Discourses - Book II   

to compare what others say and to form an opinion of my own on the
thing. Therefore I differ not at all from the grammarian. "Who was
Hector's father?" Priam. "Who were his brothers?" Alexander and
Deiphobus. "Who was their mother?" Hecuba. I have heard this story.
"From whom?" From Homer. And Hellanicus also, I think, writes about
the same things, and perhaps others like him. And what further have
I about the ruling argument? Nothing. But, if I am a vain man,
especially at a banquet, I surprise the guests by enumerating those
who have written on these matters. Both Chrysippus has written
wonderfully in his first book about "Possibilities," and Cleanthes has
written specially on the subject, and Archedemus. Antipater also has
written not only in his work about "Possibilities," but also
separately in his work on the ruling argument. Have you not read the
work? "I have not read it." Read. And what profit will a man have from
it? he will be more trifling and impertinent than he is now; for
what else have you rained by reading it? What opinion have you
formed on this subject? none; but you will tell us of Helen and Priam,
and the island of Calypso which never was and never will be. And in
this matter indeed it is of no great importance if you retain the
story, but have formed no opinion of your own. But in matters of
morality this happens to us much more than in these things of which we
are speaking.
"Speak to me about good and evil." Listen:

The wind from Ilium to Ciconian shores
Brought me.

"Of things some are good, some are bad, and others are indifferent.
The good then are the virtues and the things which partake of the
virtues; the bad are the vices, and the things which partake of
them; and the indifferent are the things which lie between the virtues
and the vices, wealth, health, life, death, pleasure, pain." Whence do
you know this? "Hellanicus says it in his Egyptian history"; for
what difference does it make to say this, or to say that "Diogenes has
it in his Ethic," or Chrysippus or Cleanthes? Have you then examined
any of these things and formed an opinion of your own? Show how you
are used to behave in a storm on shipboard? Do you remember this
division, when the sail rattles and a man, who knows nothing of
times and seasons, stands by you when you are screaming and says,
"Tell me, I ask you by the Gods, what you were saying just now. Is
it a vice to suffer shipwreck: does it participate in vice?" Will
you not take up a stick and lay it on his head? What have we to do
with you, man? we are perishing and you come to mock us? But if Caesar
sent for you to answer a charge, do you remember the distinction?
If, when you are going in, pale and trembling, a person should come up
to you and say, "Why do you tremble, man? what is the matter about
which you are engaged? Does Caesar who sits within give virtue and
vice to those who go in to him?" You reply, "Why do you also mock me
and add to my present sorrows?" Still tell me, philosopher, tell me
why you tremble? Is it not death of which you run the risk, or a