The Thoughts of Marcus Aurelius - College of Stoic Philosophers

AN ESSAY ON FRIENDSHIP 291
But as the haughtiness of Tarquin s imperious deport
ment rendered it impossible for him to know the satis
faction of enjoying a faithful attachment, so it frequently
happens that the being advanced into exalted stations
equally proves the occasion of excluding the great and
the powerful from possessing that inestimable felicity.
Fortune, indeed, is not only blind herself but is apt to
affect her favourites with the same infirmity. Weak
minds, elated with being distinguished by her smiles, are
generally disposed to assume an arrogant and supercilious
demeanour ;
and there is not in the whole compass of
nature a more insufferable creature than a prosperous
fool. Prosperity, in truth, has been observed to produce
wonderful transformations even in persons who before
had always the good sense to deport themselves in a
modest and unassuming manner ;
and their heads have
been so turned by the eminence to which they were raised,
as to look down with neglect and contempt on their old
friends, while their new connexions entirely engaged all
their attention and favour. But there cannot surely be
a more flagrant instance of weakness and folly than to
employ the great advantages
of extensive influence and
opulent possessions in the purchase of brilliant equipages,
gaudy raiment, elegant vases, together with every other
fashionable decoration which wealth and power can
procure and yet ; neglect to use the means they afford
of acquiring that noblest and most valuable ornament
of human life, a worthy and faithful friend ! The ab
surdity of this conduct is the more amazing, as after all
the base sacrifices that may have been made to obtain
these vain and ostentatious embellishments, the holding
of them must ever be precarious. For whoever shall
invade them with a stronger arm, to him they will infallibly
belong ; whereas a true friend is a treasure which no
power, how formidable soever, can be sufficient to wrest
from the happy possessor. But admitting that the