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

BOOK II. xn. 21-xin. 3understood me aright,, for it is preciselyI am talking about." "By Zeus, I regardthis thatthis asfar and away the most valuable of all my " possessions."Can you, then, tell in what way yon have takencare of your soul ? For it is not to be supposedthat as wise a man as yourself and one so honouredin the city is recklessly and at random allowing thevery best of his possessions to go to ruin through"neglect." Certainly not." " But have you yourselftaken care of that possession ? Did you learnhow to take care of it from somebody else, or didyou discover how yourself? " Then comes thedanger that first he will say,,"What is that to you,good sir? Are you my master?" and after that,if you persist in annoying him, that he will lift hisfist and give you a blow. This was a pursuit thatI too was very fond of once upon a time,, before Ifellto my present estate.CHAPTER XIIIOf an vie! i/WHEN 1 see a man in anxiety, I say to myself,What can it be that this fellow wants ? For if he didnot want something that was outside of his control,how could he still remain in anxiety ? That is whythe citharoede when singing all alone shows noanxiety, but does so when he enters the theatre, eventhough he has a very beautiful voice and plays thecitharn admirably for he docs not wish merely;to sing well, but also to win applause, and that is nolonger under his control. Accordingly, where hehas skill, there ho shows confidence. Set before him297