large/7215/moralia1_1301_librivox_64kb_mp3/morals1_13_plutarch_64kb_22
large/7215/moralia1_1301_librivox_64kb_mp3/morals1_13_plutarch_64kb
English
7215
But let us not only admire but imitate that temper of mind in Anaxagoras, which made him express himself in these words upon the death of his son : — I knew that I had begotten a mortal. BUT LET US NOT ONLY ADMIRE BUT IMITATE THAT TEMPER OF MINE IN ANY SAGRAS WHICH MADE HIM EXPRESS HIMSELF IN THESE WORDS UPON THE DEATH OF HIS SON I KNEW THAT I HAD BEGOTTEN A MORTAL
e worse ; but he useth them both with a moderation suitable to that injunction, Do not any thing too much. For, as Epicurus said, not only does he that is least impatient after to-morrow enjoy it most when it comes ; but honor, riches, and power give those the greatest complacency who are not tormented with any apprehensions that the contrary will befall them. For an immoderate craving after things of this nature infuseth a fear of losing them, equal to the first intemperate desire. This deadens the fruition, and makes the pleasure as weak and unstable as flame driven by the wind. But he to whom his reason hath given the assurance that he can boldly say to Fortune, Welcome to me, if good tliou bringest aught, And if thou fail, I will take little thought, — this is the man who can confidently enjoy Avhat is present with him, and Λvho is not afflicted with such cowardice of thoughts as to be in constant alarms lest he should lose his possessions, which Avould be an intolerable grievance. FOR THE BETTER BUT EXPECTS THE WORSE BUT HE USETH THEM BOTH WITH A MODERATION SUITABLE TO THAT INJUNCTION DO NOT ANYTHING TOO MUCH FOR AS EPICURUS SAID NOT ONLY DOES HE THAT IS LEAST IMPATIENT AFTER TO MORROW ENJOY IT MOST WHEN IT COMES BUT HONOUR RICHES AND POWER GIVE THOSE THE GREATEST COMPLACENCY WHO ARE NOT TORMENTED WITH ANY APPREHENSIONS THAT THE CONTRARY WILL BEFALL THEM FOR AN IMMODERATE CRAVING AFTER THINGS OF THIS NATURE INFUSETH A FEAR OF LOSING THEM EQUAL TO THE FIRST INTEMPERATE DESIRE THIS DEADENS THE FRUITION AND MAKES THE PLEASURE AS WEAK AND UNSTABLE AS FLAME DRIVEN BY THE WIND BUT HE TO WHOM HIS REASON HATH GIVEN THE ASSURANCE THAT HE CAN BOLDLY SAY TO FORTUNE WELCOME TO ME IF GOOD THOU BRINGEST AUGHT AND IF THOU FAIL I WILL TAKE LITTLE THOUGHT THIS IS THE MAN WHO CAN CONFIDENTLY ENJOY WHAT IS PRESENT WITH HIM AND WHO IS NOT AFFLICTED WITH SUCH COWARDICE OF THOUGHTS AS TO BE IN CONSTANT ALARMS LEST HE SHOULD LOSE HIS POSSESSIONS WHICH WOULD BE AN INTOLERABLE GRIEVANCE
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