Ch. 24
How we ought to struggle with difficulties.
Difficulties are things that show what men
are. For the future, in case of any difficulty,
remember that God, like a gymnastic trainer, has
pitted you against a rough antagonist. For what end?
That you may be an Olympic conqueror; and this
cannot be without toil. No man, in my opinion, has
a more profitable difficulty on his hands than you
have, provided you will but use it, as an athletic
champion uses his antagonist.
Suppose we were to send you as a scout to Rome.
But no one ever sends a timorous scout, who, when
he only hears a noise, or sees a shadow, runs back
frightened, and says, "The enemy is at hand." So
now, if you should come and tell us, "Things are in
a fearful way at Rome; death is terrible, banishment
terrible, calumny terrible, poverty terrible; run, good
people, the enemy is at hand;" we will answer, Get
you gone, and prophesy for yourself; our only fault
is that we have sent such a scout. Diogenes was sent
as a scout before you, but he told us other tidings.
He says that death is no evil, for it is nothing base;
that calumny is only the noise of madmen. And
what account did this spy give us of pain, of pleasure,
of poverty? He says that to be naked is better than
a purple robe; to sleep upon the bare ground, the
softest bed; and gives a proof of all he says by his
own courage, tranquillity, and freedom, and, moreover, by a healthy and robust body. "There is no
enemy near," he says; " all is profound peace." How
so, Diogenes? "Look upon me," he says. "Am I
hurt? Am I wounded? Have I run away from any
one? " This is a scout worth having. But you come,
and tell us one tale after another. Go back and look
more carefully, and without fear.
"What shall I do, then?"
What do you do when you land from a ship? Do
you take away with you the rudder, or the oars?
What do you take, then? Your own, your bundle
and your flask. So, in the present case, if you will
but remember what is your own, you will not covet
what belongs to others. If some tyrant bids you put
off your consular robe, -" Well, I am in my equestrian robe." Put off that too. " I have only my coat."
Put off that too. "Well, I am naked." I am not
yet satisfied. " Then e'en take my whole body. If I
can throw off a paltry body, am I any longer afraid of
a tyrant? "
"But such a one will not leave me his heir."
What, then, have I forgotten, that such possessions are
never really mine? How, then, do we call them
ours? It is as with a bed in an inn. If the landlord,
when he dies. leaves you the bed. well and good; but
if to another, it will be his, and you will seek one elsewhere; and consequently, if you do not find one,
you will sleep upon the ground; only sleep fearlessly
and profoundly, and remember that tragedies find
their theme among the rich and kings and tyrants.
No poor man fills any other place in one than as
part of the chorus; whereas, kings begin indeed with
prosperity: " Crown the palace;" but continue about
the third and fourth act: "Alas, Citheron! why
didst thou receive me ! "19 Where are thy crowns,
wretch; where is thy diadem? Cannot thy guards
help thee?
Whenever you are brought into any such society,
think then that you meet a tragic actor, or, rather,
not an actor, but Oedipus himself. "But such a one
is happy; he walks with a numerous train." Well, I
too walk with a numerous train.
But remember the principal thing, -that the door
is open. Do not be more fearful than children; but
as they, when the play dues not please them, say, " I
will play no longer," so do you, in the same case,
say, "I will play no longer," and go; but, if you
stay, do not complain.