tunes the instrument? such a power as Socrates had who in all his
social intercourse could lead his companions to his own purpose? How
should you have this power? It is therefore a necessary consequence
that you are carried about by the common kind of people.
Why, then, are they more powerful than you? Because they utter these
useless words from their real opinions: but you utter your elegant
words only from your lips; for this reason they are without strength
and dead, and it is nauseous to listen to your exhortations and your
miserable virtue, which is talked of everywhere. In this way the
vulgar have the advantage over you: for every opinion is strong and
invincible. Until, then, the good sentiments are fixed in you, and you
shall have acquired a certain power for your security, I advise you to
be careful in your association with like wax in the sun there will
be melted away whatever you inscribe on your minds in the school.
Withdraw, then, yourselves far from the sun so long as you have
these waxen sentiments. For this reason also philosophers advise men
to leave their native country, because ancient habits distract them
and do not allow a beginning to be made of a different habit; nor
can we tolerate those who meet us and say: "See such a one is now a
philosopher, who was once so-and-so." Thus also physicians send
those who have lingering diseases to a different country and a
different air; and they do right, Do you also introduce other habits
than those which you have: fix your opinions and exercise yourselves
in them. But you do not so: you go hence to a spectacle, to a show
of gladiators, to a place of exercise, to a circus; then you come back
hither, and again from this place you go to those places, and still
the same persons. And there is no pleasing habit, nor attention, nor
care about self and observation of this kind, "How shall I use the
appearances presented to me? according to nature, or contrary to
nature? how do I answer to them? as I ought, or as I ought not? Do I
say to those things which are independent of the will, that they do
not concern me?" For if you are not yet in this state, fly from your
former habits, fly from the common sort, if you intend ever to begin
to be something.

CHAPTER 17

On providence

When you make any charge against Providence, consider, and you
will learn that the thing has happened according to reason. "Yes,
but the unjust man has the advantage." In what? "In money." Yes, for
he is superior to you in this, that he flatters, is free from shame,
and is watchful. What is the wonder? But see if he has the advantage
over you in being faithful, in being modest: for you will not find
it to be so; but wherein you are superior, there you will find that
you have the advantage. And I once said to a man who was vexed because
Philostorgus was fortunate: "Would you choose to lie with Sura?"
"May it never happen," he replied, "that this day should come?" "Why
then are you vexed, if he receives something in return for that