![]() Yet I am not unaware that I shall encounter the earnest opposition of many, which I could avoid only by writing nothing at all. But he who has no fear of death, not only because oue must needs die, but because there is nothing in death to be dreaded, obtains for himself great help toward a happy life. ![]() Thus the discussion which I lately held in iny Tusculan villa seemed to result in the entire contempt of death, which is of no little worth in freeing the soul from fear for he who fears what cannot be avoided, cannot possibly live with a quiet mind. But yet in a busy career, and in a military life, as that of Neoptolemus then was, the few things are often of benefit, and bear fruit, if not as much as can be reaped from the entire range of philosophy, yet sufficient to yield us in some degree occasional relief from desire, or grief, or fear. Indeed, the few things can be chosen only out of many nor yet will he who has obtained the knowledge of a few things fail to pursue what still remains unknown with like zeal. For in philosophy it is difficult for one to know a few things, who is not conversant with many or all. I regard it as necessary for me to cultivate philosophy (for what else can I do, especially now that I have no regular employment ?) but not, like him, as to a few things. ![]() NEOPTOLEMUS is made by Ennius in the tragedy to say that he found it necessary to philosophize, but only as to a few things for as a general pursuit it gave him no pleasure. Grounds on which philosophy is distrusted or despised.ġ. ![]() quid futurum putamus, cum adiutore populo quo utebamur antea, nunc minime nos uti posse videamus? Est enim philosophia paucis contenta iudicibus, multitudinem consulto ipsa fugiens eique ipsi et suspecta et invisa, ut, vel si quis universam velit vituperare, secundo id populo facere possit, vel si in eam quam nos maxime sequimur, conetur invadere, magna habere possit auxilia a reliquorum philosophorum disciplinis.Ĭicero's Tusculan Disputations, Boston: Little & Brown, 1886 (pp. Etenim si orationes, quas nos multitudinis iudicio probari volebamus (popularis est enim illa facultas, et effectus eloquentiae est audientium adprobatio) sed si reperiebantur non nulli qui nihil laudarent, nisi quod se imitari posse confiderent, quemque sperandi sibi, eumdem bene dicendi finem proponerent, et cum obruerentur copia sententiarum atque verborum, ieiunitatem et famem se malle quam ubertatem et copiam dicerent, unde erat exortum genus Atticorum eis ipsis qui id sequi se profitebantur ignotum, qui iam conticuerunt paene ab ipso foro inrisi – Quamquam non sumus ignari multos studiose contra esse dicturos quod vitare nullo modo potuimus, nisi nihil omnino scriberemus. Nam qui id quod vitari non potest metuit, is vivere animo quieto nullo modo potest sed qui non modo quia necesse est mori, verum etiam quia nihil habet mors quod sit horrendum, mortem non timet, magnum is sibi praesidium ad beatam vitam comparat. Sed tamen in vita occupata atque, ut Neoptolemi tum erat, militari, pauca ipsa multum saepe prosunt et ferunt fructus, si non tantos quanti ex universa philosophia percipi possunt, tamen eos quibus aliqua ex parte interdum aut cupiditate aut aegritudine aut metu liberemur velut ex ea disputatione quae mihi nuper habita est in Tusculano, magna videbatur mortis effecta contemptio, quae non minimum valet ad animum metu liberandum. Nam nec pauca nisi e multis eligi possunt nec, qui pauca perceperit, non idem reliqua eodem studio persequetur. Difficile est enim in philosophia pauca esse ei nota cui non sint aut pleraque aut omnia. Ego autem, Brute, necesse mihi quidem esse arbitror philosophari nam quid possum, praesertim nihil agens, agere melius? sed non paucis, ut ille. Neoptolemus quidem apud Ennium "philosophari sibi" ait "necesse esse, sed paucis nam omnino haud placere". On Bearing Pain (Latin and English parallel) Cicero - Tusculan Disputations Book 2 - On Bearing Painġ 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Links
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