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

BOOK I. xxii. 12-18children, or parents, or country? And who willtolerate you if you deny that? Therefore, let uscctransfer the designation good " to these things.But is it possible, then, for a man to be happyif hesustains injury and fails to get that which is good ? Itis not possible. And to maintain the proper relationswith his associates ? And how can it be possible?For it is my nature to look out for my own interest.If it is my interest to have a farm, it is my interestto take itaway from my neighbour if it ismy;interest to have a cloak, it is my interest also to stealit from a bath. This is the source of wars, seditions,tyrannies, plots. And again, how shall Iany longerbe able to perform my duty towards Zeus ? For if Isustain injury and am unfortunate, he pays no heedC(to me. And then we hear men saying, What haveI to do with him, if he is unable to help us " And?again, " What have I to do with him, if he wills that"I be in such a state as I am now ? The next stepis that Ibegin to hate him. Why, then, do webuild temples to the gods, and make statues of them,as for evil spiritsfor Zeus as for a 1god of Fever ?And how can he any longer be