Page:Readings in European History Vol 1.djvu/52

 i6 Readings in European History Attitude of the Stoics toward the evils of life. Like the Christians, Epictetus held that all men were brothers, for all were * God's chil- dren. The attitude of the Stoic towards the evils of life is clearly expressed in the following passage : When you are going in to any great personage, remember that another also from above sees what is going on, and that you ought to please him above all others. He then who sees from above asks you : In the schools what used you to say about exile, and bonds, and death, and disgrace? I used to say that they are things indifferent (neither good nor bad). What then do you say of them now ? Are they changed at all ? No. Are you changed then ? No. Tell me then what things are indifferent? The things which are independent of the will. Tell me, also, what follows from this. The things which are independent of the will are nothing to me. Tell me also about the Good ; what did you hold it to be ? A will such as we ought to have and also a right use of things about us. And our aim, what is it ? To follow thee. Do you say this now also ? I say the same now also. Then go in to the great personage boldly and remember these things ; and you will see what a youth is who has studied these things when he is among men who have not studied them. . . . If the things are true which are said by the philosophers about the kinship between God and man, what else remains for men to do than what Socrates did ? Never say, in reply to the question, To what country do you belong? that you are an Athenian, or a Corinthian, but that you are a citizen of the world. . . . He who has observed with intelligence the administration of the world, and has learned that the great- est and the supreme and the most comprehensive community is that which is composed of men and God,. . . why should not such a man call himself a citizen of the world, why not a son of God, and why should he be afraid of anything which happens among men ? Is kinship with the emperor or with any other of the powerful in Rome sufficient to enable us to live in safety, and above contempt and without any fear at all ? But to have God for your maker, and father, and guard- ian, shall not this release us from our sorrows and fears ?