BOOK VII
62. Continually reflect, who they are whose favourable testimony thou desirest,[1] and what their ruling Reason; for thus wilt thou not find fault with those who unintentionally offend, nor wilt thou want their testimony, when thou lookest into the inner springs of their opinions and desires.
63. Every soul, says Plato, is reft of truth against its will.[2] Therefore it is the same also with justice and temperance and lovingkindness and every like quality. It is essential to keep this ever in mind, for it will make thee gentler towards all.[3]
64. Whenever thou art in pain, have this reflection ready, that this is nothing to be ashamed of, nor can it make worse the mind that holds the helm. For it cannot impair it in so far as it is rational or in so far as it is social. In most pains, however, call to thy rescue even Epicurus when he says that a pain is never unbearable[4] or interminable, so that thou remember its limitations and add nothing to it in imagination.[5] Recollect this too that many of our every-day discomforts are really pain in disguise, such as drowsiness,[6] a high temperature, want of appetite. When inclined to be vexed at any of these, say to thyself: I am giving in to pain.[7]
65. See that thou never have for the inhuman the feeling which the inhuman have for human kind.
66. How do we know that Telauges[8] may not have excelled Socrates in character? For it is not enough
- ↑ vi. 59; vii. 34.
- ↑ Quoted by Epictetus (i. 63, 28 § 4) as from Plato (see Plato, Soph. 238 C; Rep. iii. 412); viii. 14; x. 30; xi. 18, §3.
- ↑ The same word is used of Marcus by Galen (xii. 17 Kühn); Athenag. Apol. 1. 1; Lucian, Peregr. 17; and Aristides, ad Reg. §§ 105, 112.
- ↑ vii. 33.
- ↑ viii. 49.
- ↑ vi. 2.
- ↑ cp. vi. 29.
- ↑ Son of Pythagoras. See Diog. Laert. Pyth. 22. 26.
