o a circus; then you come back
hither, and again from this place you go to those places, and still the
same persons. And there is no pleasing (good) habit, nor attention, nor
care about self and observation of this kind. How shall I use the
appearances presented to me? according to nature, or contrary to nature?
how do I answer to them? as I ought, or as I ought not? Do I say to
those things which are independent of the will, that they do not concern
me? For if you are not yet in this state, fly from your former habits,
fly from the common sort, if you intend ever to begin to be something.

* * * * *

ON PROVIDENCE.-When you make any charge against Providence, consider,
and you will learn that the thing has happened according to reason. Yes,
but the unjust man has the advantage. In what? In money. Yes, for he is
superior to you in this, that he flatters, is free from shame, and is
watchful. What is the wonder? But see if he has the advantage over you
in being faithful, in being modest; for you will not find it to be so;
but wherein you are superior, there you will find that you have the
advantage. And I once said to a man who was vexed because Philostorgus
was fortunate: Would you choose to lie with Sura? May it never happen,
he replied, that this day should come? Why then are you vexed, if he
receives something in return for that which he sells; or how can you
consider him happy who acquires those things by such means as you
abominate; or what wrong does Providence, if he gives the better things
to the better men? Is it not better to be modest than to be rich? He
admitted this. Why are you vexed then, man, when you possess the better
thing? Remember then always and have in readiness the truth, that this
is a law of nature, that the superior has an advantage over the inferior
in that in which he is superior; and you will never be vexed.

But my wife treats me badly. Well, if any man asks you what this is,
say, my wife treats me badly. Is there then nothing more? Nothing. My
father gives me nothing. (What is this? my father gives me nothing. Is
there nothing else then? Nothing); but to say that this is an evil is
something which must be added to it externally, and falsely added. For
this reason we must not get rid of poverty, but of the opinion about
poverty, and then we shall be happy.

* * * * *

ABOUT CYNICISM.--When one of his pupils inquired of Epicte