20
“But I have in mind the man who neither hopes nor fears anything.” But how can one achieve this? For the most part we are all slaves of hope and fear.” «Why, if you observe human affairs you will find that they do not afford justification either for hope or for fear, since, whatever you may say, pains and pleasures are alike destined to end.”
21
When Peregrinus Proteus rebuked him for laughing a great deal and making sport of mankind saying: “Demonax, you're not at all doggish!” he answered, “Peregrinus, you are not at all human!” Peregrinus Proteus, of whose death and translation to a higher sphere Lucian has written in "The Passing of Peregrinus,” carried his ‘doggishness’ (Cynicism) to extremes.
22
When a scientist was talking of the Topsy-turvy people (Antipodes), he made him get up, took him to a well, showed him their own reflection in the water and asked: “Is that the sort of topsy-turvy people you mean?”
23
When a fellow claimed to be a sorcerer and to have spells so potent that by their agency he could prevail on everybody to give him whatever he wanted, Demonax said: “Nothing strange in that! I am in the same business: follow me to the breadwoman’s, if you like, and you shall see me persuade her to give me bread with a single spell and a tiny charm”’—implying that a coin is as good as a spell. When Herodes,Herodes Atticus. “Bolydeuces was a favourite slave. the superlative, was mourning the premature death of Polydeuces and wanted a chariot regularly made ready and horses put to it just. as if the boy were going for a drive, and dinner regularly served for him, Demonax went to him and said: “Iam bringing you a message from Polydeuces.” Herodes was pleased and thought that Demonax, like everyone else, was falling in with his humour; so he said: Well, what does Polydeuces want, Demonax?” “He finds fault with you,” said he, “for not going to join him at once!’
