the estate in land. Let him have as much as he chooses. Will he then
have a greater share of modesty, of fidelity, of brotherly
affection? For who will eject you from this possession? Not even Zeus,
for neither has he chosen to do so; but he has made this in my own
power, and he has given it to me just as he possessed it himself, free
from hindrance, compulsion, and impediment. When then the coin which
another uses is a different coin, if a man presents this coin, he
receives that which is sold for it. Suppose that there comes into
the province a thievish proconsul, what coin does he use? Silver coin.
Show it to him, and carry off what you please. Suppose one comes who
is an adulterer: what coin does he use? Little girls. "Take," a man
says, "the coin, and sell me the small thing." "Give," says the
seller, "and buy." Another is eager to possess boys. Give him the
coin, and receive what you wish. Another is fond of hunting: give
him a fine nag or a dog. Though he groans and laments, he will sell
for it that which you want. For another compels him from within, he
who has fixed this coin.
Against this kind of thing chiefly a man should exercise himself. As
soon as you go out in the morning, examine every man whom you see,
every man whom you hear; answer as to a question, "What have you
seen?" A handsome man or woman? Apply the rule: Is this independent of
the will, or dependent? Independent. Take it away. What have you seen?
A man lamenting over the death of a child. Apply the rule. Death is
a thing independent of the will. Take it away. Has the proconsul met
you? Apply the rule. What kind of thing is a proconsul's office?
Independent of the will, or dependent on it? Independent. Take this
away also: it does not stand examination: cast it away: it is
nothing to you.
If we practiced this and exercised ourselves in it daily from
morning to night, something indeed would be done. But now we are
forthwith caught half-asleep by every appearance, and it is only, if
ever, that in the school we are roused a little. Then when we go
out, if we see a man lamenting, we say, "He is undone." If we see a
consul, we say, "He is happy." If we see an exiled man, we say, "He is
miserable." If we see a poor man, we say, "He is wretched: he has
nothing to eat."
We ought then to eradicate these bad opinions, and to this end we
should direct all our efforts. For what is weeping and lamenting?
Opinion. What is bad fortune? Opinion. What is civil sedition, what is
divided opinion, what is blame, what is accusation, what is impiety,
what is trifling? All these things are opinions, and nothing more, and
opinions about things independent of the will, as if they were good
and bad. Let a man transfer these opinions to things dependent on
the will, and I engage for him that he will be firm and constant,
whatever may be the state of things around him. Such as is a dish of
water, such is the soul. Such as is the ray of light which falls on
the water, such are the appearances. When the water is moved, the
ray also seems to be moved, yet it is not moved. And when, then, a man
is seized with giddiness, it is not the arts and the virtues which are
confounded, but the spirit on which they are impressed; but if the