Plutarch's essays and miscellanies, Vol. 3 (of 5) : $b Comprising all his works collected under the title of "Morals"Plutarch
Philosophy
Plutarch's essays and miscellanies, Vol. 3 (of 5) : $b Comprising all his works collected under the title of "Morals"
Plutarch
Classical literature; Essays; Ethics; Philosophy
be valued more by the party obliged than by him who bestows it, so,
if the elder would be persuaded to set less by his seniority and the
younger to esteem it more, there would be no supercilious slighting
and contemptuous carriage betwixt them. But, seeing it is fitting
the elder should take care of them, lead, and instruct them, and the
younger respect, observe, and follow them; it is likewise convenient
that the elder’s care should carry more of familiarity in it, and
that he should act more by persuasion than command, being readier to
express much satisfaction and to applaud his brother when he does well
than to reprove and chastise him for his faults. Now the younger’s
imitation should be free from such a thing as angry striving. For
unprejudiced endeavors in following another speak the esteem of a
friend and admirer, the other the envy of an antagonist. Whence it is
that those who, out of love to virtue, desire to be like their brother
are beloved; but those again who, out of a stomaching ambition, contend
to be equal with them meet with answerable usage. But above all other
respects due from the younger to the elder, that of observance is
most commendable, and occasions the return of a strong affection and
equal regard. Such was the obsequious behavior of Cato to his elder
brother Caepio all along from their childhood, that, when they came
to be men, he had so much overcome him with his humble and excellent
disposition, and his meek silence and attentive obedience had begot
in him such a reverence towards him, that Caepio neither spake nor
did any thing material without him. It is recorded that, when Caepio
had sealed some writing of depositions, and his brother coming in was
against it, he called for the writing and took off his seal, without
so much as asking Cato why he did suspect the testimony. The reverence
that Epicurus’s brothers showed him was likewise remarkable, and well
merited by his good will and affectionate care for them. They were so
especially influenced by him in the way of his philosophy, that they
began betimes to entertain a high opinion of his accomplishments, and
to declare that there was never a wiser man heard of than Epicurus. If
they erred, yet we may here observe the obliging behavior of Epicurus,
and the return of their passionate respects to him. And amongst later
philosophers, Apollonius the Peripatetic convinced him who said honor
was incommunicable, by raising his younger brother Sotion to a higher
degree of eminence than himself. Amongst all the good things I am
bound to Fortune for, I have that of a kind and affectionate brother
Timon, which cannot be unknown to any who have conversed with me, and
especially those of my own family.
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