Between Heathenism and Christianity - College of Stoic Philosophers

Plutarch and the Greece of His Age
uiiliar with the Greek language aiid used it with ease;
but there were few Romans who did not despise the
Greeks and regard them as inferiors. Nations, like
individuals, feel more or less contempt for those whose
tastes are different from their own: and in the case
before us. the Greeks being the weaker, were the chief
sufferers.
But just as rich men sometimes buy books
and statuary of which they do not know the value,
and collect libraries which they cannot read,
because
intelligent people take pleasure in these things, so a
certain class of Romans affected a fondness for Greek
art and literature and philosophy. An enormous
quantity of works of Greek art was transported across
the Adriatic by the Romans with small advantage to
the pillagers or to the nation. Notwithstanding the
predilection of some of the leading families for Greek
culture, their influence made no deep and lasting
impression on Roman thought,
in the better sense.
Rome always showed itself much more receptive
toward what is debasing than for what was ennobling.
After this hasty survey of the condition of Plu
tarch s countrymen we are more than ever inclined
to be surprised at his optimism. Yet the explana
tion is not far to seek, and is consistent with his
philosophy. He had an abiding faith in a divine
Providence who orders all things for the best. He
holds that men are free and therefore responsible.
The ills that afflict them are chiefly of their own
making; why then should a wise man grieve over
them? It is man s chief business to free himself
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