pleasure is not in them, but in the irrational nature of the creatures who plunge into it; even
so count it to be in the case of human beings.
7. And how might we cure those who are thus disposed? It would be possible if they
would open their ears to us, and unfold their heart, and receive our words. For it is impossible
to turn and divert the irrational animals from their unclean habit; for they are destitute of
reason: but this the gentlest of all tribes, honoured by reason and speech, I mean human
nature, might, if it chose, readily and easily be released from the mire and the stench, and
the dung hill and its abomination. For wherefore, O man, do riches seem to thee worthy
such diligent pursuit? Is it on account of the pleasure which no doubt is derived from the
table? or on account of the honour and the escort of those who pay court to thee, because
of thy wealth? is it because thou art able to defend thyself against those who annoy thee,
and to be an object of fear to all? For yon cannot name any other reasons, save pleasure and
flattery, and fear, and the power of taking revenge; for wealth is not generally wont to make
any one wiser, or more self-controlled, or more gentle, or more intelligent, or kind, or bene-
volent, or superior to anger, or gluttony or pleasure: it does not train any one to be moderate,
or teach him how to be humble, nor introduce and implant any other piece of virtue in the
soul. Neither could you say for which of these things it deserves to be so diligently sought
and desired. For not only is it ignorant how to plant and cultivate any good thing, but even
if it finds a store of them it mars and stunts and blights them; and some of them it even
uproots, and introduces their opposites, unmeasured licentiousness, unseasonable wrath,
unrighteous anger, pride, arrogance, foolishness. But let me not speak of these; for they who
have been seized by this malady will not endure to hear about virtue and vice, being entirely
abandoned to pleasure and therefore enslaved to it. Come then let us forego for the time
being the consideration of these points, and let us bring forward the others which remain,
and see whether wealth has any pleasure, or any honour: for in my eyes the case is quite the
reverse. And first of all, if you please, let us investigate the meals of rich and poor, and ask
the guests which they are who enjoy the purest and most genuine pleasure; is it they who
recline for a full day on couches, and join breakfast and dinner together, and distend their
stomach, and blunt their senses, and sink the vessel by an overladen cargo of food, and wa-
terlog the ship, and drench it as in some shipwreck of the body, and devise fetters, and
manacles, and gags, and bind their whole body with the band of drunkenness and surfeit
more grievous than an iron chain, and enjoy no sound pure sleep undisturbed by frightful
dreams, and are more miserable than madmen and introduce a kind of self-imposed demon
into the soul and display themselves as a laughing stock to the gaze of their servants, or
rather to the kinder sort amongst them as a tragical spectacle eliciting tears, and cannot re-
cognize any of those who are present, and are incapable of speaking or hearing but have to
be carried away from their couches to their bed;—or is it they who are sober and vigilant,
and limit their eating by their need, and sail with a favourable breeze, and find hunger and
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A Treatise to Prove that No One Can Harm the Man Who Does Not Injure Hi…