首页 >出版文学> Adam Smith>第9章

第9章

  Buttheordinaryloveofourcountryinvolvestwothings:acertainreverencefortheformofgovernmentactuallyestablished,andanearnestdesiretorendertheconditionofourfellow-citizensassafe,respectable,andhappy,aspossible。Itisonlyintimesofpublicdiscontentandfactionthatthesetwoprinciplesmaydrawdifferentways,andleadtodoubtwhetherachangeintheconstitutionmightnotbemostconducivetothegeneralhappiness。Insuchtimes,theleadersofthediscontentedpartyoftenpropose"tonew-modeltheconstitution,andtoalter,insomeofitsmostessentialparts,thatsystemofgovernmentunderwhichthesubjectsofagreatempirehaveenjoyedperhapspeace,security,andevenglory,duringthecourseofseveralcenturiestogether。"Anditmayrequirethehighesteffortofpoliticalwisdomtodeterminewhenarealpatriotoughttosupportandtrytore-establishtheauthorityoftheoldsystem,andwhenheoughttogivewaytothemoredaring,butoftendangerous,spiritofinnovation。
  Nothing,indeed,ismorefataltothegoodorderofsocietythanthepolicyof"amanofsystem,"whoissoenamouredofhisownidealplanofgovernmentastobeunabletosufferthesmallestdeviationfromanypartofit,andwhoinsistsuponestablishingandestablishingallatonce,andinspiteofallopposition,whateverhisideamayseemtorequire。
  Suchamanerectshisownjudgmentintothesupremestandardofrightandwrong,andfancieshimselftheonlywiseandworthymaninthecommonwealth。
  "Itisuponthisaccountthatofallpoliticalspeculatorssovereignprincesarebyfarthemostdangerous。Thisarroganceisperfectlyfamiliartothem。Theyentertainnodoubtoftheimmensesuperiorityoftheirownjudgment……andconsiderthestateasmadeforthemselves,notthemselvesforthestate。"
  Itisotherwisewiththerealpatriot,withthemanwhosepublicspiritispromptedaltogetherbyhumanityandbenevolence。He"willrespecttheestablishedpowersandprivilegesevenofindividuals,andstillmorethoseofthegreatordersandsocietiesintowhichthestateisdivided。Thoughheshouldconsidersomeofthemasinsomemeasureabusive,hewillcontenthimselfwithmoderating,whatheoftencannotannihilatewithoutgreatviolence。Whenhecannotconquertherootedprejudicesofthepeoplebyreasonandpersuasion,hewillnotattempttosubduethembyforce,butwillreligiouslyobservewhatbyCiceroisjustlycalledthedivinemaximofPlato,nevertouseviolencetohiscountry,nomorethantohisparents。
  Hewillaccommodate,aswellashecan,hispublicarrangementstotheconfirmedhabitsandprejudicesofthepeople;andwillremedy,aswellashecan,theinconvenienceswhichmayflowfromthewantofthoseregulationswhichthepeopleareadversetosubmitto。Whenhecannotestablishtheright,hewillnotdisdaintoamelioratethewrong;but,likeSolon,wherehecannotestablishthebestsystemoflaws,hewillendeavourtoestablishthebestthatthepeoplecanbear。"
  ButalthoughPrudence,Justice,andBenevolencecompriseallthequalitiesandactionswhichgotomakeupthehighestVirtue,anotherquality,thatofSelf-Command,isalsonecessary,inorderthatwemaynotbemisledbyourownpassionstoviolatetherulesoftheotherthreevirtues。Themostperfectknowledge,unlesssupportedbythemostperfectself-command,willnotofitselfenableustodoourduty。
  Thetwosetsofpassionswhichitisnecessarytocommandarethosewhich,likefearandanger,itisdifficulttocontrolevenforamoment,orthosewhich,liketheloveofease,pleasure,applause,orotherselfishgratifications,mayberestrainedindeedoftenforamoment,butoftenprevailinthelongrun,byreasonoftheircontinualsolicitations。Thecommandofthefirstsetofpassionsconstituteswhattheancientmoralistsdenominatedfortitude,orstrengthofmind;thatoftheothersetwhattheycalledtemperance,decency,moderation。
  Self-commandthereforeisaunionofthequalitiesoffortitudeandtemperance;andindependentlyofthebeautyitderivesfromutility,asenablingustoactaccordingtothedictatesofprudence,justice,andbenevolence,ithasabeautyofitsown,anddeservesforitsownsakealonesomedegreeofouradmirationandesteem。
  Forself-commandisnotonlyitselfagreatvirtue,butitisthechiefsourceofthelustreofalltheothervirtues。Thusthecharacterofthemostexaltedwisdomandvirtueisthatofamanwhoactswiththegreatestcoolnessinextremedangersanddifficulties,whoobservesreligiouslythesacredrulesofjustice,inspiteofthetemptationbyhisstrongestinterestsorbythegrossestinjuriestoviolatethem,andwhosuffersnotthebenevolenceofhistempertobedampedbytheingratitudeofitsobjects。
  Thefirstqualityinthecharacterofself-commandisCourageortherestraintofthepassionoffear。Thecommandoffearismoreadmirablethanthatofanger。Theexertiondisplayedbyaman,whoinpersecutionordangersuffersnowordorgesturetoescapehim,whichdoesnotperfectlyaccordwiththefeelingsofthemostindifferentspectator,commandsahighdegreeofadmiration。HadSocratesbeensufferedtodiequietlyinhisbed,evenhisgloryasaphilosophermightneverhaveattainedthatdazzlingsplendourwhichhaseverbeenattachedtohim。Courageevencausessomedegreeofregardtobepaidtothegreatestcriminalswhodiewithfirm-ness;andthefreedomfromthefearofdeath,thegreatfearofall,isthatwhichennoblestheprofessionofasoldier,andbestowsuponitarankanddignitysuperiortothatofeveryotherprofession。Itisforthisreasonthatsomesortofesteemisattachedtocharacters,howeverworthless,whohaveconductedwithsuccessagreatwarlikeexploit,thoughunder-takencontrarytoeveryprincipleofjustice,and。carriedonwithnoregardtohumanity。
  Thecommandofthepassionofanger,thoughithasnospecialnamelikethatofthepassionoffear,meritsonmanyoccasionsmuchadmiration。
  Butwhilstcourageisalwaysadmiredirrespectiveofitsmotive,ourapprovalofthecommandofangerdependsonoursenseofitsdignityandpropriety。
  OurwholesenseofthebeautyofthePhilippicsofDemosthenesoroftheCatilineorationsofCiceroisderivedfromtheproprietywithwhichajustindignationisexpressedinthem。Thisjustindignationisnothingbutangerre-strainedtothatdegreewithwhichtheimpartialspectatorcansympathize。Itisbecauseablusteringandnoisyangerintereststhespectatorlessfortheangrymanthanforthepersonwithwhomlieisangrythatthenoblenessofpardoningsooftenappearssuperiortothemostperfectproprietyofresentment。Butthefactthattherestraintofangermaybeduetothepresenceoffearaccountsforthelessgeneraladmirationthatispaidtotheformerthanisoftenpaidtothelatter。Theindulgenceofangerseemstoshowasortofcourageandsuperioritytofear,andforthatreasonitissome-timesanobjectofvanity,whilsttheindulgenceoffearisneveranobjectofasimilarostentation。
  ThenextqualityinSelf-CommandisTemperance,orthecommandofthoselessviolentpassionswhichappealtoourloveofeaseorpleasure。
  Thecommandofthesepassionscanseldom,likethecommandofangerorfear,bedirectedtoanybadend。Temperanceandmoderation,whichincludesuchvirtuesasindustry,frugality,orchastity,arealwaysamiable;butinasmuchastheirexerciserequiresagentlerthoughsteadierexertionthanisnecessaryfortherestraintofangerorfear,thebeautyandgracewhichbelongtothemarelessdazzling,thoughnonethelesspleasing,thanthequalitieswhichattendthemoresplendidactionsofthehero,thestatesman,orthelegislator。
  Ithasalreadybeenobservedthatthepointofpropriety,ordegreeofanypassionwithwhichanimpartialspectatorcanapprove,isdifferentlysituatedindifferentpassions,insomecaseslyingnearertotheexcess,andinothersnearertothedefect。Butitremainstobenoticed,"thatthepassionswhichthespectatorismostdisposedtosympathizewith,andinwhich,uponthataccount,thepointofproprietymaybesaidtostandhigh,arethoseofwhichtheimmediatefeelingorsensationismoreorlessagreeabletothepersonprincipallyconcerned;andthat,onthecontrary,thepassionswhichthespectatoris`leastdisposedtosympathizewith,andinwhich,uponthataccount,thepointofproprietymaybesaidtostandlow,arethoseofwhichtheimmediatefeelingorsensationismoreorlessdisagreeableorevenpainfultothepersonprincipallyconcerned。"
  Forinstance,thedispositiontothesocialaffections,tohumanity,kindness,naturalaffection,orfriendship,beingalwaysagreeabletothepersonwhofeelsthem,meetswithmoresympathyinitsexcessthaninitsdefect。Thoughweblameadisposition,thatistooreadyandindiscriminateinitskindness,weregarditwithpityratherthanwiththedislikewhichwefeeltowardsapersonwhoisdefectiveinkindness,orcharacterizedbywhatiscalledhardnessofheart。Ontheotherhand,thedispositiontotheunsocialaffectionstoanger,hatred,envy,ormaliceasitismoreagreeabletothepersonprincipallyconcernedindefectthaninexcess,soanydefectofthosepassionsapproachesnearertothepointofproprietyapprovedofbythespectatorthananyexcessintheirmanifestation。Theirexcessrendersamanwretchedandmiserableinhisownmind,andhencetheirdefectismorepleasingtoothers。Neverthelesseventhedefectmaybeexcessive。Thewantofproperindignationisamostessentialdefectinanycharacter,ifitpreventsamanfromprotectingeitherhimselforhisfriendsfrominsultorinjustice。Oragain,thatdefectoforfreedomfromenvy,which,foundedonindolenceorgoodnature,oronanaversiontotroubleoropposition,suffersothersreadilytorisefaraboveus,asitgenerallyleadstomuchregretandrepentanceafterwards,soitoftengivesplace"toamostmalignantenvyintheend,andtoahatredofthatsuperioritywhichthosewhohaveonceattaineditmayoftenbecomereallyentitledto,bytheverycircumstanceofhavingattainedit。Inordertolivecomfortablyintheworld,itisuponalloccasionsasnecessarytodefendourdignityandrankasitistodefendourlivesorourfortune。"
  Sensibilitytoourownpersonaldangers,injuries,orfortunes,ismoreapttooffendbyitsexcessthanbyitsdefect,andhereagainthesameruleprevails,forafretfulortimiddispositionrendersamanmiserabletohimselfaswellasoffensive。toothers。Acalmtemper,whichcontentedlylaysitsaccounttosuffersomewhatfromboththenaturalandmoralevilsinfestingtheworld,isablessingtothemanhimself,andgiveseaseandsecuritytoallhisfellows。Butsuchdefectofsensibilitymayalsobeexcessive,forthemanwhofeelslittleforhisownmisfortunesorinjurieswillalwaysfeellessforthoseofotherpeople,andbelessdisposedtorelieveorresentthem。
  Adefectofsensibilitytothepleasuresandamusementsoflifeismoreoffensivethantheexcess,forbothtothepersonprimarilyaffectedandtothespectatorastrongpropensitytojoyismorepleasingthanthecontrary。
  Thispropensityisonlyblamedwhenitsindulgenceisunsuitedtotimeorplace,totheageorthesituationofaperson,andwhenitleadstotheneglectofhisinterestorduty。Butitisratherinsuchcasestheweaknessofthesenseofproprietyanddutythatisblamedthanthestrengthofthepropensitytojoy。
  Self-esteemalsoismoreagreeableinexcessthanindefect,foritissomuchmorepleasanttothinkhighlythanitistothinkmeanlyofourselves。Andjustasweapplytwodifferentstandardstoourjudgmentaboutothers,soinself-estimationweapplytoourselvesboththestandardofabsoluteperfectionandthatoftheordinaryapproximationthereto。
  Tothesetwostandardsthesamemanoftenbestowsadifferentdegreeofattentionatdifferenttimes。Ineverymanthereexistsanideaofexactproprietyandperfection;anideagraduallyformedfromobservationsofhimselfandothers,"theslow,gradual,andprogressiveworkofthegreatdemigodwithinthebreast,thegreatjudgeandarbiterofconduct。"Itisanideawhich,ineveryman,ismoreorlessaccuratelydrawn,moreorlessjustlycolouredanddesigned,accordingtothedelicacyandcarewithwhichtheobservationshavebeenmade。
  Butitisthewiseandvirtuousmanwho,havingmadetheseobservationswiththeutmostcare,directshisconductchieflybythisidealstandard,andesteemshimselfrightlyinconsequence。Hefeelstheimperfectsuccessofallhisbestendeavourstoassimilatehisconducttothatarchetypeofperfection,andrememberswithhumiliationthefrequencyofhisaberrationfromtheexactrulesofperfectpropriety。Andsoconsciousisheofhisimperfectionthat,evenwhenhejudgeshimselfbythesecondstandardofordinaryrectitude,heisunabletoregardwithcontemptthestillgreaterimperfectionofotherpeople。Thushischaracterisoneofrealmodesty,forhecombines,withaverymoderateestimateofhisownmerit,afullsenseofthemeritofothers。
  Thedifferenceindeedbetweensuchamanandtheordinarymanisthedifferencebetweenthegreatartistwhojudgesofhisownworksbyhisconceptionofidealperfectionandthelesserartistwhojudgesofhisworkmerelybycomparisonwiththeworkofotherartists。ThepoetBoileau,whousedtosaythatnogreatmanwasevercompletelysatisfiedwithhisownwork,beingonceassuredbySanteuil,awriterofLatinverses,thathe,forhisownpart,wascompletelysatisfiedwithhisown,repliedthathewascertainlytheonlygreatmanwhoeverwasso。Yethowmuchharderofattainmentistheidealperfectioninconductthanitisinart!Fortheartistmayworkundisturbed,andinfullpossessionofallhisskillandexperience。But"thewisemanmustsupporttheproprietyofhisownconductinhealthandinsickness,insuccessandindisappointment,inthehouroffatigueanddrowsyindolence,aswellasinthatofthemostwakenedattention。Themostsuddenandunexpectedassaultsofdifficultyanddistressmustneversurprisehim。Theinjusticeofotherpeoplemustneverprovokehimtoinjustice。Theviolenceoffactionmustneverconfoundhim。Allthehardshipsandhazardsofwarmustnevereitherdisheartenorappalhim。"
  Prideandvanityaretwodistinctkindsofthatexcessiveself-estimationwhichweblameinpersonswhoenjoynodistinguishedsuperiorityoverthecommonlevelofmankind;andthoughtheproudmanisoftenvain,andthevainmanproud,thetwocharactersareeasilydistinguishable。
  Theproudmanissincere,andinthebottomofhisheartconvincedofhisownsuperiority。Hewishesyoutoviewhiminnootherlightthanthatinwhich,whenheplaceshim-selfinyoursituation,liereallyviewshimself。Heonlydemandsjustice。Hedeignsnottoexplainthegroundsofhispretensions;hedisdainstocourtesteem,andevenaffectstodespiseit。Heistoowellcontentedwithhimselftothinkthathischaracterrequiresanyamendment。Hedoesnotalwaysfeelateaseinthecompanyofhisequals,andstilllessinthatofhissuperiors。Unableasheistolaydownhisloftypretensions,andoverawedbysuchsuperiority,hehasrecoursetohumblercompany,forwhichhehaslittlerespect,andinwhichhefindslittlepleasurethatofhisinferiorsordependants。Ifhevisitshissuperiors,itistoshowthatheisentitledtolivewiththemmorethanfromanyrealsatisfactionhederivesfromthem。Heneverflatters,andisoftenscarcelyciviltoanybody。Heseldomstoopstofalsehood;butifhedoes,itistolowerotherpeople,andtodetractfromthatsuperioritywhichhethinksunjustlyattachedtothem。
  TheVainmanisdifferentinnearlyallthesepoints。Heisnotsincerelyconvincedofthesuperiorityheclaims。Seeingtherespectwhichispaidtorankandfortune,talentsorvirtues,lieseekstousurpsuchrespect;
  andbyhisdressandmodeoflivingproclaimsahigherrankandfortunethanreallybelongtohim。Heisdelightedwithviewinghimself,notinthelightinwhichweshouldviewhimifweknewallthatheknows,butinthatinwhichlieimaginesthathehasinducedustoviewhim。Unliketheproudman,hecourtsthecompanyofhissuperiors,enjoyingthereflectedsplendourofassociatingwiththem。"Hehauntsthecourtsofkingsandtheleveesofministers,……heisfondofbeingadmittedtothetablesofthegreat,andstillmorefondofmagnifyingtootherpeoplethefamiliaritywithwhichheishonouredthere;heassociateshimselfasmuchashecanwithfashionablepeople,withthosewhoaresupposedtodirectthepublicopinionwiththewitty,withthelearned,withthepopular;andheshunsthecompanyofhisbestfriends,whenevertheveryuncertaincurrentofpublicfavourhappenstoruninanyrespectagainstthem。"Nevertheless,"vanityisalmostalwaysasprightlyandgay,andveryoftenagood-naturedpassion。"Eventhefalsehoodsofthevainmanareallinnocentfalsehoods,meanttoraisehimself,nottolowerotherpeople。Hedoesnot,liketheproudman,thinkhischaracteraboveimprovement;but,inhisdesireoftheesteemandadmirationofothers,isactuatedbyarealmotivetonobleexertion。Vanityisfrequentlyonlyaprematureattempttousurpglorybeforeitisdue;andso"thegreatsecretofeducationistodirectvanitytoproperobjects,"bydiscouragingpretensionstotrivialaccomplishments,butnotthosetomoreimportantones。
  Boththeproudandthevainmanareconstantlydissatisfied;theonebeingtormentedbywhatheconsiderstheunjustsuperiorityofotherpeople,andtheotherdreadingtheshameofthedetectionofhisgroundlesspretensions。
  Sothathereagaintheruleholdsgood;andthatdegreeofself-estimationwhichcontributesmosttothehappinessandcontentmentofthepersonhimself,islikewisethatwhichmostcommendsitselftotheapprobationoftheimpartialspectator。
  Itremains,then,todrawsomeconcludingcomparisonsbetweenthevirtuesofSelf-commandandthethreeprimaryvirtuesPrudence,Justice,andBenevolence。
  Thevirtuesofself-commandarealmostentirelyrecommendedtousbythesenseofpropriety,byregardtothesentimentsofthesupposedimpartialspectator;whilstthevirtuesofprudence,justiceandbenevolence,arechieflyrecommendedtousbyconcernforourownhappinessorthehappinessofotherpeople。Theyarerecommendedtousprimarilybyourselfishorbenevolentaffections,independentlyofanyregardastowhatareoroughttobethesentimentsofotherpeople。Suchregardindeedcomeslatertoenforcetheirpractice;andnomanevertrodsteadilyintheirpathswhoseconductwasnotprincipallydirectedbyaregardtothesentimentsofthesup-posedimpartialspectator,thegreatinmateofthebreastandarbiterofourconduct。Butregardforthesentimentsofotherpeopleconstitutestheveryfoundationofthevirtuesofself-restraint,andisthesoleprinciplethatcanmoderateourpassionstothatdegreewherethespectatorwillgivehisapproval。
  Anotherdifferenceis,thatwhileregardtothebeneficialeffectsofprudence,justice,andbenevolencerecommendthemoriginallytotheagentandafterwardstothespectator,nosuchsenseoftheirutilityaddsitselftooursenseoftheproprietyofthevirtuesofself-command。Theireffectsmaybeagreeableorthecontrary,withoutaffectingtheapprobationbestowedonthem。Valourdisplayedinthecauseofjusticeislovedandadmired,butinthecauseofinjusticeitisstillregardedwithsomeapprobation。
  Inthat,asinalltheothervirtuesofself-command,itisthegreatnessandsteadinessoftheexertion,andthestrongsenseofproprietynecessarytomaintainthatexertion,whichisthesourceofadmiration。Theeffectsareoftenonlytoolittleregarded。
  CHAPTERX。ADAMSMITH'STHEORYOFHAPPINESS。
  AlthoughAdamSmithneverdistinctlyfacestheproblemofthesupremeendoflife,noraskshimselfwhethervirtueandmoralityaremerelymeanstotheattainmentofhappiness,orwhethertheyareendsinthemselvesirrespectiveofhappiness,heleaveslittledoubtthathappinessreallyoccupiesinhissystemverymuchthesameplacethatitdoesinthesystemsofprofessedutilitarians。Buthedistinguishesbetweenhappinessasthenaturalresultofvirtueandhappinessastheendorpurposeofvirtue;
  and,bysatisfyinghimselfthatitisthenaturalresult,hesaveshimselffromconsideringwhether,if'itwerenot,virtuewouldremaininandforitselfdesirableasanend。
  "Thehappinessofmankind,"hesays,"aswellasofallotherrationalcreatures,seemstohavebeentheoriginalpurposeoftheAuthorofNature,"
  nootherendappearingtobeworthyofHissupremewisdomandbeneficence。
  Thefactthereforethatwemosteffectuallypromotethehappinessofmankind,andsotosomeextentpromotethegreatplanofProvidencebyactingaccordingtothedictatesofourmoralfaculties,isanadditionalreason,thoughnottheprimaryone,forourdoingso;and,conversely,thetendencyofanoppositecourseofconducttoobstructtheschemethusordainedforthehappinessoftheworld,isanadditionalreasonforabstainingfromit。Accordingly,theultimatesanctionofourcompliancewiththerulesforthepromotionofhumanwelfaretheultimatesanction,thatis,ofvirtueliesinasystemoffuturerewardsandpunishments,bywhichourco-operationwiththedivineplanmaybeenforced。
  Tothisextent,therefore,AdamSmithseemstoagreewiththeutilitarianismofPaleyinmakingthehappinessofanotherworldtheultimatemotiveforvirtuousactioninthis。Butalthoughbethusappealstoreligionasenforcingthesenseofduty,heisfarfromregardingmoralityasonlyvaluableforthatreason。Heprotestsagainstthetheorythat"weoughtnottobegratefulfromgratitude,weoughtnottobecharitablefromhumanity,weoughtnottobepublic-spiritedfromtheloveofourcountry,norgenerousandjustfromtheloveofmankind,andthatoursolemotiveinperformingthesedutiesshouldbeasensethatGodhascommandedthem。"
  Hencewhenhespeaksoftheperfectionandhappinessofmankindas"thegreatend"aimedatbynature,itisclearthatheintendsthetemporalandgeneralwelfareof'theworld,andthat,thoughthehappinessofanothermaybeamotivetovirtue,itisnotsomuchtheendandobjectofitashappinessinthis。Itisinthislife,also,thatvirtueandhappiness,viceandmisery,arecloselyassociated;andnaturemayberegardedashavingpurposelybestowedoneveryvirtueandvicethatpreciserewardorpunishmentwhichisbestfittedeithertoencouragetheoneortorestraintheother。Thustherewardattachedtoindustryandprudencenamely,successineverysortofbusinessispreciselythatwhichisbestcalculatedtoencouragethosevirtues,justasinthesamewayandforthesamereasonthereisattachedtothepracticeoftruth,justice,andhumanity,theconfidenceandesteemofthosewelivewith。Itrequiresindeedaveryextraordinaryconcurrenceofcircumstancestodefeatthosenaturalandtemporalrewardsorpunishmentsforvirtueorvice,whichhavebeenfixedinthesentimentsandopinionsofmankind。
  AdamSmithdoesnotthenregardvirtueentirelyasitsownend,irrespectiveofitsrecompenceintheincreaseofourhappiness。Stillless,however,doesheacknowledgethecardinaldoctrineoftheutilitarianschool,thatvirtuederivesitswholeandsolemeritfromitsconducivenesstothegeneralwelfareofhumanity。HetakesupasortofmiddlegroundbetweentheEpicureantheory,thatvirtueisgoodasameanstohappinessastheend,andthetheoryoftheStoics,thatvirtueisanendinitselfindependentlyofhappiness。Thepracticeofvirtue,hewouldhavesaid,isameanstohappiness,andhasbeensorelatedtoitbynature;butithas,nevertheless,priorclaimsofitsown,quiteapartfromallreferencetoitseffectuponourwelfare。
  ThereislittleattemptonthepartofourauthoratanyscientificanalysisofhumanhappinesslikethatattemptedbyAristotle,andinmoderntimesbyHutchesonorBentham。ButifwetakeAristotle'sclassificationofthethreeprincipalclassesoflivesasindicativeofthethreemainideasofhumanhappinesscurrentintheworld,namely,thelifeofpleasure,thelifeofambition,andthelifeofcontemplationandknow-ledge,thereisnodoubtunderwhichofthesethreetypesAdamSmithwouldhavesoughtthenearestapproximationtoearthlyfelicity。
  Thelifeofpleasure,orthatidealoflifewhichseekshappinessinthegratificationofsensualenjoyment,herejectsratherbyim-plicationthanotherwise,bynottreatingitasworthyofdiscussionatall。Buthisrejectionofthelifeofambitionisofmoreinterest,bothbecauseheconstantlyrecurstoit,andbecauseitseemstoexpresshisowngeneralphilosophyoflifeandtocontainthekeytohisownpersonalcharacter。
  Happiness,hesays,consistsintranquillityandenjoyment。Withouttranquillitytherecannobeenjoyment,andwithtranquillitythereisscarcelyanythingbutmayproveasourceofpleasure。HencetheStoicsweresofarright,inthattheymaintainedthatasbetweenonepermanentsituationandanothertherewasbutlittledifferencewithregardtorealhappiness;andthegreatsourceofallhumanmiseryisourconstanttendencytooverratethedifferencebetweensuchsituations。Thusavariceoverratesthedifferencebetweenpovertyandwealth,ambitionthatbetweenpublicandprivatelife,vain-glorythatbetweenobscurityandrenown。"Ineaseofbodyandpeaceofmindallthedifferentranksoflifearenearlyonalevel,andthebeggarwhosunshimselfbythesideofthehighwaypossessesthatsecuritywhichkingsarefightingfor。"
  Thestory,therefore,ofwhatthefavouriteofthekingofEpirussaidtohismasteradmitsofgeneralapplicationtomeninnilthesituationsofhumanlife。WhenPyrrhushadrecountedallhisintendedconquests,Cincasaskedhim,"Whatdoesyourmajestyproposetodothen?""Ipropose,"saidtheking,"toenjoymyselfwithmyfriends,andendeavourtobegoodcompanyoverabottle。"Andtheanswerwas,"Whathindersyourmajestyfromdoingsonow?"