Moral essays. With an English translation by J.W. Basore

ON FIRMNESS, xii. 2-xiii. 2forum and the senate ; while children rear their toyhouses on the sea-shore vriih. heaps of sand, these,as though engaged in a mighty enterprise, are busiedin piling up stones and walls and roofs, and convertwhat was intended as a protection to the body intoa menace." Therefore children and those who arefarther advanced in life are alike deceived, but thelatter in different and more serious things. And sothe wise man not improperly considers insult fromsuch men as a farce, and sometimes, just as if theywere children, he will admonish them and inflictsuffering and punishment, not because he has receivedan injury, but because they have committed one, andin order that they may desist from so doing. Forthus also we break in animals by using the lash, andwe do not get angry at them when they will notsubmit to a rider, but we curb them in order that bypain we may overcome their obstinacy. Now, therefore,you will know the answer to the question withwhich we are confronted ": Why, if the wise mancannot receive either injury or insult, does he punishthose who have offered them?" For he is notavenging himself, but correcting them.But why is it that you refuse to believe that thewise man is granted such firmness of mind, whenyou may observe that others have the same, althoughfor a different reason ? What physician gets angrywith a lunatic ? Who takes in ill part the abuse ofa man stricken with fever and yet denied cold water ?The wise man's feeling towards all men is that of thephysician towards his patients : he does not scornto touch their pri\'y parts if they need treatment,or to \iew the body's refuse and discharges, or toendure violent words from those who rage in delirium.85