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As he therefore in the comedy that advised his unfortunate friend to take heart and to revenge himself of Fortune, being asked which way, answered, By the help of
philosophy; so we also may be revenged of her, by acting
worthily like philosophers. For what course do we take
when it is rainy weather, or a cold north wind blows? We
creep to the fireside, or go into a bath, put on more clothes,
or go into a dry house; and do not sit still in a shower and
cry. It is in thy power above most men's to revive and
cherish that part of thy life which seems to be chill and
benumbed, not needing any other helps, but only according
to thy best judgment and prudence making use of the
things that thou possessest. The cupping-glasses physicians use, by drawing the worst humors out of the body,
alleviate and preserve the rest; but they that are prone to
grieve and make sad complaints, by mustering together
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alway the worst of their afflictive circumstances, by debating these things over and over, being fastened (as it
were) to their troubles, make the most advantageous things
to be wholly useless to themselves, and especially when
their case requires most help and assistance. As for those
two hogsheads, my friend, which Homer says lie in heaven,
full, the one of the good, the other of the ill fates of men,—
it is not Jupiter that sits to draw out and transmit to some
a moderate share of evils mixed with good, but to others
only unqualified streams of evil; but it is we ourselves who
do it. Those of us that are wise, drawing out of the good
to temper with our evils, make our lives pleasant and potable; but the greater part (which are fools) are like sieves,
which let the best pass through, but the worst and the very
dregs of misfortune stick to them and remain behind.
Plutarch. Plutarch's Morals. Translated from the Greek by several hands. Corrected and revised by. William W. Goodwin, PH. D. Boston. Little, Brown, and Company. Cambridge. Press Of John Wilson and son. 1874. 3.
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