Training Ourselves to Resist Appearances (ΦΑΝΤΑΣΊΑΣ)

As we exercise ourselves against sophistical questions, so we ought to exercise ourselves daily against appearances; for these appearances also propose questions to us. A certain person's son is dead. Answer; the thing is not within the power of the will: it is not an evil. A father has disinherited a certain son. What do you think of it? It is a thing beyond the power of the will, not an evil. Caesar has condemned a person. It is a thing beyond the power of the will, not an evil. The man is afflicted at this. Affliction is a thing which depends on the will: it is an evil. He has borne the condemnation bravely. That is a thing within the power of the will: it is a good. If we train ourselves in this manner, we shall make progress; for we shall never assent to any thing of which there is not an appearance capable of being comprehended. Your son is dead. What has happened? Your son is dead. Nothing more? Nothing. Your ship is lost. What has happened? Your ship is lost. A man has been led to prison. What has happened? He has been led to prison. But that herein he has fared badly, every man adds from his own opinion. But Zeus, you say, does not do right in these matters. Why? because he has made you capable of endurance? because he has made you magnanimous? because he has taken from that which befalls you the power of being evils? because it is in your power to be happy while you are suffering what you suffer; because he has opened the door to you,⁴⁸² when things do not please you?⁴⁸³ Man, go out and do not complain.

Just as we practice answering tricky questions, we should practice responding to appearances every day. Appearances pose questions to us too. Someone’s son has died. Answer: Death is beyond the power of the will. It is not an evil. A father has disinherited his son. What do you think of that? Disinheritance is beyond the power of the will. It is not an evil. Caesar has condemned someone. Condemnation is beyond the power of the will. It is not an evil. The man is distressed by his condemnation. Distress depends on the will. It is an evil. He has borne his condemnation bravely. That is within the power of the will. It is a good. If we train ourselves this way, we will make progress. For we will never accept anything unless it is supported by an appearance we can understand. Your son has died. What has happened? Your son has died. Nothing more? Nothing. Your ship has been lost. What has happened? Your ship has been lost. A man has been taken to prison. What has happened? He has been taken to prison. But each person adds the judgment that the man has suffered an evil. But Zeus, you say, does not act rightly in these matters. Why? Because he has made you capable of endurance? Because he has made you generous in spirit? Because he has taken away the power of events to be evils? Because you can be happy while suffering what you suffer? Because he has opened the door for you⁴⁸² when things do not please you?⁴⁸³ Man, go out and do not complain.

Hear how the Romans feel towards philosophers, if you would like to know. Italicus, who was the most in repute of the philosophers, once when I was present being vexed with his own friends and as if he was suffering something intolerable said, "I cannot bear it, you are killing me: you will make me such as that man is;" pointing to me.⁴⁸⁴

If you want to know how the Romans feel about philosophers, listen to this. Italicus was the most respected of the philosophers. Once, when I was there, he became annoyed with his own friends. As if he were suffering something unbearable, he said, "I can't stand it. You're killing me. You'll make me like that man," pointing to me.⁴⁸⁴