Letter 103

[1] Why do you keep glancing around at those things that may perhaps befall you, but may also fail to befall you? I mean fire, the collapse of a building, and the other mishaps that happen to us by chance, without lying in wait for us. Look rather at those dangers that watch us, that lie ready to seize us. Such accidents are rare, even if they are serious: to suffer shipwreck, to be overturned in a carriage. The everyday danger comes to a man from another man. Make yourself ready against this; fix your eyes on this. No evil is more frequent, none more persistent, none more ingratiating. [2] A storm threatens before it rises, buildings creak before they fall, smoke gives advance notice of fire. But the ruin that comes from a man is sudden, and it is concealed all the more carefully the closer it draws near. You are mistaken if you trust the faces of those who cross your path: they have the appearance of men, but the souls of wild beasts; except that with beasts only the first onslaught is destructive, and those they have passed by they do not hunt down. For nothing ever spurs beasts to do harm except necessity; they are driven to fight by either hunger or fear. But a man takes pleasure in destroying a man. [3] You, however, should weigh what danger comes from a man in such a way that you also weigh what a man's duty is. Keep your eye on the one, so that you are not harmed; on the other, so that you do no harm. Rejoice in the good fortune of all, be moved by their misfortunes, and remember both what you ought to render and what you ought to guard against. [4] By living in this way, what will you gain? Not that they should do you no harm, but that they should not deceive you. As far as you are able, withdraw into philosophy: she will shelter you in her bosom, and in her sanctuary you will be either safe or safer. Men only collide with one another when they are walking on the same road. [5] Philosophy herself, however, you must not flaunt; for to many, handled insolently and defiantly, she has been a cause of danger. Let her strip away your own faults, not reproach them in others. Let her not recoil from the common customs of mankind, nor act in such a way that she seems to condemn whatever she does not herself do. One may be wise without display, without arousing ill will. Farewell.

Why are you looking about for troubles which may perhaps come your way, but which may indeed not come your way at all? I mean fires, falling buildings, and other accidents of the sort that are mere events rather than plots against us. Rather beware and shun those troubles which dog our steps and reach out their hands against us. Accidents, though they may be serious, are few—such as being shipwrecked or thrown from one’s carriage; but it is from his fellow-man that a man’s everyday danger comes. Equip yourself against that; watch that with an attentive eye. There is no evil more frequent, no evil more persistent, no evil more insinuating. Even the storm, before it gathers, gives a warning; houses crack before they crash; and smoke is the forerunner of fire. But damage from man is instantaneous, and the nearer it comes the more carefully it is concealed. You are wrong to trust the countenances of those you meet. They have the aspect of men, but the souls of brutes; the difference is that only beasts damage you at the first encounter; those whom they have passed by they do not pursue. For nothing ever goads them to do harm except when need compels them: it is hunger or fear that forces them into a fight. But man delights to ruin man. You must, however, reflect thus what danger you run at the hands of man, in order that you may deduce what is the duty of man. Try, in your dealings with others, to harm not, in order that you be not harmed. You should rejoice with all in their joys and sympathize with them in their troubles, remembering what you should offer and what you should withhold. And what may you attain by living such a life? Not necessarily freedom from harm at their hands, but at least freedom from deceit. In so far, however, as you are able, take refuge with philosophy: she will cherish you in her bosom, and in her sanctuary you shall be safe, or, at any rate, safer than before. People collide only when they are travelling the same path. But this very philosophy must never be vaunted by you; for philosophy when employed with insolence and arrogance has been perilous to many. Let her strip off your faults, rather than assist you to decry the faults of others. Let her not hold aloof from the customs of mankind, nor make it her business to condemn whatever she herself does not do. A man may be wise without parade and without arousing enmity. Farewell.

[1] Quid ista circumspicis quae tibi possunt fortasse evenire sed possunt et non evenire? Incendium dico, ruinam, alia quae nobis incidunt, non insidiantur: illa potius vide, illa [vide] vita [illa] quae nos observant, quae captant. Rari sunt casus, etiamsi graves, naufragium facere, vehiculo everti: ab homine homini cotidianum periculum. Adversus hoc te expedi, hoc intentis oculis intuere; nullum est malum frequentius, nullum pertinacius, nullum blandius. [2] Tempestas minatur antequam surgat, crepant aedificia antequam corruant, praenuntiat fumus incendium: subita est ex homine pernicies [est], et eo diligentius tegitur quo propius accedit. Erras si istorum tibi qui occurrunt vultibus credis: hominum effigies habent, animos ferarum, nisi quod illarum perniciosus est primus incursus: quos transiere non quaerunt. Numquam enim illas ad nocendum nisi necessitas incitat; [hae] aut fame aut timore coguntur ad pugnam: homini perdere hominem libet. [3] Tu tamen ita cogita quod ex homine periculum sit ut cogites quod sit hominis officium; alterum intuere ne laedaris, alterum ne laedas. Commodis omnium laeteris, movearis incommodis, et memineris quae praestare debeas, quae cavere. [4]Sic vivendo quid consequaris? non te ne noceant, sed ne fallant. Quantum potes autem in philosophiam recede: illa te sinu suo proteget, in huius sacrario eris aut tutus aut tutior. Non arietant inter se nisi in eadem ambulantes via. [5] Ipsam autem philosophiam non debebis iactare; multis fuit periculi causa insolenter tractata et contumaciter: tibi vitia detrahat, non aliis exprobret. Non abhorreat a publicis moribus nec hoc agat ut quidquid non facit damnare videatur. Licet sapere sine pompa, sine invidia. Vale.