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

BOOK IITO SERENUS ON THE FIRMNESSOF THE WISE MANThe Wise Man can receive neither Injury nor Insult.iGHT say -with good reason, Serenus, that there is_reat a difference between the Stoics and the otherlols of philosophy as there is between males andales, since while each set contributes equally tonan society, the one class is bom to obey, theither to command. Other philosophers, using gentleind persuasive measures, are hke the intimate familyphysician, who, commonly, tries to cure his patients,ot by the best and the quickest method, but as heis allowed. The Stoics, ha\ing adopted the heroiccourse, are not so much concerned in making itattractive to us who enter upon it, as in having it•escue us as soon as possible and guide us to thatiofty summit which rises so far beyond the reachof any missile as to tower high above all fortune.But," you say, " the path by which we are called'to go is steep and rugged." \Miat of it ? Can theheights be reached by a level path ? But the way isnot so sheer as some suppose. The first part onlyhas rocks and cliffs, and appears impassable, just asmany places, when \-iewed from afar, seem often toVOL. I E 49