Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1880 edition. Excerpt: ... In truth, then, Simmias, he said, the true philosopher studies to die, and to him of all men is death least terrible. Now look at the matter in this way. In everything he is the enemy of his body, and he longs to possess his soul alone. Would it not be very unreasonable, if he were to fear and complain, when he has his desire, instead of rejoicing to go 68 to the place where he hopes to gain what he has passionately longed for all his life, that is, wisdom, and to be released from the company of his enemy? Many a man has been willing enough to go to the other world when a human love, or wife or son has died, in the hope of seeing those whom he longed for, and of being with them: and will a man, who has a real passion for wisdom and a firm hope of really finding wisdom in the other world and nowhere else grieve at death and not depart rejoicing? Nay, my friend, you should not think that, if he be truly a philosopher. He will be firmly convinced that there and nowhere else will he meet with wisdom in its purity. And if this be so, will it not, I repeat, be very unreasonable for such a man to fear death? Yes, indeed, he replied. XDI. Does not this show clearly, he said, that any man whom you see grieving at the approach of death is after all no lover of wisdom, but a lover of his body? He is also, I think, a lover either of wealth, or of honour, or, it may be, of both. Yes, he replied, it is as you say. Well then, Simmias, he went on, does not what is called courage belong especially to the philosopher? Certainly I think so, he replied. And does not temperance, the quality which even the world calls temperance, and which means to despise and control and govern the passions--does not that belong too only to such men as most despise the body...