The Golden Saying of Epictetus, I

This is the beginning of a series that I call The Lone Virtuous Pagan. I am speaking of course of The roman stoic philosopher Epictetus. Epictetus was a very remarkable man since though He was a slave, He still rose to great power in his time as a slave. He obtained this power just by following the simple rules of stoicism.

Although, He was a pagan, His philosophy was covering basics that some Christians have not yet understood. To give him more validity, I will be giving you His golden sayings and some bible verses that relate to of which He speaks. So, I begin with The Golden Saying of Epictetus, I.

"Are these the only works of Providence within us? What words suffice to praise or set them forth? Had we but understanding, should we ever cease hymning and blessing the Divine Power, both openly and in secret, and telling of His gracious gifts? Whether digging or ploughing or eating, should we not sing the hymn to God:—

Great is God, for that He hath given us such instruments to till the ground withal: Great is God, for that He hath given us hands and the power of swallowing and digesting; of unconsciously growing and breathing while we sleep!

Thus should we ever have sung; yea and this, the grandest and divinest hymn of all:—

Great is God, for that He hath given us a mind to apprehend these things, and duly to use them!

What then! seeing that most of you are blinded, should there not be some one to fill this place, and sing the hymn to God on behalf of all men? What else can I that am old and lame do but sing to God? Were I a nightingale, I should do after the manner of a nightingale. Were I a swan, I should do after the manner of a swan. But now, since I am a reasonable being, I must sing to God: that is my work: I do it, nor will I desert this my post, as long as it is granted me to hold it; and upon you too I call to join in this self-same hymn"

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teach and admonish one another in all wisdom, and sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Col. 3:16

33 O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 34 "For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor?" 35 "Or who has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?" 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory for ever. Amen.
Rom. 11:33-36

Are we reasonable beings? Has God given us this earth to live on and prosper so that we can ignore him? As long as we live on earth it is our work that we praise him in all we do, for all we do is a gift of God. There is not much more to say, but you should ask yourself if you have been ignoring God and reaping his benefits, or are you waking up every day and praising him whatever your circumstance.

The Social Pipe

Honest men, with pipes or cigars in their mouths, have great physical advantages in conversation. You may stop talking if you like, but the breaks of silence never seem disagreeable, being filled up by the puffing of the smoke; Hence there is no awkwardness in resuming the conversation, no straining for effect - sentiments are delivered in a grave easy manner. The cigar harmonizes the society, and soothes at once the speaker and the subject whereon he converses. I have no doubt that it is from the habit of smoking that the Turks and American Indians are such monstrous well-bred men. The pipe draws wisdom from the lips of a philosopher, and shuts up the mouth of the foolish; it generates a style of conversation, contemplative, thoughtful, benevolent, and unaffected; in fact dear Bob, - I must out with it, - I am an old smoker. At home, I have done it up the chimney rather than not do it (the which I own is a crime).

I vow and believe that the cigar has been one of the greatest creature-comforts of my life - a kind companion, a gentle stimulant, an amiable anodyne, a cementer of friendship.

-Thackeray

Robert Burns Snuff-Box

Robert Burns was never happier than when he could could "pass the winter evening under some venerable roof and smoke a pipe of tobacco or drink water gruel." He also took it in snuff. Mr. Bacon, who kept a celebrated posting house north of Dumfries, was his almost inseparable associate. Many a merry night did they spend together over their cups of foaming ale or bowls of whisky toddy, and on some of those occasions Burns composed some of his best convivial songs. The bard and the innkeeper became so attached to each other that, as a token of regard, Burns gave Bacon his snuff box, which for many years had been his pocket companion.

The knowledge of this gift was confined to a few of their jovial brethren. But after Bacon's death, in 1825, when his household furniture was sold by public auction, this snuff-box was offered among other trifles, and someone in the crowd at once bid a shilling for it. There was a general exclamation that it was not worth twopence, and the auctioneer seemed about to knock it down. He first looked, however, at the lid and then read in a tremendous voice the following inscription upon it: "Robert Burns, officer of the Excise." Scarcely had he uttered the words, says one who was present at the sale, before shilling after shilling was rapidly and confusedly offered for this relic of Scotlands great bard, the greatest anxiety prevailing; while the biddings rose higher and higher, till the trifle was finally knocked down for five pounds. The box was made of the tip of a horn, neatly round at the point; it's lid is plainly mounted with silver, on which the inscription is engraved.

Professor Huxley On Smoking

At a debate upon "smoking" among the members of the British Association, many speakers denounced and others advocated the practice. Professor Huxley said, "For forty years of my life, tobacco has been a deadly poison to me. [Loud cheers from the anti-tobacconists.] In my youth, as a medical student, I tried to smoke. In vain! at every fresh attempt my insidious foe stretched me prostrate on the floor. [Repeated cheers.] I entered the navy; again I tried to smoke, and again met with a defeat. I hated tobacco. I could have almost lent my support to any institution that had for its object the putting of tobacco-smokers to death. [Vociferous applause] A few years ago I was in Brittany with some friends. We went to an inn. They began to smoke. They looked very happy, and outside it was very wet and dismal. I thought I would try a cigar. [Murmurs.] I did so. [Great Expectations.] I smoked that cigar - it was delicious! [Groans.] From that moment I was a changed man; and now I feel that smoking in moderation is a comfortable and laudable practice, and is productive of good. [Dismay and confusion of the anti-tobacconists. Roars of laughter from the smokers.] There is no more harm in a pipe than there is in a cup of tea. You may poison yourself by drinking too much green tea, and kill yourself by eating too many beef steaks. For my own part, I consider that tobacco, in moderation, is a sweetener and equalizer of the temper." [Total rout of the anti-tobacconists and complete triumph of the smokers.]

Bismarck's Last Cigar

Grant and Bismarck, the one the European, and the other the American "man of blood and iron," were equally famous for their devotion to a good cigar. No caricaturist who drew Grant without a cigar in his mouth could hope to rise in his profession. Bismarck once told a group of visitors the following story: "The value of a good cigar," said he, proceeding to light an excellent Havana, is best understood when it is the last you possess and there is no chance of getting another. At Koniggratz I had only one cigar left in my pocket, which I carefully guarded during the whole of the battle, as a miser guards his treasure. I did not feel justified in using it. I painted in glowing colors in my mind the happy hour when I should enjoy it after the victory. But I had miscalculated my chances. A poor dragoon lay helpless, with both arms crushed, murmuring for something to refresh him. I felt in my pockets, and found that I had only gold which would be no use to him. But stay - I had still my treasured cigar! I lighted it for him, and placed it between his teeth. You should have seen the poor fellows grateful smile! I have never enjoyed a cigar so much as that one which I did not smoke."

An Original

Please enjoy -

"I would rather be miserable with a woman than gay with a man."

-Evan G. Wilson

Quatrains

To piano -
Beginners have you but the lover keeps,
Blunt wooden frame, ivory handled hammers,
Emotion is dampened when major chord leaps,
My affection sustains, an audience clamours.

To mammon -
Thine material touch, expands an empire.
A god in it's right, at which many cleave,
Tho' who creates deity, who came prior;
To my LORD I go, to you I leave.

More Quotes From The Annals of Tacitus

For it was not on making prisoners and selling them, or on any of the barter of war, that the enemy was bent, but on slaughter, on the gibbet, the fire and the cross, like men soon about to pay the penalty, and meanwhile snatching at instant vengeance.
-Tacitus, on the Insurrection In Briton

Boudicea, with her daughters before her in a chariot, went up to tribe after tribe, protesting that it was indeed usual for Britons to fight under the leadership of women. "But now," she said, "it is not as a woman descended from noble ancestry, but as one of the people that I am avenging lost freedom, my scourged body, the outraged chastity of my daughters. Roman lust has gone so far that not our very persons, nor even age or virginity are left unpopulated. But heaven is on the side of a righteous vengeance; a legion which dared to fight has perished; the rest are hiding themselves in their camp, or are thinking anxiously of flight. The will not sustain even the din and the shout of so many thousands, much less our charge and our blows. If you weigh well the strength of the armies, and the causes of the war, you will see that in this battle you must conquer or die. This is a woman's resolve; as for men, they may live and be slaves."
-Tacitus, Before Suetonius Defeats Queen Boudicea

Atheist's Description of Love

E. Say good Chris, I have little unanswered,
But here is a topic of thought.
Some have it platonic others enamored;
What be Love? Your conclusion bought.
C. Dear Evan I see your search of truth,
'Tis well you came for unbiased mind.
The existence has no evidence, I see uncouth
Belief in it be for the simplest kind.
And so here is love from where I see;
Effect no senses, it shall never be.
E. But Kindest Chris, I love thee so
Supposedly, I'd seen it in action.
By many I met, in them it grows,
Who might loved first, 'tis gaining traction.
C. So be it now, to love is what you claim?
For now I'll take it as well.
Selfish wants for what people aim,
Pain and evil undeniably swell.
And so here is love from where I see;
For other's good, it shall never be.
E. Raw is the reason, Chris, I see it now,
Many inclined to you and steadfast stay,
But, I not yet to this idea bow.
With selfless love, how deal today?
C. Then be it not a selfish desire,
The discussions end is finally found.
Love is now chemicals, and none the higher;
In mind it controls, unfortunate bound!
And so here is love, from where I know,
In study of man, this science will grow.
E. Presently now given fool! You'll find any hole,
To avoid what I know, hammered in thy head.
I'll tell not thee of love, unless it's goal,
What say mind's love, for soon the body is dead.

And so here is love, outside of present poem,
It is our LORD, and should be our home.

-Evan G. Wilson

Coke

It was sitting few feet away on table,
Am reminded of earlier evening before.
To have what my friend had, now unable,
Five diminutive hundred sips in envy adore.

Emptied glass waste, not that want,
Though rich in label, but missing Refresco.
Look away and back again, the shell taunt;
In full it would be Medio Litro.

Two places alike, they do hold you there,
Somehow it's not worth venture in the night
If sanity I lose, shall descend all hair,
The urge and temptation will give me fight.

No! I'll deny this ill-begotten thought,
'Tis gone now and forever today.
In submissive attitude, the brain shall rot,
For patience wait, for sleep I'll lay.