Between Heathenism and Christianity - College of Stoic Philosophers
Between Heathenism and Christianity - College of Stoic Philosophers
Between Heathenism and Christianity - College of Stoic Philosophers
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Plutarch <strong>and</strong> the Greece <strong>of</strong> His Age<br />
our pursuit we shall long to return to it. The aim<br />
<strong>and</strong> purpose <strong>of</strong> our philosophy must be practical, <strong>and</strong><br />
it is chiefly in our activity as a citizen <strong>and</strong> a man in<br />
all the multiplex relations <strong>of</strong> life, that we may test<br />
our love for it. Yet, the true philosopher is not<br />
ostentatious, <strong>and</strong> it makes little difference to him<br />
whether the world recognizes him as such or not.<br />
He ought to seek internal satisfaction, not public<br />
acknowledgement. Herein Plutarch takes his st<strong>and</strong><br />
in opposition to many <strong>of</strong> his countrymen who aspired<br />
to the name <strong>and</strong> title <strong>of</strong> philosophers, but did little<br />
to deserve them. How men <strong>of</strong> sense regarded them<br />
has been pointed out elsewhere.<br />
We may also measure our progress in philosophy,<br />
that is, in virtue, by our love <strong>of</strong> the beautiful <strong>and</strong> the<br />
good; by our attitude towards praise <strong>and</strong> blame.<br />
We ought neither to seek the one nor avoid the<br />
other. If we really desire to correct our faults <strong>and</strong><br />
shortcomings, we will be ready at all times to listen<br />
to advice <strong>and</strong> to heed criticism; nor will we conceal<br />
any part <strong>of</strong> our nature or cover up any <strong>of</strong> our acts in<br />
order to seem what we are not. Nevertheless, when<br />
we are firmly convinced that we are in the right, it<br />
our duty to go forward in the course we have marked<br />
out for ourselves, no matter what others may think<br />
or say.<br />
There is no stronger incentive to noble deeds <strong>and</strong><br />
an upright life than the lives <strong>of</strong> the great <strong>and</strong> the<br />
good <strong>of</strong> all ages. It was mainly under the impulse<br />
<strong>of</strong> this belief that Plutarch compiled his parallel<br />
131<br />
is