Part 2 (1/2)
XXII
If G.o.d had made that part of His own nature which He severed from Himself and gave to us, liable to be hindered or constrained either by Himself or any other, He would not have been G.o.d, nor would He have been taking care of us as He ought ... . If you choose, you are free; if you choose, you need blame no man--accuse no man. All things will be at once according to your mind and according to the Mind of G.o.d.
XXIII
Petrifaction is of two sorts. There is petrifaction of the understanding; and also of the sense of shame. This happens when a man obstinately refuses to acknowledge plain truths, and persists in maintaining what is self-contradictory. Most of us dread mortification of the body, and would spare no pains to escape anything of that kind.
But of mortification of the soul we are utterly heedless. With regard, indeed, to the soul, if a man is in such a state as to be incapable of following or understanding anything, I grant you we do think him in a bad way. But mortification of the sense of shame and modesty we go so far as to dub strength of mind!
XXIV
If we were as intent upon our business as the old fellows at Rome are upon what interests them, we too might perhaps accomplish something.
I know a man older than I am, now Superintendent of the Corn-market at Rome, and I remember when he pa.s.sed through this place on his way back from exile, what an account he gave me of his former life, declaring that for the future, once home again, his only care should be to pa.s.s his remaining years in quiet and tranquility. ”For how few years have I left!” he cried. ”That,” I said, ”you will not do; but the moment the scent of Rome is in your nostrils, you will forget it all; and if you can but gain admission to Court, you will be glad enough to elbow your way in, and thank G.o.d for it.” ”Epictetus,” he replied, ”if ever you find me setting as much as one foot within the Court, think what you will of me.”
Well, as it was, what did he do? Ere ever he entered the city, he was met by a despatch from the Emperor. He took it, and forgot the whole of his resolutions. From that moment, he has been piling one thing upon another. I should like to be beside him to remind him of what he said when pa.s.sing this way, and to add, How much better a prophet I am than you!
What then? do I say man is not made for an active life? Far from it!
... But there is a great difference between other men's occupations and ours... . A glance at theirs will make it clear to you. All day long they do nothing but calculate, contrive, consult how to wring their profit out of food-stuffs, farm-plots and the like... . Whereas, I entreat you to learn what the administration of the World is, and what place a Being endowed with reason holds therein: to consider what you are yourself, and wherein your Good and Evil consists.
XXV
A man asked me to write to Rome on his behalf who, as most people thought, had met with misfortune; for having been before wealthy and distinguished, he had afterwards lost all and was living here. So I wrote about him in a humble style. He however on reading the letter returned it to me, with the words: ”I asked for your help, not for your pity. No evil has happened unto me.”
XXVI
True instruction is this:--to learn to wish that each thing should come to pa.s.s as it does. And how does it come to pa.s.s? As the Disposer has disposed it. Now He has disposed that there should be summer and winter, and plenty and dearth, and vice and virtue, and all such opposites, for the harmony of the whole.
XXVII
Have this thought ever present with thee, when thou losest any outward thing, what thou gainest in its stead; and if this be the more precious, say not, I have suffered loss.