GOVERN us like reasonable creatures. Show us what is for our interest, and we will pursue it; show us what is against our interest, and we will avoid it. Like Socrates, make us imitators of yourself. He was properly a governor of men, who subjected their desires and aversions, their pursuits, their avoidances, to himself. "Do this; do not do that, or I will throw you into prison." Going thus far only is not governing men like reasonable creatures. But — "Do as Zeus hath commanded, or you will be punished. You will be a loser."
What shall I lose?
Nothing more than the not doing what you ought. You will lose your fidelity, honour, decency. Look for no greater losses than these.
EPICTETUS. DISCOURSES. Book iii. §7. ¶2.
In the end, we betray ourselves the most when we fail to choose the virtuous path. We we choose the path of vice, the little deceit, the small deception, the passing insult, the hidden attack, the cowardly silence, the spiteful injustice, the sneaky over-indulgence, we takes small steps away from the person we could have been, the one we were equipped by Nature to become. Unlike the flower in the garden, we can choose whether or not to bloom.
ReplyDeleteMy duty, my livelihood is to consciously integrate my rational nature so that I may ever distinguish between what is conform to Nature and what is against Nature. For, to not be aware of this means one has no bearing on one's excellence or virtue and to not take into account the well-being of all creatures...
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