Stoicism - College of Stoic Philosophers

220 STOICISM.But fidelity, and modesty, and justice, and tiiithare fled"Up to Olympus from the wide-spread earth." — (Hesiod.)"What then is there which still detains theehere ? . . . To have good repute amidst such a worldas this is an empty thing. Why, then, dost thou notwait in tranquillity for thy end, whether it is extinctionor removal to another state ? And until that timecomes what is sufficient ?Why, what else than tovenerate the gods and bless them, and to do good tomen, and to practise tolerance and self-restraint;but as to everything which isbeyond the limits of thepoor flesh and breath, to remember that this is neitherthine nor in thy power." iBut if we ask what hopes he entertained of a life beyondthe grave, we shall find that his judgment waverson the subject. On the one hand he seems to be assuredof a personal immortality formen of worth :— "Howcan it be that the gods after having arranged all thingswell and benevolently for mankind, have overlookedthis alone, that some men, and very good men, andmen who, as we may say, have had most communionwith the Divinity, and through pious acts and religiousobservances have been most intimate with the Divinity,when they have once died should never exist again,but should be completely extinguished ? But if thisis so, be assured that if itought to have been otherwise,the gods would have done it. For if it werejust, it would also be possible and if it were;according'"Thoughts," V. 3J.