[47]
O noble philosophy! Why,
they seem to take the sun out of the universe when
they deprive life of friendship, than which we have
from the immortal gods no better, no more delightful
boon. For of what value is their vaunted “freedom
from care”? In appearance it is indeed an alluring
thing, but in reality often to be shunned. For it is
inconsistent not to undertake any honourable business or course of conduct, or to lay it aside when
undertaken, in order to avoid anxiety. Nay, if we
continually flee from trouble, we must also flee from
Virtue, who necessarily meets with some trouble in
rejecting and loathing things contrary to herself,
as when kindness rejects ill-will, temperance lust,
and bravery cowardice. And so you may see that
it is the just who are most pained at injustice, the
brave at cowardice, the self-restrained at profligacy.
It is, therefore, characteristic of the well-ordered
mind both to rejoice at good deeds and to be pained
at the reverse.
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