"Philosophy is not a theory for popular acceptance and designed 
for show; it is not in words, but in deeds.  It is not employed 
to help us pass the day agreeably, or to remove ennui from our 
leisure; it forms and fashions the mind, sets in order our life, 
directs our action, shows what ought to be done and to be left 
undone; it sits at the helm and guides the course through per- 
plexities and dangers.  Without it none can live fearlessly, 
none securely; countless things happen every hour which call for 
counsel, and this can only be sought for in philosophy.  Whether 
fate constrains by an inexorable law, or God is judge of the 
universe and arranges all things, or chance without reference to 
any order impels and confounds the affairs of men, philosohpyhy 
ought to be our safeguard. It will encourage us to obey God 
willingly, to obey fortune without yeilding; it will teach us to 
follow God, to put up with chance." 
 
If I understand him, it does not *matter* whether God exists, or 
not, nor whether Fate or Fortune dictates, Stoicism still works. 
His first line suggests a difference with religion, which *is* a 
theory for popular acceptance.  The Stoics never erected a grand 
ediface to the greater glory of their [vision of] God to impress 
the masses with masses of masses inside it. 
 
"I am seeking to find what is good for man, not what is good for 
his belly.  Why cattle and whales have bigger ones than he.  As 
we sit at table, let us consider that this is but the dead body 
of a fish, that the dead body of a bird or pig; and again, that 
this Falernian is only a little grape juice, and this purple 
robe some sheep's wool died with the blood of a shellfish." 
  [Looks a lot like Veblin's theory of the leisure class.] 
 
One of my impressions of the Bible is that it is full of so many 
personalities that are so remarkable, whereas the men that I see 
alive today seem so unremarkable.  In reading the Greek & Roman 
classics, I see men behaving much as they still do, and for that 
reason see them as more acurrate- assuming of course, that these  
men of ancient times were actually the same as now... 
 
"Or do we work for fame, that future generations may praise us? 
Let us remember that men of after times will be exactly such as 
those whom now we despise and cannot endure, just as foolish and 
unthinking, just as short-lived." 
  [We may live longer, but obviously still mortal and the same.] 
 
"I'll look upon death or upon a comedy, with the same expression 
of countenance.  I'll submit to labors, no matter how great, by  
supporting the strength of my body with that of my mind.  I'll  
view all lands as though they belong to me, and my own as thought  
they belonged to all mankind.  I'll live as to remember that I  
was born for others, and will thank nature on this account; for  
in what fashion could she have done better for me?  She has given  
me alone to all, and all to me alone.  Whatever I may possess, I  
will neither hoard it greedily nor squander it recklessly. I'll  
think that  I have no possessions so real as thouse which I have  
given away to deserving people.  I'll never consider a gift to be  
a large one if it be bestowed on a worthy object.  I'll do  
nothing because of public opinion, but everything because of  
conscience.  Whenever I do anything alone by myself, I'll beleive  
that the eyes of the people are upon me while I do it.  In eating  
and drinking my object will be to quench the desires of nature,  
not to fill and empty my belly.  I'll be agreeable with my  
friends, gentle and mild to my foes.  I'll grant pardon before I  
am asked for it, and will meet the wishes of honorable men  
halfway.  I'll bear in mind that the world is my native city,  
that its governore are the gods and that they stand above and  
around me criticising whatever I do or say." 
 
Those who are familiar with the idea that we live on a Holodeck, 
and that every action is recorded as a VCR tape of your life, no 
doubt can see how Seneca had seen how to live. 
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 * OFFLINE 1.58 
--- Maximus 3.01
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