Discourses - Book III   

Admetus gain much by prolonging his life so ignobly and miserably? Did
he not die afterward? Cease, I adjure you by the gods, to admire
things. Cease to make yourselves slaves, first of things, then on
account of things slaves of those who are able to give them or take
them away.
"Can advantage then be derived from these things." From all; and
from him who abuses you. Wherein does the man who exercises before the
combat profit the athlete? Very greatly. This man becomes my exerciser
before the combat: he exercises me in endurance, in keeping my temper,
in mildness. You say no: but he, who lays hold of my neck and
disciplines my loins and shoulders, does me good; and the exercise
master does right when he says: "Raise him up with both hands, and the
heavier he is, so much the more is my advantage." But if a man
exercises me in keeping my, temper, does he not do good? This is not
knowing how to gain an advantage from men. "Is my neighbour bad?"
Bad to himself, but good to me: he exercises my good disposition, my
moderation. "Is my father bad?" Bad to himself, but to me good. This
is the rod of Hermes: "Touch with it what you please," as the saying
is. "and it will be of gold." I say not so: but bring what you please,
and I will make it good. Bring disease, bring death, bring poverty,
bring abuse, bring trial on capital charges: all these things
through the rod of Hermes shall be made profitable. "What will you
do with death?" Why, what else than that it shall do you honour, or
that it shall show you by act through it, what a man is who follows
the will of nature? "What will you do with disease?" I will show its
nature, I will be conspicuous in, it, I will be firm, I will be happy,
I will not flatter the physician, I will not wish to die. What else do
you seek? Whatever you shall give me, I will make it happy, fortunate,
honoured, a thing which a man shall seek.
You say No: but take care that you do not fall sick: it is a bad
thing." This is the same as if you should say, "Take care that you
never receive the impression that three are four: that is bad." Man,
how is it bad? If I think about it as I ought, how shall it, then,
do me any damage? and shall it not even do me good? If, then, I
think about poverty as I ought to do, about disease, about not
having office, is not that enough for me? will it not be an advantage?
How, then, ought I any longer to look to seek evil and good in
externals? What happens these doctrines are maintained here, but no
man carries them away home; but immediately every one is at war with
his slave, with his neighbours, with those who have sneered at him,
with those who have ridiculed him. Good luck to Lesbius, who daily
proves that I know nothing.

CHAPTER 21

Against those who readily come to the profession of sophists

They who have taken up bare theorems immediately wish to vomit
them forth, as persons whose stomach is diseased do with food. First
digest the thing, then do not vomit it up thus: f you do not digest