BOOK II. XVIII. 18-23
not only willing, but nods to me and sends for me, yes, and when she even lays hold upon me and snuggles up to me, if I still hold aloof and conquer, this has become a solved problem greater than The Liar, and The Quiescent.[1] On this score a man has a right to be proud indeed, but not about his proposing "The Master" problem.
How, then, may this be done? Make it your wish finally to satisfy your own self, make it your wish to appear beautiful in the sight of God. Set your desire upon becoming pure in the presence of your pure self and of God. 20"Then when an external impression of that sort comes suddenly upon you," says Plato,[2] "go and offer an expiatory sacrifice, go and make offering as a suppliant to the sanctuaries of the gods who avert evil"; it is enough if you only withdraw "to the society of the good and excellent men," and set yourself to comparing your conduct with theirs, whether you take as your model one of the living, or one of the dead. Go to Socrates and mark him as he lies down beside Alcibiades[3] and makes light of his youthful beauty. Bethink yourself how great a victory he once won and knew it himself, like an Olympic victory, and what his rank was, counting in order from Heracles[4]; so that, by the gods, one might justly greet him with the salutation, "Hail, wondrous man!" for he was victor over something more than these rotten boxers and pancratiasts, and the gladiators who resemble them. If you confront your external impression with such thoughts, you will overcome it, and not
- ↑ For The Liar see on II. 17, 34. "The Quiescent" was the somewhat desperate solution of Chrysippus for the sorites fallacy. On being asked whether two grains made a heap, then three, and so forth, he would finally stop answering the questions at all! Cicero, Acad. Post. II. 93.
- ↑ Laws, IX. 854B (slightly modified).
- ↑ Plato, Symposium, 218D ff.
- ↑ As traditional founder and first victor at the Olympic games; all others might be enumerated in order beginning with him, although the ordinary count was from Coroebus of Elia, supposed to have been winner of the footrace in 776 B.C.
