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

BOOK I. xii. 2-12forethought for things terrestrial and the affairs ofmen, but only in a general way, and not for theindividual in particular ;and a fifth set,, to whichOdysseus and Socrates belonged, who sayNor when I move am I concealed from thee. 1We must, therefore, firstabout eachof all enquireof these statements,, to see whether it is sound ornot sound. For if gods do not exist, how can it bean end to follow the gods? And if they exist,indeed, but care for nothing, how even thus willthat conclusion be sound? But if, indeed,, theyboth exist and exercise care, yet there is no communicationfrom them to men, yes, and, by Zeus,to me personally, how even in this case can ourconclusion still be sound ? The good and excellentman must, therefore, inquire into all these things,before he subordinates his own will tohim who administersthe universe, precisely as good citizenssubmit to the law of the state. And he that isbeing instructed ought to come to his instructionwith this aim, e(How may I follow the gods in everything,and how may I be acceptable to the divine"administration, and how Imay become free ?Since he is free for whom all things happen accordingto his moral purpose, and whom none canrestrain. What then ? Is freedom insanity? Farfrom it ;for madness and freedom are not consistentwith one another." But I would have thatwhich seems best to me happen, in every case, nomatter how it comes to seem so." You are mad ;you are beside yourself. Do you not know that1Homer, Iliad; X. 279 f .; compare Xenophon, Memorabilia,I. 1, 19.91