YOUR father deprives you of your money, but
he doth not hurt you. Your brother will
possess as much larger a portion of land than you
as he pleases; but will he possess more honour,
more fidelity, more fraternal affection? Who can
throw you out of this possession? Not even
Jupiter, for, indeed, it is not his will; but he hath
put this good into my own power, and given it
me like his own, uncompelled, unrestrained, and
unhindered. But when anyone hath a coin
different from this, for his coin whoever shows it
to him may have whatever is sold for it in return.
A thievish proconsul comes into the province:
what coin doth he use? Silver. Show it him,
and carry off what you please. An adulterer
comes: what coin doth he use? Women. Take
the coin, says one, and give me this trifle.
"Give
it me, and it is yours." Another is fond of hunting: give him a fine nag or a puppy ; and, though
with sighs and groans, he will sell you for it what
you will, for he is inwardly compelled by another
who hath constituted this coin.
EPICTETUS. DISCOURSES. Book iii. §3. ¶2.
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