 10

  Against those who eagerly seek preferment at Rome

  If we applied ourselves as busily to our own work as the old men
at Rome do to those matters about which they are employed, perhaps
we also might accomplish something. I am acquainted with a man older
than myself who is now superintendent of corn at Rome, and remember
the time when he came here on his way back from exile, and what he
said as he related the events of his former life, and how he
declared that with respect to the future after his return he would
look after nothing else than passing the rest of his life in quiet and
tranquillity. "For how little of life," he said, remains for me." I
replied, "You will not do it, but as soon as you smell Rome, you
will forget all that you have said; and if admission is allowed even
into the imperial palace, you will gladly thrust yourself in and thank
God." "If you find me, Epictetus," he answered, "setting even one foot
within the palace, think what you please." Well, what then did he
do? Before he entered the city he was met by letters from Caesar,
and as soon as he received them he forgot all, and ever after has
added one piece of business to another. I wish that I were now by
his side to remind him of what he said when he was passing this way
and to tell him how much better a seer I am than he is.

  Well, then, do I say that man is an animal made for doing nothing?
Certainly not. But why are we not active? For example, as to myself,
as soon as day comes, in a few words I remind myself of what I must
read over to my pupils; then forthwith I say to myself, "But what is
it to me how a certain person shall read? the first thing for me is to
sleep." And indeed what resemblance is there between what other
persons do and what we do? If you observe what they do, you will
understand. And what else do they do all day long than make up
accounts, inquire among themselves, give and take advice about some
small quantity of grain, a bit of land, and such kind of profits? Is
it then the same thing to receive a petition and to read in it: "I
entreat you to permit me to export a small quantity of corn"; and
one to this effect: "I entreat you to learn from Chrysippus what is
the administration of the world, and what place in it the rational
animal holds; consider also who you are, and what is the nature of
your good and bad." Are these things like the other, do they require
equal care, and is it equally base to neglect these and those? Well,
then, are we the only persons who are lazy and love sleep? No; but
much rather you young men are. For we old men, when we see young men
amusing themselves, are eager to play with them; and if I saw you
active and zealous, much more should I be eager myself to join you
in your serious pursuits.

  CHAPTER 11

  Of natural affection

  When he was visited by one of the magistrates, Epictetus inquired of
him about several particulars, and asked if he had children and a
wife. The man replied that he had; and Epictetus inquired further, how
he felt under the circumstances. "Miserable," the man said. Then
Epictetus asked, "In what respect," for men do not marry and beget
children in order to be wretched, but rather to be happy. "But I," the
man replied, "am so wretched about my children that lately, when my
little daughter was sick and was supposed to be in danger, I could not
endure to stay with her, but I left home till a person sent me news
that she had recovered." Well then, said Epictetus, do you think
that you acted right? "I acted naturally," the man replied. But
convince me of this that you acted naturally, and I will convince
you that everything which takes place according to nature takes
place rightly. "This is the case," said the man, "with all or at least
most fathers." I do not deny that: but the matter about which we are
inquiring is whether such behavior is right; for in respect to this
matter we must say that tumours also come for the good of the body,
because they do come; and generally we must say that to do wrong is
natural, because nearly all or at least most of us do wrong. Do you
show me then how your behavior is natural. "I cannot," he said; "but