Kitap 3
26
Confiding in what? Not in glory, or in riches, or in dominion, but in his own strength; that is, in his knowledge of what is within him and without him. For this alone is what can render us free and incapable of restraint; can raise the heads of the humble, and make them look with unaverted eyes full in the face of the rich and of the tyrants; and this is what philosophy bestows. But you will not even set forth with confidence; but all trembling about such trifles as clothes and plate. Foolish man! have you thus. wasted your time till now?
26
But what if I should be ill?
26
It will then be for the best that you should be ill.
26
Who will take care of me?
26
God and your friends.
26
I shall lie in a hard bed.
26
But like a man.
26
I shall not have a convenient room.
26
Then you will be ill in an inconvenient one.
26
Who will provide food for me?
26
They who provide for others too; you will be ill like Manes.The name of a slave, particularly of a slave who once belonged to Diogenes; and perhaps this expression alludes to some story about him which is now unknown.—C.
26
But what will be the conclusion of my illness,—any other than death?
26
Why, do you not know, then, that the origin of all human evils, and of baseness and cowardice, is not death, but rather the fear of death? Fortify yourself, therefore, against this. Hither let all your discourses, readings, exercises, tend. And then you will know that thus alone are men made free.
