"Discourses" - читать интересную книгу автора (Epictetus)

to have an estate in land, it is my interest also to take it from my
neighbor. If it is my interest to have a garment, it is my interest
also to steal it from the bath. This is the origin of wars, civil
commotions, tyrannies, conspiracies. And how shall I be still able
to maintain my duty toward Zeus? for if I sustain damage and am
unlucky, he takes no care of me; and what is he to me if he allows
me to be in the condition in which I am? I now begin to hate him. Why,
then, do we build temples, why set up statues to Zeus, as well as to
evil demons, such as to Fever; and how is Zeus the Saviour, and how
the Giver of rain, and the Giver of fruits? And in truth if we place
the nature of Good in any such things, all this follows.

What should we do then? This is the inquiry of the true
philosopher who is in labour. "Now I do not see what the Good is nor
the Bad. Am I not mad? Yes." But suppose that I place the good
somewhere among the things which depend on the will: all will laugh at
me. There will come some grey-head wearing many gold rings on his
fingers and he will shake his head and say, "Hear, my child. It is
right that you should philosophize; but you ought to have some
brains also: all this that you are doing is silly. You learn the
syllogism from philosophers; but you know how to act better than
philosophers do." Man, why then do you blame me, if I know? What shall
I say to this slave? If I am silent, he will burst. I must speak in
this way: "Excuse me, as you would excuse lovers: I am not my own
master: I am mad."

CHAPTER 23

Against Epicurus

Even Epicurus perceives that we are by nature social, but having
once placed our good in the husk he is no longer able to say
anything else. For on the other hand he strongly maintains this,
that we ought not to admire nor to accept anything which is detached
from the nature of good; and he is right in maintaining this. How then
are we [suspicious], if we have no natural affection to our
children? Why do you advise the wise man not to bring up children? Why
are you afraid that he may thus fall into trouble? For does he fall
into trouble on account of the mouse which is nurtured in the house?
What does he care if a little mouse in the house makes lamentation
to him? But Epicurus knows that if once a child is born, it is no
longer in our power not to love it nor care about it. For this reason,
Epicurus says that a man who has any sense also does not engage in
political matters; for he knows what a man must do who is engaged in
such things; for, indeed, if you intend to behave among men as you
do among a swarm of flies, what hinders you? But Epicurus, who knows
this, ventures to say that we should not bring up children. But a
sheep does not desert its own offspring, nor yet a wolf; and shall a
man desert his child? What do you mean? that we should be as silly
as sheep? but not even do they desert their offspring: or as savage as