Stoicism - College of Stoic Philosophers

2 I 6 STOICISM,defect being not less than that which deprives us olthe power of distinguishing things that are white andblack."!Virtue, he thinks, should give herself no airs, norlook too sternly on the vices and the follies of mankindbut wear a cheerful and engaging smile upon her face."A scowling look is altogether unnatural when it is;often assumed, the result is that all comeliness diesaway, and at last is so completely extinguished that itcannot be again lighted upat all.Try to concludefrom this very fact that it is contrary to reason. "^Severer Stoics held in despite of common sensethat there were no venial errors and no degrees ofheinousness in vice. Not so said Antoninus." Theophrastus in —his comparison of bad actssuch a comparison as one would make accordancewith the common notions of mankind— says, like atrue philosopher, that the offences which are committedthrough desire are more blameable than thosewhich are committed through anger. For he who isexcited by anger seems to turn away from reason witha certain pain and unconscious contraction ;but hewho offends through desire, being overpowered bypleasure, seems to be in a manner more intemperateand more womanish in his offences. Rightly then,and in a manner worthy of philosophy, he said thatthe offence which is committed with pleasure is moreblameable than that which is committed with pain ;and, on the whole, the one is more like a person whohas been firstwronged and through pain is compelled'"Thoughts," ii. 13.^ " Thoughts," vii. 24.