The five days debate at Cicero's house in Tusculum between master and sophister.

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Title
The five days debate at Cicero's house in Tusculum between master and sophister.
Author
Cicero, Marcus Tullius.
Publication
London :: Printed for Abel Swalle ...,
1683.
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Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A33161.0001.001
Cite this Item
"The five days debate at Cicero's house in Tusculum between master and sophister." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A33161.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 15, 2024.

Pages

SECT. XXVIII. The most certain method of cure, is to convince that all Passions are of themselves culpable.

BUT all such disturbance of Spirit would be clear'd by pacifying the mind, as thus, to in∣form it how that is neither good, whence its Mirth or Lust arises; nor that evil whence either its Fear or Discontent; but this is the sure and Catholick Remedy, if you inform the Person that the very Passions are of themselves culpable, and have no∣thing in them either natural or necessary; as we see even Discontent it self to be asswag'd, when we expose to Persons, impatient under Sorrow, the feebleness of an effeminate Spirit; and when we commend the Gravity and Constancy of those who

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endure the chances incident to Humane Life, without breaking forth into Passion; which also is the case of those who think these Afflictions to be Evils, but such as are to be born patiently. One taketh pleasure to be good; another Money; yet both the former may be reclaim'd from Intempe∣rance, and the latter from Covetousness: but that other method, which both rectifieth the Mistake, and removeth Discontent; that is indeed the more beneficial, but seldom taketh effect. Nor is it to be address'd to vulgar Capacities. Again there are some Discontents which that Application can no way relieve; as if one should be troubled in mind, that he hath in him no Vertue, no Under∣standing, no Conscience, no Honour, he is in truth afflicted for Evils, but a Remedy of another Nature is to be apply'd to him, and such wherein all Philosophers, though otherwise disagreeing, do consent; for all of them must accord in this, that stirrings of the Soul averse to right Reason, are faulty; so that whether those things which cause Fear and Discontent, be not Evil; or those which move Lust or Mirth be not Good; yet the stirring it self is faulty; for by him, whom we call a coura∣gious and Gallant man, we mean one Constant, Com∣pos'd, Grave, and undervaluing all Contingencies of Humane Life. But neither can one who Mourns, or Fears, or Covets, or Vaunts be such; for these are the Deportments of such as count the Events incident to Humane Life, to have an ascendent over their Souls.

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