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[69] Again, we must keep ourselves free from every1 disturbing emotion, not only from desire and fear, but also from excessive pain and pleasure, and from anger, so that we may enjoy that calm of soul and freedom from care which bring both moral stability and dignity of character. But there have been many and still2 are many who, while pursuing that calm of soul of which I speak, have withdrawn from civic duty and taken refuge in retirement. Among such have been found the most famous and by far the foremost philosophers3 and certain other4 earnest, thoughtful men who could not endure the conduct of either the people or their leaders; some of them, too, lived in the country and found their pleasure in the management of their private estates.

1 (3) Freedom from passion.

2 The retired life.

3 e.g. Plato, Aristotle, Zeno, Pythagoras, Anaxagoras.

4 Such as Cicero's friend, Atticus, and Marcus Piso.

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