Then you will say, I met with Epictetus as I should meet with a stone or a statue:  for you saw me and nothing more.  But he meets with a man as a man, who learns his opinions, and in his turn shows his own.  Learn my opinions:  show me yours; and then say that you have visited me.  Let us examine one another:  if I have any bad opinion, take it away; if you have any, show it.  This is the meaning of meeting with a philosopher.  Not so (you say):  but this is only a passing visit, and while we are hiring the vessel, we can also see Epictetus.  Let us see what he says.  Then you go away and say:  Epictetus was nothing; he used solecisms and spoke in a barbarous way.  For of what else do you come as judges?  Well, but a man may say to me, if I attend to such matters (as you do), I shall have no land as you have none; I shall have no silver cups as you have none, nor fine beasts as you have none.  In answer to tins it is perhaps sufficient to say:  I have no need of such things; but if you possess many things you have need of others:  whether you choose or not, you are poorer than I am.  What then have I need of?  Of that which you have not? of firmness, of a mind which is conformable to nature, of being free from perturbation.

* * * * *

In what manner we ought to bear sickness.—­When the need of each opinion comes, we ought to have it in readiness:  on the occasion of breakfast, such opinions as relate to breakfast; in the bath, those that concern the bath; in bed, those that concern bed.

  Let sleep not come upon thy languid eyes
  Before each daily action thou hast scann’d;
  What’s done amiss, what done, what left undone;
  From first to last examine all, and then
  Blame what is wrong, in what is right rejoice.

And we ought to retain these verses in such way that we may use them, not that we may utter them aloud, as when we exclaim, “Paean Apollo.”  Again in fever we should have ready such opinions as concern a fever; and we ought not, as soon as the fever begins, to lose and forget all.  A man who has a fever may say:  If I philosophize any longer, may I be hanged:  wherever I go, I must take care of the poor body, that a fever may not come.  But what is philosophizing?  Is it not a preparation against events which may happen?  Do you not understand that you are saying something of this kind?  “If I shall still prepare myself to bear with patience what happens, may I be hanged.”  But this is just as if a man after receiving blows should give up the Pancratium.  In the Pancratium it is in our power to desist and not to receive blows.