ve the price and to
obtain the things, you are insatiable and silly. Have you nothing then
in place of the supper? You have indeed, you have the not flattering of
him, whom you did not choose to flatter; you have the not enduring of
the man when he enters the room.

XXVI.

We may learn the wish (will) of nature from the things in which we do
not differ from one another: for instance, when your neighbor's slave
has broken his cup, or anything else, we are ready to say forthwith,
that it is one of the things which happen. You must know then that when
your cup also is broken, you ought to think as you did when your
neighbor's cup was broken. Transfer this reflection to greater things
also. Is another man's child or wife dead? There is no one who would not
say, This is an event incident to man. But when a man's own child or
wife is dead, forthwith he calls out, Woe to me, how wretched I am! But
we ought to remember how we feel when we hear that it has happened to
others.

XXVII.

As a mark is not set up for the purpose of missing the aim, so neither
does the nature of evil exist in the world.

XXVIII.

If any person was intending to put your body in the power of any man
whom you fell in with on the way, you would be vexed; but that you put
your understanding in the power of any man whom you meet, so that if he
should revile you, it is disturbed and troubled, are you not ashamed at
this?

XXIX.

In every act observe the things which come first, and those which follow
it; and so proceed to the act. If you do not, at first you will approach
it with alacrity, without having thought of the things which will
follow; but afterwards, when certain base (ugly) things have shown
themselves, you will be ashamed. A man wishes to conquer at the Olympic
games. I also wish indeed, for it is a fine thing. But observe both the
things which come first, and the things which follow; and then begin the
act. You must do everything according to rule, eat according to strict
orders, abstain from delicacies, exercise yourself as you are bid at
appointed times, in heat, in cold, you must not drink cold water, nor
wine as you choose; in a word, you must deliver yourself up to the
exercise master as you do to the physician, and then proceed to the
contest. And sometimes you will strain the hand, put the ankle out of
joint, swallow much dust, sometimes be flogged, and after all this be
defeated. When you have considered all this, if you stil