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

ON ANGER, II. XXXI. 4-7practising wicked deeds ? WTiy is it strange if anenemy injures us, a friend offends us, a son errs, ora servant blunders ? Fabius used to say that tlxeexcuse, " I did not think," was the one most shamefulfor a commander ; I think it most shameful forany man. Think of everything, expect everything ;even in good characters some unevenness will appear.Human nature begets hearts that are deceitful, thatare ungrateful, that are covetous, that are undutiful.When you are about to pass judgement on one singleman's character, reflect upon the general mass.WTien you are about to rejoice most, you will havemost to fear. When everything seems to you to bepeaceful, the forces that will harm are not nonexistent,but inactive. Alwa^:§__belieye that therewill come some blow to strike you. No skipper isever^s"o reckless as to unfurl all his canvas withouthaving his tackle in order for quickly shortening sail.AbQX£_^all, bear this in mind, that the power of hijuryis \il^an(l (kt ratable and most unnatural for man, bywhose kindness even fierce beasts are tamed. Lookhow~eIepHants " submit their necks to the yoke, howboys and women alike leap upon bulls ^ and treadtheir backs unhurt, how serpents crawl in harmlesscourse among our cups and over our laps, how gentleare the faces of bears and lions when their trainersare inside their cages, and how wild beasts fawnupon their keeper—we shall blush to have exchangedcharacters with the beasts'^! To injureone's country is a crime ; consequently, also, to injurea fellow-citizen—^for he is a part of the country, andif we reverence the whole, the parts are sacred—consequentlyto injure any man is a crime, for he is yourfellow-citizen in the greater commonwealth. \\Tiat235