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A man thinks that in the beginning the universe was created out of atoms and void. Aimed at the theories of Epicurus, and possibly of Democritus. His assumption is false, but it causes no sore, no throbbing, no agitating pain.
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A man assumes that wealth is the greatest good. This falsehood contains venom, it feeds upon his soul, distracts him, does not allow him to sleep, fills him with stinging desires, pushes him over precipices, chokes him, and takes from him his freedom of speech.
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Again, some people think that virtue and vice are corporeal.Aimed at the Stoics, who referred all qualities to the body. Cf. Plutarch, Moralia, 1084 A. This piece of ignorance is disgraceful, perhaps, but it is not worthy of wailings or lamentations. But consider judgements and assumptions that are like this: Poor virtue! A mere name thou art, I find, But I did practise thee as real!Author unknown; cf. Nauck, Trag. Graec. Frag. p. 910, Adespota, No. 374. and thereby I gave up wrongdoing which is productive of wealth, and licentiousness which begets every sort of pleasure. These it is right and proper that we pity, and at the same time loathe, because their presence engenders many distempers and emotions, like maggots and grubs, in men’s souls.
