He had entirely renounced all the Delights which gratifie the Senses, to devote himself solely to the nobler Satisfactions of the Soul. When he was any time at an Entertainment, his Care was not so much to regale his Body, as his Mind: as being duly sensible, that whatever is bestowed upon the Body, perishes quickly, and turns to no account, but whatever is bestowed upon the Mind, is a lasting Advantage, and can never be lost. This Consideration moved him to prefer inward Peace and Tranquillity, before the greatest Advantages in the World; for, as it would be no Comfort to a Man to be drowned in a Vessel, though never so beautiful, or laden with the richest Treasures; so that Man makes a very ill Choice for himself, who, for the sake of Wealth and Magnificence, is content to be oppress'd with Cares and Disquiets, and purchases any degree of Grandeur, or what the mistaken World calls Happiness, at the expense of his own Ease and Liberty. Το this purpose he would sometimes argue as follows, "A Man born in Persia, would never be uneasy that he did not dwell in Greece. All that Nature suggests upon this occasion, being only a desire to live happily in one's own native Country. When a Man therefore is born in mean and low Circumstances, why should he torture himself with ambitious Thoughts, and so eagerly aspire after Greatness and Abundance? Why does he not rather employ his Care, about making that Condition easie to him, which Providence at first had placed him in? Is it not much more desirable to sleep in a hard Bed, short and narrow, with good Health; than to be sick in Damask or Velvet, and toss about upon Down? And the preference is manifestly due to a Mind perfectly composed, and easie with a moderate Fortune, when compared with the highest Elevation of worldly Greatnesses, soured by Vexation and perpetual Anxiety of Heart. We are infinitely in the wrong (would he often say) to charge our Misery upon our Poverty; no, 'tis our Ambition or our Discontent, that makes us truly miserable. And had we the whole Earth at command, the possession of this could not set us at ease from our fears and melancholy. That must, and can be the Work of Reason only; therefore the Man, who cultivates his Mind well, and provides against this Evil, by stocking it with sound Principles, is satisfied from himself, and never complains of Poverty, or Fortune": Thus I have given you a short sample of Epictetus his manner of arguing upon these occasions.