The Thoughts of Marcus Aurelius - College of Stoic Philosophers

262 L.ELIUS; OR,
account of any private affliction,
to decline a conference
which I have never failed to attend when my health
permitted. And, indeed, I am persuaded that no man
who possesses a proper firmness of mind will suffer his
misfortunes, how heavily soever they may press upon his
For the rest,
heart, to interrupt his duties of any kind.
I
consider the high opinion, Fannius, which you suppose
the world entertains of my character, as an obliging proof
of your friendship ; but it is an opinion which, as I am
not conscious of deserving, I have no disposition to claim.
As little am I inclined to subscribe to your judgment
concerning Cato ;
for if consummate wisdom, in the
moral and philosophic idea of that expression, was ever
to be found in the character of any human being (which,
I will confess, however, I very much doubt), it certainly
appeared throughout the whole conduct of that excellent
person. Not to mention other proofs, with what un
exampled fortitude, let me ask, did he support the death
of his incomparable son ? I was no stranger to the
behaviour of Paulus, and was an eye-witness to that of
Callus, labouring under an affliction of the same kind ;
but the sons whom they were respectively bereaved of
died when they were mere boys. Whereas Cato s was
snatched from him when he had arrived at the prime of
manhood and was flourishing in the general esteem of
his country. Let me caution you, then, from suffering
any man to rival Cato in your good opinion, not excepting
even him whom the oracle of Apollo, you say, declared to
be the wisest of the human race. The truth is, the
memory
of Socrates is held in honour for the admirable
doctrine he delivered, but Cato s for the glorious deeds
he performed.
Thus far in particular reply to Fannius.
I now address
myself to both ;
and if I were to deny that I regret the
death of Scipio, how far such a disposition of mind would
be right, I leave philosophers to determine. But far, I