Stoicism - College of Stoic Philosophers

f154 STOICISM.we recall to memorywhen we think over theirthe friends whomwe have lost,pleasant talk, their cheerfulintercourse, and tender offices of friendship. Let thetears flow then as they will."^The sage himself is no impassive thing, but willshow humanity in sorrow, though without loss of selfcontrol; yet, for himself, he owns that his grief forhis friend Serenus passed all proper bounds, so completelywas he over-mastered by his sorrow.^ He hasthe good sense to see that he who would rebukegrief must rebuke love as well, and his ownheart was warm and tender, and he does not think itunphilosophical to own He it. is careful of his health,he says on one occasion, more for the sake of hisloving wife, Paulina, than for himself. He sees howmuch her happiness, her life even, is bound up withhis own, and regardsit as a duty to indulge so farour natural affections.^ He protests against thesordid view of friendship, which would make thestrength of the tie depend upon the sense of profitfrom a friend's company or help, as though withEpicurus we desired to find a friend only to sit byour bed-side when we are ill,or to come to oursuccour when in poverty or prison. Rather,it is theexpression of a natural instinct, and not a calculationof self-interest. The best philtre or love-charm toprovoke affection is to feel love oneself The pleasureconsists in forming the friendship, not in after profit.should I make a friend ? To have some one" Why'Ep. 99.2 Ibid. 63.3 Ibid, 104.1