The Stoic Creed - College of Stoic Philosophers

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2 5 o THE STOIC CREED
his rule of conduct,
and forbear (a
Lastly, the vivid apprehension (in the case of the
later Stoics) of the dependence of true happiness, on
one hand, on cheerful submission to the course
of the world, as being"
a manifestation of Divine law
and rule, both wise and good ; and, on the other
hand, on realization of the fact of the brotherhood
of man, not by blood or physical descent, but by
community of mind and partnership with the
Divine," and willing performance of the duties thence
arising, on the ground that society or the community is
an organism, part of the Divine order, and subservient
to the highest good. Peace within is the great thing ;
and peace within can be got only from a high conception
of Duty and an effort faithfully to do our work. We
have here a voice from the past meeting a voice in the
present.
is in man a Higher than love of
Happiness he can do without happiness, and instead
:
thereof find Blessedness ! Was it not to preach forth
this Higher that sages and martyrs,
the Poet and the
Priest, in all times, have spoken and suffered ; bearing
testimony, through life and through death, of the
Godlike that is in Man, and how in the Godlike only
has he Strength and Freedom ? Which God-inspired
Doctrine art thou also honoured to be taught O
;
heavens ! and broken with manifold merciful Afflictions,
even until thou become contrite and learn it !
O, thank
thy Destiny for these ; thankfully bear what yet remain :
thou hadst need of them ;
the Self in thee needed to be
annihilated. By benignant fever-paroxysms
is Life