The history of philosophy, in eight parts by Thomas Stanley.

Of vertue and vice.

HE exhorted his friends to

Endeavour to be the most wise and beneficiall,* 1.1 because, what wants reason, wants respect, as the bodies of dead friends, and hair, nailes, and the like, which are cut off and cast away.

To be employed is good and beneficiall, to be idle hurtfull and evill:* 1.2 they that do good are imployed, they that spend their time in vain recreations are idle.

He that hath most advantage by gifts of nature,* 1.3 as well as he that hath least, must learn and meditate on those things wherein he would be excellent.

He only is idle who might be better imployed.* 1.4

To do good,* 1.5 is the best course of life, therein fortune hath share.

They are best,* 1.6 and best pleasing to God, who do any thing, with any art or calling; who followeth none, is uselesse to the publick, and hated of God.

* 1.7 He taught every where,

that a just man and a happy were all one,

and used

to curse him who first by opinion divided honesty and profit

(* 1.8 which are coherent by Na∣ture) as having done an impious act, for they are truly wicked who separate profitable and just, which depends on law. The Stoicks have followed him so far, that whatsoever is honest, the same they esteem profitable.

He asked Memnon, a Thessalian, who thought himselfe ve∣ry learned,* 1.9 and that he had reached (as Empedocles saith) the top of wisdome,

what is vertue

? He answered readily and boldly, that

there is one vertue of a child,

another of an old

Man, one of a Man, another of a Woman, one of a Magi∣strate, another of a private Person, one of a Master, another of a Servant.

Very good, replies Socra••es: I ask for one vertue, and you give us a whole swarm; truly conceiving, that he knew not one vertue, who named so many.

Being demanded by Gorgias

If he accounted not the great King of Persia happy?* 1.10 I know not, answered he, how he is furnished with learning and vertue: as conceiving that true happinesse consisteth in these two, not in the frail gifts of for∣tune.

Euripides in his Auge saying of vertue;* 1.11

It is best carelessely to part with these; he rose up and went away, saying, It was ridiculous to seek a lost servant, or to suffer vertue so to go away.* 1.12

He said,

he wondered at those who carve Images of stone, that they take such care to make stones resemble men,* 1.13 whilst they neglect,* 1.14 and suffer themselves to resemble stones.

He advised

young men to behold themselves every day in a glass,* 1.15 that if they were beautifull, they might study to deserve it; if deformed, to supply or hide it by learning.

He said,

to begin well is not a small thing,* 1.16 but depen∣ding on a small moment.

He said,

vertue was the beautie, vice the deformity of the soul.

He said,* 1.17

outward beauty was a sign of inward beauty, and therefore chose such Auditors.

In that life of man as in an Image every part ought be beautifull.* 1.18

Incense to God, praise is due to good men.* 1.19

Who are undeservedly accused ought to be defended,* 1.20 who excell others in any good quality to be praised,

A Horse is not known to be good by his furniture,* 1.21 but qualities, a man by his mind, not wealth.

It is not possible to cover fire with a garment,* 1.22 sinne with time.

Being demanded who live without pe••turbation? hee answered,* 1.23 th••y who are conscious to themselves of no ill.

To one who demanded what Nobility is,* 1.24 he answered, a good temper of soul and body.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Xen: mem. 1: p. 720.
• * 1.2

  Xen mem. 1. p. 720.
• * 1.3

  Xen. mem. 3. p. 778.
• * 1.4

  Xen. mem. 3. p. 779.
• * 1.5

  Xen. mem. 3. p. 78.
• * 1.6

  Xen. mem. 3. p. 780.
• * 1.7

  Clem. Alex. Strom. 2. 417.
• * 1.8

  Cicer. de. offic. 3. & de leg. 1.
• * 1.9

  Plut. de. amicor. multit. p. 93.
• * 1.10

  Plut. de lib. educ.
• * 1.11

  Laert.
• * 1.12

  La••rt.
• * 1.13

  Laert.
• * 1.14

  Laert.
• * 1.15

  What 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 means, is explained by Aristotle, polit. 5. 3. & physic. 5. 4.
• * 1.16

  Clem. Alex. strom. 5.
• * 1.17

  Nonn in Greg. Stelicut.
• * 1.18

  Stob. Ech. serm. 1.
• * 1.19

  Stob. 1.
• * 1.20

  Stob. 1.
• * 1.21

  Stob. 1:
• * 1.22

  Stob. 37.
• * 1.23

  Stob. 46.
• * 1.24

  Stob. 218.