NO one who is a lover of money, a lover of
pleasure, or a lover of glory, is likewise a
lover of mankind; but only he who is a lover of
virtue.
EPICTETUS. FRAGMENTS. 10.
THAT which doth not hurt the city, itself, cannot
hurt any Citizen. This rule thou must
remember to apply and make use of upon every
conceit and apprehension of wrong. If the whole
City be not hurt by this, neither am I certainly.
And if the whole be not, why should I make it
my private grievance? Art not thou then a very
fool, who for these things, art either puffed up
with pride, or distracted with cares, or canst find
in thy heart to make such moans as for a thing
that would trouble thee for a very long time?
Consider the whole Universe, whereof thou art
but a very little part, and the whole age of the
world together, whereof but a short and very
momentary portion is allotted unto thee, and all
the Fates and Destinies together, of which how
much is it that comes to thy part and share!
Again: Another doth trespass against me. Let
him look to that. He is master of his own disposition,
and of his own operation.
MARCUS AURELIUS. MEDITATIONS. Book v. 19.
Pamela Daw I think it is the LOVER of these things that makes the difference. A lover puts that "thing" that he loves above all else. When we put money, pleasure and glory above virtue we purue those things above everything else, including virtue.
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