48
The ladies at Rome have Plato’s Republic in their hands, because he allows a community of wives; for they attend merely to the words of the author, and not to his sense. For he does not first order one man and one woman to marry and live together, and then allow a community of wives; but he abolishes that system of marriage, and introduces one of another kind. And, in general, men are pleased in ending out excuses for their own faults. Yet philosophy says it is not fit even to move a finger without 30me reason.
49
It is the rarest pleasures which especially delight us.
50
Once exceed moderation, and the most delightful things may become the most undelightful.
51
Agrippinus was justly entitled to praise on this account, that, though he was a man of the highest worth, he never praised himself, but blushed even if another praised him. And he was a man of such a character as to commend every untoward event that befell him: if he was feverish, the fever; if disgraced, the disgrace; if banished, the banishment. And, when once, as he was going to dine, a messenger brought him word that Nero ordered him to banishment, Well, then, said Agrippinus, let us dine at Aricia.The first stage on his journey into banishment. See note, ante. - H.
52
Diogenes affirmed—no labor to be good, unless the end were a due state and tone of the soul, and not of the body.
