Roman Calendar

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Stoic Sentiments in the Argonautica

     From the Argonautica by Apollonius Rhodius (Apollonius of Rhodes) comes this rather Stoic sentiment (Book 1, lines 295-300):

"Mother, please do not take upon yourself too many bitter sorrows in this way, for you will not ward off misfortune with tears, but will add yet further grief to your griefs. For the gods mete out unforeseen woes to mortals, and, although it pains your heart, endure to bear your portion of them."

     Crying over misfortunes - indeed, acknowledging such as misfortunes - is the cause of far worse pain and grief than whatever the original "misfortune" ever was. So did Jason advise his mother as he prepared to set forth in the quest for the Golden Fleece.

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