the same place, and sometimes we have a great number of slaves. For
the man who is solitary, as it is conceived, is considered to be a
helpless person and exposed to those who wish to harm him. For this
reason when we travel, then especially do we say that we are lonely
when we fall among robbers, for it is not the sight of a human
creature which removes us from solitude, but the sight of one who is
faithful and modest and helpful to us. For if being alone is enough to
make solitude, you may say that even Zeus is solitary in the
conflagration and bewails himself saying, "Unhappy that I am who
have neither Hera, nor Athena, nor Apollo, nor brother, nor son, nor
descendant nor kinsman." This is what some say that he does when he is
alone at the conflagration. For they do not understand how a man
passes his life when he is alone, because they set out from a
certain natural principle, from the natural desire of community and
mutual love and from the pleasure of conversation among men. But
none the less a man ought to be prepared in a manner for this also, to
be able to be sufficient for himself and to be his own companion.
For as Zeus dwells with himself, and is tranquil by himself, and
thinks of his own administration and of its nature, and is employed in
thoughts suitable to himself; so ought we also to be able to talk with
ourselves, not to feel the want of others also, not to be unprovided
with the means of passing our time; to observe the divine
administration and the relation of ourselves to everything else; to
consider how we formerly were affected toward things that happen and
how at present; what are still the things which give us pain; how
these also can be cured and how removed; if any things require
improvement, to improve them according to reason.
For you see that Caesar appears to furnish us with great peace, that
there are no longer enemies nor battles nor great associations of
robbers nor of pirates, but we can travel at every hour and sail
from east to west. But can Caesar give us security from fever also,
can he from shipwreck, from fire, from earthquake or from lightning?
well, I will say, can he give us security against love? He cannot.
From sorrow? He cannot. From envy? He cannot. In a word then he cannot
protect us from any of these things. But the doctrine of
philosophers promises to give us security even against these things.
And what does it say? "Men, if you will attend to me, wherever you
are, whatever you are doing, you will not feel sorrow, nor anger,
nor compulsion, nor hindrance, but you will pass your time without
perturbations and free from everything." When a man has this peace,
not proclaimed by Caesar (for how should he be able to proclaim
it?), but by God through reason, is he not content when he is alone?
when he sees and reflects, "Now no evil can happen to me; for me there
is no robber, no earthquake, everything is full of peace, full of
tranquillity: every way, every city, every meeting, neighbor,
companion is harmless. One person whose business it is, supplies me
with food; another with raiment; another with perceptions, and
preconceptions. And if he does not supply what is necessary, He
gives the signal for retreat, opens the door, and says to you, 'Go.'
Go whither? To nothing terrible, but to the place from which you came,