Ch. 14
Miscellaneous.
As bad performers cannot sing alone, but in a
chorus, so some persons cannot walk alone.
If you are anything, walk alone; talk by yourself;
and do not skulk in the chorus. Think a little at
last; look about you; sift yourself, that you may
know what you are.
If a person drinks water, or does anything else for
the sake of training, upon every occasion he tells all
he meets, " I drink water." Why, do you drink water merely for the sake of drinking it? If it does
you any good to drink it. do so; if not, you act
ridiculously. But if it is for your advantage that you
drink it, say nothing about it before those who would
criticise. Yet can it be possible that these are the
very people you wish to please?
Of actions, some are performed on their own account; others from circumstances, others from complaisance, others upon system.
Two things must be rooted out of men, conceit and
diffidence. Conceit lies in thinking that you want
nothing; and diffidence in supposing it impossible
that under such adverse circumstances you should
ever succeed. Now, conceit is removed by confutation; and of this Socrates set the example. And
consider and ascertain that the undertaking is not
impracticable. The inquiry itself will do you no
harm; and it is almost being a philosopher to inquire how it is possible to employ our desire and
aversion without hindrance.
" I am better than you, for my father has been
consul." "I have been a tribune," says another,
"and you not." If we were horses, would you say,
"My father was swifter than yours; I have abundance of oats and hay and fine trappings "? What
now, if, while you were saying this, I should answer:
" Be it so. Let us run a race then "? Is there nothing in man analogous to a race in horses, by which
it may be decided which is better or worse? Is
there not honor, fidelity, justice? Show yourself the
better in these, that you may be the better as a man.
But if you only tell me that you can kick violently,
I will tell you again that you value yourself on what
is the property of an ass.