All the Works of Epictetus, Which Are Now Extant/Book 2/Chapter 15
CHAPTER XV.
Concerning Those who obstinately persevere in whatever they have determined.
§. 1.Some, when they hear such Discourses as these, That we ought to be steady; that Choice is by Nature, free and uncompelled; and that all else is liable to Resraint, Compulsion, Slavery, and belongs to others; imagine, that they must remain immutably fixed to every thing which they have determined. But it is first necessary, that the Determination should be a sound one. I agree, that there should be a Tension of the Nerves, in the Body; but such as appears in a healthy, an athletic Body: for, if you show me, that you have the Tension of a Lunatic, and value yourself upon that, I will say to you, Get yourself to a Physician, Man: this is not a Tension of the Nerves; but a Relaxation, of another kind. Such is the Distemper of Mind, in those who hear these Discourses in a wrong Manner: like an Acquaintance of mine, who, for no Reason, had determined to starve himself to Death. I went the third Day, and inquired what was the Matter. He answered, "I am determined."Well: but what is your Motive? For, if your Determination be right, we will stay, and assist your Departure: but, if unreasonable, change it."we ought to keep our Determinations."What do you mean, Sir? Not all; but such as are right. Else, if you should just now take it into your Head, that it is Night, if you think fit, do not change; but persist, and say, We ought to keep our Determinations. What do you mean, Sir? Not all. Why do not you begin, by first laying the Foundation, in an Inquiry, whether your Determination be a sound one, or not; and and then build your Firmness and Constancy, upon it. For, if you lay a rotten and crazy Foundation, you must not build[1]: and the greater and more weighty the Superstructure is, the sooner will it fall. Without any Reason, you are withdrawing from us, out of Life, a Friend, a Companion, a Fellow-Citizen both of the same greater[2], and lesser City: and while you are committing Murder, and destroying an innocent Person, you say, We must keep our Determinations. Suppose, by any means, it should ever come into your Head to kill me; must you keep such a Determination?
§. 2. With Difficulty this Person was, however, at last convinced: but there are some at present, whom there is no convincing. So that now I think I understand, what before I did not, the Meaning of that common Saying, That a Fool will neither bend nor break. May it never fall to my Lot to have a wife, that is an untractable Fool, for my Friend[3]. "It is all to no Purpose: I am determined." So are Madmen too; but the more strongly they are determined upon Absurdities, the more Need have they of Hellebore. Why will you not act like a sick Person, and apply yourself to a Physician? "Sir, I am sick. Give me your Assistance: consider what I am to do. It is my Part to follow your Directions." So, in the present Case: I know not what I ought to do; and I am come to learn."No: but talk to me about other Things: for upon This I am determined." What other Things? What is of greater Consequence, than to convince you, that it is not sufficient to be determined, and to persist. This is the Tension of a Madman; not of one in Health. "I will die, if you compel me to this." Why so, Man: what is the Matter?"I am determined." I have a lucky Escape, that you are not determined to kill me. "I take no Money[4]." Why so? "I am determined." Be assured, that with that very Tension which you now make use of to refuse it, you may, very possibly, hereafter, have as unreasonable a Propensity to take it; and again to say, "I am determined." As, in a distempered and rheumatic Body, the Humour tends sometimes to one Part, sometimes to another; thus it is uncertain which Way a sickly Mind will incline. But if, to its Inclination and Bent, an obstinate Tension be likewise added, the Evil then becomes desperate and incurable.