The Thoughts of Marcus Aurelius - College of Stoic Philosophers
The Thoughts of Marcus Aurelius - College of Stoic Philosophers
The Thoughts of Marcus Aurelius - College of Stoic Philosophers
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AN ESSAY ON FRIENDSHIP 311<br />
to think in conformity, not only to the will and inclination,<br />
but even to the looks and countenance <strong>of</strong> another. Like<br />
Gnatho in the play, he can prevail with himself to say<br />
either yes or no, as best suits the occasion ;<br />
and he lays<br />
it down as his general maxim, never to dissent from the<br />
company.<br />
Terence exposes this baseness <strong>of</strong> soul in the person <strong>of</strong> a<br />
contemptible parasite but how much more ;<br />
contemptible<br />
does it<br />
appear when exhibited in the conduct <strong>of</strong> one who<br />
dares usurp the name <strong>of</strong> friend I <strong>The</strong> mischief is that<br />
there are many Gnathos, <strong>of</strong> a much superior rank and<br />
consequence, to be met with in the commerce <strong>of</strong> the<br />
world ;<br />
and it is from this class <strong>of</strong> flatterers that the<br />
greatest danger is to be apprehended, as the poison they<br />
administer receives additional strength and efficacy from<br />
the hand that conveys it.<br />
Nevertheless, a man <strong>of</strong> good<br />
sense and discernment, if he will exert the requisite<br />
attention, will always be able to distinguish the com<br />
plaisant from the sincere friend, with the same certainty<br />
that he may in any other subject perceive the difference<br />
between the counterfeit and the genuine. It is observable<br />
in the general assemblies <strong>of</strong> the people, composed as they<br />
are <strong>of</strong> the most ignorant part <strong>of</strong> the community, that even<br />
the populace know how to discriminate the soothing<br />
insidious orator, whose only aim is to acquire popularity,<br />
from the firm, inflexible, and undesigning patriot. A<br />
remarkable instance <strong>of</strong> this kind lately appeared, when<br />
Caius Papirius proposed a law to enable the Tribunes, at<br />
the expiration <strong>of</strong> their <strong>of</strong>fice, to be re-elected for the<br />
ensuing year, upon which he employed every insinuating<br />
art <strong>of</strong> address to seduce and captivate the ears <strong>of</strong> the<br />
multitude. Not to mention the part<br />
I took myself upon<br />
that occasion, it was opposed by Scipio with such a<br />
commanding flow <strong>of</strong> eloquence, and invincible strength<br />
<strong>of</strong> reason, that this popular law was rejected by the very<br />
populace themselves. But you were present at the debate,
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