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

BOOK I. xvn. 17-25there is no just place for pride even on the partof Chrysippus, if he merely interprets the will ofnature, but himself does not follow it : how muchless place for pride. then, in the case of his interpreterFor we have 110 need of IChrysippus on hisown account, but only to enable us to follow nature.No more have we need of him who divines throughsacrifice, considered on his own account, but simplvbecause we think that through his instrumentalitywe shall understand the future and the signs givenby the gods nor do we need the entrails on theirown ; account, but only because through them thesigns are given nor do we admire the crow or the;raven, but God, who gives His signs through them.Wherefore,, I go to this interpreter and divinerand " say,,Examine for me the entrails, and tell mewhat signs they give." The fellow takes and spreadsthem out and then interprets: "Man, you have amoral purpose free by nature from hindrances andconstraint. This stands written here in these entrails.I will prove you that first in the sphere ofassent. Can anyone prevent you from assenting totruth ? No one at all. Can anyone force you toaccept the false ? No one at Do all. you see thatin this sphere you have a moral purpose free fromhindrance, constraint, obstruction ? Come, in thesphere of desire and choice is it otherwise ? Andwhat can overcome one impulse but another impulse?And what can overcome one desire or aversion butanother desire or aversion " C? But," says someone,(C if a person subjects me to the fear of death, lie compelsme."cc No, it is not what you are subjected to thatimpels you, but the fact that you decide- it is betterfor you to do something of the sort than to die.119