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

ON FIRMNESS, xv. 2-5lether in number or in size, their nature willmain the same. If small things do not move him,neither A^ill the greater ones ; if a few do not movehim, neither will more . But from the measure of yourown weakness you form your idea of an heroic spirit,and, ha%'ing pictured how much you think that youcan endure, you set the Hmit of the wise man's endurancea httle farther on. But his virtue has placedlum in another region of the universe ; he has nothingin common with you. Therefore search out the hardthings and whatever is grievous to bear—things fromwhich the ear and the eye must shrink. The wholemass of them will not crush him, and as he withtandsthem singly, so will he withstand themunited. He who says that one thing is tolerable forthe wise man, another intolerable, and restricts thegreatness of his soul to definite bounds, doeshim wTong ; Fortune conquers us, unless we whollyconquer her.Do not suppose that such austerity is Stoic only.Epicurus, whom you claim as the advocate of yourpohcy of inaction,** who, as you think, enjoins thecourse that is soft and indolent and conducive topleasure, has said, " Rarely does Fortune block thepath of the \\ise man."* How near he came touttering a manly sentiment ! Will you speak moreheroically and clear Fortune from his path altogether?This house of the wise man is cramped, ^^^thout adornment,without bustle, -without pomp, is guarded byno doormen who, with venal fastidiousness, discriminatebetween the \isitors ; but over its threshold,empty and devoid of keepers. Fortune doesnot pass. She knows that she has no place there,where nothing is her own.93