Роздуми
Book 2
Theangrymanseemstoturnhisbackonreasonoutofakindofpainandinnerconvulsion.Butthemanmotivatedbydesire,whoismasteredbypleasure,seemssomehowmoreself-indulgent,lessmanlyinhissins.Theophrastusisright,andphilosophicallysound,tosaythatthesincommittedoutofpleasuredeservesaharsherrebukethantheonecommittedoutofpain.Theangrymanismorelikeavictimofwrongdoing,provokedbypaintoanger.Theothermanrushesintowrongdoingonhisown,movedtoactionbydesire.
11.Youcouldleaveliferightnow.Letthatdeterminewhatyoudoandsayandthink.Ifthegodsexist,thentoabandonhumanbeingsisnotfrightening;thegodswouldneversubjectyoutoharm.Andiftheydon’texist,ordon’tcarewhathappenstous,whatwouldbethepointoflivinginaworldwithoutgodsorProvidence?Buttheydoexist,theydocarewhathappenstous,andeverythingapersonneedstoavoidrealharmtheyhaveplacedwithinhim.Iftherewereanythingharmfulontheothersideofdeath,theywouldhavemadesurethattheabilitytoavoiditwaswithinyou.Ifitdoesn’tharmyourcharacter,howcanitharmyourlife?Naturewouldnothaveoverlookedsuchdangersthroughfailingtorecognizethem,orbecauseitsawthembutwaspowerlesstopreventorcorrectthem.Norwoulditever,throughinabilityorincompetence,makesuchamistakeastoletgoodandbadthingshappenindiscriminatelytogoodandbadalike.
