Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/22

 This is Aristole's Opinion; But the Stoicks would not so much as grant Wealth, or Constitution any Consideration in this Case, nor vouchsafe to admit any thing without the Mind, into the Distinctions of Good, or Evil: With this Sect the Circumstances of Flesh and Blood, and the Condition of Externals, were but a sort of Indifferent Matters, and signified little either one way, or to'ther. For in their Philosophy nothing was Good, but what was Pious, Just, Honourable, and Humane. Nor any thing Bad excepting what was Wicked, Unjust, Inhumane, and Scandalous: And for this reason, they look'd upon Fools, and Knaves, Atheists, and Libertines, no better than Miserable Wretches, tho' they were never so well accommodated in their Purse, their Carkass, or their Quality. And on the contrary, that a Man of Virtue and Piety is always in a State of Happiness, let his Circumstances be what they will, and himself never so much harrass'd with the pretended Evils of Life. And lastly, that none but a Person of this Character can with any Propriety be said to be Wise, to be rightly Free, and Master of himself: And being always the Favourite of Heaven, and the particular care of Providence; he is the only Body that lives undisturb'd, and is out of the Reach of Fear, and