Volume 1 - Discourses - Books I - II - College of Stoic Philosophers

BOOK I. x.have applied themselves to the matters on whichthey have set their hearts, perhaps we too shouldbe accomplishing something.I know a man olderthan myself who is now in charge of the grainsupply * at Rome. When he passed this place onhis way back from exile, I recall what a tale he told ashe inveighed against his former life and announcedfor the future that, when he had returned to Rome,he would devote himself solely to spending theremainder of his life in peace and " quiet, For howlittle is yet left to me!" And I told him,, "Youwill not do it, but when once you have caught nomore than a whiff of Rome you will forgetall this/'And if also admission to court should be granted,Iadded that he would rejoice, thank God and pushhis way in. "If you find me, Epictetus/' said he," putting so much as one foot inside the court, thinkof me what you will." Well, now, what did he do?Before he reached Rome, letters from Caesar methim ;and as soon as he received them, he forgotall those resolutions of his, and ever since he hasbeen piling up one property after another. I wishI could stand byhis side now and remind him ofthe words that he uttered as he passed by here,, andremark, " How much more clever a prophet I am"than you !What then? Do I say that man is an animalmade for inactivity? 2 Far be it from me ! But howcan you say that we philosophers are not activein affairs ? For example, to take myselffirst : assoon as day breaks I call to mind briefly what author1 Praefcctus annonae, a very important official during theEmpire.2As opposed in the * active " lives of business or politics,75