The dress is suited to the craft; the craftsman takes his name from the craft, not from the dress.
For this reason Euphrates was right in saying, "I long endeavored to conceal my following the philosophic life; and this profited me much.
"In the first place, I knew that what I did aright, I did not for the sake of lookers-on, but for my own.
"I ate aright—unto myself; I kept the even tenor of my walk, my glance composed and serene—all unto myself and unto God.
"Then as I fought alone, I was alone in peril. If I did anything amiss or shameful, the cause of Philosophy was not in me endangered; nor did I wrong the multitude by transgressing as a professed philosopher.
"Wherefore those that knew not my purpose marveled how it came about, that whilst all my life and conversation was passed with philosophers without exception, I was yet none myself.
"And what harm that the philosopher should be known by his acts, instead of mere outward signs and symbols?"
IMAGE: Joseph Wright of Derby, Study of a Philosopher (c. 1768)
No comments:
Post a Comment