The Works of the Emperor Julian, Vol. 2Julian, Emperor of Rome
Philosophy
The Works of the Emperor Julian, Vol. 2
Julian, Emperor of Rome
Speeches, addresses, etc., Greek -- Translations into English
(And if Diogenes did sometimes visit a courtesan—though even this happened
only once perhaps or not even once—let him who would be a Cynic first
satisfy us that he is, like Diogenes, a man of solid worth, and then if he
see fit to do that sort of thing openly and in the sight of all men, we
shall not reproach him with it or accuse him. First however we must see
him display the ability to learn and the quick wit of Diogenes, and in all
other relations he must show the same independence, self‐sufficiency,
justice, moderation, piety, gratitude, and the same extreme carefulness
not to act at random or without a purpose or irrationally. For these too
are characteristic of the philosophy of Diogenes. Then let him trample on
vaingloriousness, let him ridicule those who though they conceal in
darkness the necessary functions of our nature—for instance the secretion
of what is superfluous—yet in the centre of the market‐place and of our
cities carry on practices that are most brutal and by no means akin to our
nature, for instance robbery of money, false accusations, unjust
indictments, and the pursuit of other rascally business of the same sort.
On the other hand when Diogenes made unseemly noises or obeyed the call of
nature or did anything else of that sort in the market‐place, as they say
he did, he did so because he was trying to trample on the conceit of the
men I have just mentioned, and to teach them that their practices were far
more sordid and insupportable than his own. For what he did was in
accordance with the nature of all of us, but theirs accorded with no man’s
real nature, one may say, but were all due to moral depravity.)
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