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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"<br />
"<br />
"<br />
The Delay <strong>of</strong> the Deity<br />
to the wicked because they freely praise those who<br />
have the reputation <strong>of</strong> being virtuous. For that<br />
which hardens men in vice is like the brittleness in<br />
poor iron <strong>and</strong> is easily<br />
shivered. Whence it comes<br />
that as they, in the course <strong>of</strong> time, gain a deeper in<br />
sight into the nature <strong>of</strong> things, are weighed down<br />
with sorrow <strong>and</strong> become morose <strong>and</strong> abhor their own<br />
past life. It surely cannot be but that a bad man<br />
who has restored a trust, or become surety for a friend,<br />
or who from a love <strong>of</strong> glory or fame has given <strong>and</strong><br />
contributed something to his country,<br />
will forthwith<br />
regret what he has done, because he is unstable in<br />
his ways <strong>and</strong> fickle in his purpose; sometimes per<br />
sons <strong>of</strong> this kind, even when applauded in the theaters,<br />
groan inwardly because the love <strong>of</strong> money has sup<br />
planted the love <strong>of</strong> glory; nor can it be that those<br />
who have sacrificed men for the attainment <strong>of</strong> sov<br />
ereignty or to carry out a conspiracy, as did Apollodorus,<br />
or who have taken away money from their<br />
friends, as did Glaucus, do not repent, nor hate them<br />
selves, <strong>and</strong> do not feel regret for what they have done.<br />
I, for my part, do not believe, if I may say so, that<br />
there is need <strong>of</strong> any god or man to punish the im<br />
pious, but that their life, ruined <strong>and</strong> made uneasy by<br />
vice, is fully sufficient."<br />
12.<br />
Consider, however," I said,<br />
whether we are<br />
not examining the argument at greater length than<br />
its importance dem<strong>and</strong>s." To this Timon replied,<br />
It may be, in view <strong>of</strong> what is yet to come <strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />
what has been omitted. For I shall now bring up as<br />
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