Book 2
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I answer, that I have not yet so much dignity as the case demands; for I do not yet trust to what I have learned, and accepted. I still fear my own weakness. Let me but take courage a little, and then you shall see such a look, and such an appearance, as I ought to have. Then I will show you the statue when it is finished, when it is polished. Do you think I will show you a supercilious countenance? Heaven forbid! For Olympian Zeus doth not haughtily lift his brow, but keeps a steady countenance, as becomes him who is about to say,— My promise is irrevocable, sure. Iliad, 1.526
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Such will I show myself to you; faithful, modest, noble, tranquil.
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What, and immortal too, and exempt from age and sickness?
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No. But sickening and dying as becomes the divine within me. This is in my power; this I can do. The other is not in my power, nor can I do it. Shall I show you the muscular training of a philosopher?
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What muscles are those?
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A will undisappointed, evils avoided, powers duly exerted, careful resolutions, unerring decisions.
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These you shall see.
That some persons, failing to fulfil what the character of a man implies, assume that of a philosopher.
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It were no slight attainment, could we merely fulfil what the nature of man implies. For what is man? A rational and mortal being. Well; from what are we distinguished by reason? From wild beasts. From what else? From sheep, and the like.
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Take care, then, to do nothing like a wild beast; otherwise you have destroyed the man; you have not fulfilled what your nature promises. Take care too, to do nothing like cattle; for thus likewise the man is destroyed.
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In what do we act like cattle?
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When we act gluttonously, lewdly, rashly, sordidly, inconsiderately, into what are we sunk? Into cattle. What have we destroyed? The rational being.
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When we behave contentiously, injuriously, passionately, and violently, into what have we sunk? Into wild beasts.
