Never pronounce any man happy that depends upon fortune for his happiness; for nothing can be more preposterous than to place the good of a reasonable creature in unreasonable things. If I have lost any thing, it was adventitious; and the less money, the less trouble; the less favor, the less envy; nay, even in those cases that put us out of their wits, it is not the loss itself, but the opinion of the loss, that troubles us. It is a common mistake to account those things necessary that are superfluous, and to depend upon fortune for the felicity of life, which arises only from virtue. There is no trusting to her smiles; the sea swells and rages in a moment, and the ships are swallowed at night, in the very place where they sported themselves in the morning. And fortune has the same power over princes that it has over empires, over nations that it has over cities, and the same power over cities that it has over private men. Where is that estate that may not be followed upon the heel with famine and beggary? that dignity which the next moment may not be laid in the dust? that kingdom that is secure from desolation and ruin? The period of all things is at hand, as well that which casts out the fortunate as the other that delivers the unhappy; and that which may fall out at any time may fall out this very day. What shall come to pass I know not, but what may come to pass I know: so that I will despair of nothing, but expect everything; and whatsoever Providence remits is clear gain. Every moment, if it spares me, deceives me; and yet in some sort it does not deceive me; for though I know that any thing may happen, yet I know likewise that everything will not. I will hope the best, and provide for the worst. Methinks we should not find so much fault with Fortune for her inconstancy when we ourselves suffer a change every moment that we live; only other changes make more noise, and this steals upon us like the shadow upon a dial, every jot as certainly, but more insensibly.
Never call anyone happy if their happiness depends on luck. Nothing is more foolish than placing a thinking person's well-being in things beyond reason. If I've lost something, it was never really mine to begin with. Less money means less trouble. Less favor means less envy. Even in situations that drive people crazy, it's not the actual loss that bothers us, but our thoughts about the loss. People commonly mistake unnecessary things for necessities. They depend on fortune for life's happiness, which actually comes only from virtue. You can't trust fortune's smiles. The sea can swell and rage in an instant. Ships get swallowed at night in the very spot where they played that morning. Fortune has the same power over princes as empires, over nations as cities, and over cities as individual people. What estate can't be followed by famine and poverty? What dignity can't be brought low the next moment? What kingdom is safe from destruction and ruin? The end of all things is near. This applies to what casts out the fortunate and what delivers the unhappy. What might happen at any time could happen today. I don't know what will happen, but I know what could happen. So I won't despair about anything, but I'll expect everything. Whatever Providence spares me is pure profit. Every moment that spares me also deceives me. Yet in some way it doesn't deceive me. Though I know anything might happen, I also know everything won't happen. I'll hope for the best and prepare for the worst. I think we shouldn't blame Fortune so much for being inconsistent when we ourselves change every moment we live. Other changes just make more noise. This one creeps up on us like a shadow on a sundial. It's just as certain, but less noticeable.
The burning of Lyons may serve to show us that we are never safe, and to arm us against all surprises. The terror of it must needs be great, for the calamity is almost without example. If it had been fired by an enemy, the flame would have left some further mischief to have been done by the soldiers; but to be wholly consumed, we have not heard of many earthquakes so pernicious: so many rarities to be destroyed in one night; and in the depth of peace to suffer an outrage beyond the extremity of war; who would believe it? but twelve hours betwixt so fair a city and none at all! It was laid in ashes in less time than it would require to tell the story.
The burning of Lyons should warn us that we are never safe. It should prepare us for any disaster. The terror of it must be enormous, since this calamity is almost without precedent. If an enemy had set the fire, the flames would have left something for soldiers to destroy afterward. But to be completely consumed like this - we haven't heard of many earthquakes so destructive. So many treasures destroyed in one night. In the depths of peace, to suffer an attack worse than the worst of wars - who would believe it? Just twelve hours between such a beautiful city and nothing at all! It was reduced to ashes in less time than it would take to tell the story.
To stand unshaken in such a calamity is hardly to be expected, and our wonder can but be equal to our grief. Let this accident teach us to provide against all possibilities that fall within the power of fortune. All external things are under her dominion: one while she calls our hands to her assistance; another while she contents herself with her own force, and destroys us with mischiefs of which we cannot find the author. No time, place, or condition, is excepted; she makes our very pleasures painful to us; she makes war upon us in the depth of peace, and turns the means of our security into an occasion of fear; she turns a friend into an enemy, and makes a foe of a companion; we suffer the effects of war without any adversary; and rather than fail, our felicity shall be the cause of our destruction. Lest we should either forget or neglect her power, every day produces something extraordinary. She persecutes the most temperate with sickness, the strongest constitutions with the phthisis; she brings the innocent to punishment, and the most retired she assaults with tumults. Those glories that have grown up with many ages, with infinite labor and expense, and under the favor of many auspicious providences, one day scatters and brings to nothing. He that pronounced a day, nay, an hour, sufficient for the destruction of the greatest empire, might have fallen to a moment.
To remain steady during such a disaster is almost impossible. Our amazement can only match our sorrow. Let this tragedy teach us to prepare for every possibility that fortune might bring. All worldly things fall under her control. Sometimes she asks for our help. Other times she relies on her own power and destroys us with troubles we can't trace back to their source. No time, place, or situation is safe from her reach. She makes our very pleasures painful. She wages war on us during peacetime and turns our sources of security into reasons for fear. She turns friends into enemies and makes companions into foes. We suffer the effects of war without any opponent. Rather than fail in her mission, she'll use our own happiness to destroy us. In case we forget or ignore her power, every day brings something unexpected. She strikes the most moderate people with illness and the strongest bodies with disease. She punishes the innocent and attacks even those who keep to themselves with chaos. Those achievements that took many generations to build, with endless work and expense and under favorable circumstances, she scatters and destroys in a single day. The person who said that one day, or even one hour, was enough to destroy the greatest empire could have said it takes only a moment.
It were some comfort yet to the frailty of mankind and of human affairs, if things might but decay as slowly as they rise; but they grow by degrees, and they fall to ruin in an instant. There is no felicity in anything either private or public; men, nations, and cities, have all their fates and periods; our very entertainments are not without terror, and our calamity rises there where we least expect it. Those kingdoms that stood the shock both of foreign wars and civil, come to destruction without the sight of an enemy. Nay, we are to dread our peace and felicity more than violence, because we are here taken unprovided; unless in a state of peace we do the duty of men in war, and say to ourselves, Whatsoever may be, will be. I am to-day safe and happy in the love of my country; I am to-morrow banished: to-day in pleasure, peace, health; to-morrow broken upon a wheel, led in triumph, and in the agony of sickness. Let us therefore prepare for a shipwreck in the port, and for a tempest in a calm. One violence drives me from my country, another ravishes that from me; and that very place where a man can hardly pass this day for a crowd may be to-morrow a desert. Wherefore let us set before our eyes the whole condition of human nature, and consider as well what may happen as what commonly does. The way to make future calamities easy to us in the sufferance, is to make them familiar to us in the contemplation. How many cities in Asia, Achaia, Assyria, Macedonia, have been swallowed up by earthquakes? nay, whole countries are lost, and large provinces laid under water; but time brings all things to an end; for all the works of mortals are mortal; all possessions and their possessors are uncertain and perishable; and what wonder is it to lose anything at any time, when we must one day lose all?
It would bring some comfort to human weakness and the fragility of our affairs if things could decay as slowly as they rise. But they grow gradually, then fall to ruin in an instant. There is no lasting happiness in anything, whether private or public. Men, nations, and cities all have their destinies and their end times. Even our pleasures carry terror, and disaster strikes where we least expect it. Kingdoms that survived both foreign wars and civil wars come to destruction without ever seeing an enemy. We should fear our peace and happiness more than violence, because peace catches us unprepared. Unless we do our duty during peacetime as men do in war, and tell ourselves, "Whatever may be, will be." Today I am safe and happy in my country's love. Tomorrow I am banished. Today I enjoy pleasure, peace, and health. Tomorrow I am broken on the wheel, led in triumph, and dying in agony. So let us prepare for shipwreck in the harbor and for storms in calm weather. One act of violence drives me from my country, another takes that country from me. The very place where a man can barely pass today through crowds may be a desert tomorrow. We should keep the whole condition of human nature before our eyes. We should consider what may happen as much as what commonly does. The way to make future disasters easier to bear is to make them familiar through contemplation. How many cities in Asia, Achaia, Assyria, and Macedonia have been swallowed by earthquakes? Entire countries are lost and large provinces lie under water. But time brings all things to an end. All the works of mortals are mortal. All possessions and their owners are uncertain and will perish. What wonder is it to lose anything at any time, when we must one day lose everything?
That which we call our own is but lent us; and what we have received gratis we must return without complaint. That which Fortune gives us this hour she may take away the next; and he that trusts to her favors, shall either find himself deceived, or if he be not, he will at least be troubled, because he may be so. There is no defence in walls, fortifications, and engines, against the power of fortune; we must provide ourselves within, and when we are safe there, we are invincible; we may be battered, but not taken. She throws her gifts among us, and we sweat and scuffle for them, never considering how few are the better for that which is expected by all. Some are transported with what they get; others tormented for what they miss; and many times there is a leg or an arm broken in a contest for a counter. She gives us honors, riches, favors, only to take them away again, either by violence or treachery: so that they frequently turn to the damage of the receiver. She throws out baits for us, and sets traps as we do for birds and beasts; her bounties are snares and lime-twigs to us; we think that we take, but we are taken. If they had any thing in them that was substantial, they would some time or other fill and quiet us; but they serve only to provoke our appetite without anything more than pomp and show to allay it. But the best of it is, if a man cannot mend his fortune, he may yet mend his manners, and put himself so far out of her reach, that whether she gives or takes, it shall be all one to us; for we are neither the greater for the one, nor the less for the other. We call this a dark room, or that a light one; when it is in itself neither the one nor the other, but only as the day and the night render it. And so it is in riches, strength of body, beauty, honor, command: and likewise in pain, sickness, banishment, death: which are in themselves middle and indifferent things, and only good or bad as they are influenced by virtue. To weep, lament, and groan, is to renounce our duty; and it is the same weakness on the other side to exult and rejoice. I would rather make my fortune than expect it; being neither depressed with her injuries, nor dazzled with her favors. When Zeno was told, that all his goods were drowned; “Why then,” says he, “Fortune has a mind to make me a philosopher.” It is a great matter for a man to advance his mind above her threats or flatteries; for he that has once gotten the better of her is safe forever.
What we call our own is only borrowed. What we received for free, we must return without complaint. Fortune gives us something this hour and may take it away the next. Anyone who trusts her favors will either find himself deceived, or if he's not, he'll at least be troubled because he might be. Walls, fortifications, and weapons offer no defense against fortune's power. We must protect ourselves from within. When we're safe there, we become invincible. We may be battered, but not taken. Fortune throws her gifts among us, and we sweat and fight for them. We never consider how few people actually benefit from what everyone expects. Some get carried away with what they receive. Others are tormented by what they miss. Many times someone breaks a leg or arm fighting over something worthless. Fortune gives us honors, riches, and favors only to take them away again, either through violence or treachery. They often end up harming the person who receives them. She throws out bait for us and sets traps like we do for birds and animals. Her gifts are snares and traps. We think we're catching something, but we're the ones being caught. If these things had any real substance, they would eventually fill us up and satisfy us. But they only provoke our appetite without offering anything more than show and appearance to satisfy it. The best part is this: if a man can't improve his fortune, he can still improve his character. He can put himself beyond fortune's reach so that whether she gives or takes, it makes no difference to him. We're neither greater for gaining nor lesser for losing. We call one room dark and another light, when the room itself is neither. It only appears that way because of day and night. The same is true for riches, physical strength, beauty, honor, and power. It's also true for pain, sickness, exile, and death. These things are neutral in themselves. They're only good or bad based on how virtue influences them. To weep, complain, and groan is to abandon our duty. It's the same weakness to celebrate and rejoice excessively on the other side. I'd rather make my fortune than wait for it. I won't be crushed by fortune's injuries or blinded by her favors. When Zeno was told that all his possessions had been lost at sea, he said, "Well then, Fortune wants to make me a philosopher." It's a great achievement for someone to raise his mind above fortune's threats or flattery. Once he defeats her, he's safe forever.
It is some comfort yet to the unfortunate, that great men lie under the lash for company; and that death spares the palace no more than the cottage, and that whoever is above me has a power also above him. Do we not daily see funerals without trouble, princes deposed, countries depopulated, towns sacked; without so much as thinking how soon it may be our own case? whereas, if we would but prepare and arm ourselves against the iniquities of fortune, we should never be surprised.
There's some comfort for the unfortunate in knowing that even great men suffer alongside us. Death strikes the palace just as it does the cottage. Whoever stands above me also has someone with power over them. Don't we see funerals every day without worry? We watch princes get overthrown, countries emptied of people, and towns destroyed. We barely think about how soon it might happen to us. But if we would just prepare ourselves and guard against fortune's cruelties, we would never be caught off guard.
When we see any man banished, beggared, tortured, we are to account, that though the mischief fell upon another, it was levelled at us. What wonder is it if, of so many thousands of dangers that are constantly hovering about us, one comes to hit us at last? That which befalls any man, may befall every man; and then it breaks the force of a present calamity to provide against the future. Whatsoever our lot is, we must bear it: as suppose it be contumely, cruelty, fire, sword, pains, diseases, or a prey to wild beasts; there is no struggling, nor any remedy but moderation. It is to no purpose to bewail any part of our life, when life itself is miserable throughout; and the whole flux of it only a course of transition from one misfortune to another.
When we see someone banished, left poor, or tortured, we should remember something important. Even though the harm fell on another person, it was aimed at us too. Why should we be surprised if one of the thousands of dangers constantly around us finally hits us? What happens to any person can happen to every person. Knowing this helps us deal with present troubles by preparing for future ones. Whatever our fate, we must accept it. This might mean facing insults, cruelty, fire, sword, pain, disease, or wild animals. There's no point in fighting it. Our only remedy is self-control. It's useless to complain about any part of our lives when life itself is miserable from start to finish. The whole flow of life is just one long journey from one misfortune to another.
A man may as well wonder that he should be cold in winter, sick at sea, or have his bones clatter together in a wagon, as at the encounter of ill accidents and crosses in the passage of human life; and it is in vain to run away from fortune, as if there were any hiding-place wherein she could not find us; or to expect any quiet from her; for she makes life a perpetual state of war, without so much as any respite or truce. This we may conclude upon, that her empire is but imaginary, and that whosoever serves her, makes himself a voluntary slave; for “the things that are often contemned by the inconsiderate, and always by the wise, are in themselves neither good nor evil:” as pleasure and pains; prosperity and adversity; which can only operate upon our outward condition, without any proper and necessary effect upon the mind.
A person might as well wonder why they feel cold in winter, get seasick at sea, or have their bones rattle in a bumpy wagon. Life naturally brings bad luck and troubles. It's pointless to run from fortune, as if there were some hiding place where she couldn't find us. We can't expect any peace from her either. She makes life a constant battle with no breaks or truces. We can be sure of this: her power is only in our imagination. Anyone who serves her makes themselves a willing slave. "The things that careless people often dismiss, and wise people always dismiss, are neither good nor evil in themselves." This includes pleasure and pain, success and failure. These things can only affect our outer circumstances. They have no real or necessary impact on our minds.