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

BOOK I. xvi. 6-14then proceed to complain against God on our ownaccount !Yet, by Zeus and the gods,, one singleof nature would suffice to make a man who isgiftreverent and grateful perceive the providence of God.Do not talk to me now of great matters : take themere fact that milk isproduced from grass, andcheese from milk, and that wool grows from skinwho is it that has created or devised these things?sc No one/' somebody says. Oh, the depth of man'sstupidity and shamelessness !Come, let us leave the chief works of nature, andconsider merely what she does in passing. Cananything be more useless than the hairs on a chin ?Well ;what then ? Has not nature used even thesein the most suitable way possible ? Has she not bythese means distinguished between the male and thefemale ?Does not the nature of each one among uscry aloud forthwith from afar, ec I am a man ;understanding approach me, on thison thisunderstandingtalk with me ;ask for nothing further ;behold the"signs ? Again, in the case of women, just asnature has mingled in their voice a certain softer note,so likewise she has taken the hair from their chins.Not so, you say on;the contrary the human animalought to havebeen left without distinguishing features,and each of us ought to proclaim by word of mouth," I am a man." Nay, but how fair and becomingand dignified the sign is ! How much more fair thanthe cock's comb, how much more magnificent than thelion's mane !Wherefore, we ought to preserve thesigns which God has given we ought not to throwthem ;away ;we ought not, so far as in us lies, toconfuse the sexes which have been distinguished inthis fashion.in