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

ON ANGER, II. XXVII. 4-xx\'iii. 4punishment ; then let it bring up the thought, notso much of what we suffer, as of Avhat we have done ;let us summon ourselves to give a verdict upon ourpast life ; if only we are wilUng to be frank ^vithourselves, we shall assess our fines at a still higherfigure.If , we are willing in all matters to play the justjudgfiiJet us convince ourselves first of this—thatno one of us is free from fault. For most of ourindignation arises from our saying, " I am not toblairi^" " I have done nothing wTong." Say,We chafe againstrather, you admit nothing WTong !the censure oT some reprimand or chastisementalthough at the very time we are at fault becausewe are adding to -wrong -doing arrogance andobstinacy. What man is there who can claim thatin thg eyes of every law he is innocent ? But assumingthat this may be, how limited is the innocencewhose standard of virtue is the law ! How muchmore comprehensive is the principle of duty than"/that of law ! How many are the demands laid uponus by the sense of duty, humanity, generosity, justice,integrity—all of which lie outside the statute books'^!But even under that other exceedingly narrowdefinition of innocence we cannot vouch for ourclaim. Some sins we have committed, some wehave^contemplated, some we have desired, somewe have encouraged ; in the case of some we areinnocent only because we did not succeed. Bearingthis in mind, let us be more just to transgressors,more heedful to those who rebuke us ; especially letus not be angry with the good (for who will escapeif we are to be angr}^ even with the good ?), and leastof^^afr vvillt the gods.~';For_it is not by their power,VOL. I Q 225