II.
It is disagreeable to see one's fellows practise obstinacy. Imitationsof Regulus are not popular, and public opinion holds them in somederision. Stubborn people are like reproaches, and we have a right tolaugh at them.
Besides, to sum up, are these perversities, these rugged notches,virtues? Is there not in these excessive advertisements ofself-abnegation and of honour a good deal of ostentation? It is allparade more than anything else. Why such exaggeration of solitude andexile? to carry nothing to extremes is the wise man's maxim. Be inopposition if you choose, blame if you will, but decently, and cryingout all the while "Long live the King." The true virtue is commonsense--what falls ought to fall, what succeeds ought to succeed.Providence acts advisedly, it crowns him who deserves the crown; do youpretend to know better than Providence? When matters are settled--whenone rule has replaced another--when success is the scale in which truthand falsehood are weighed, in one side the catastrophe, in the otherthe triumph; then doubt is no longer possible, the honest man rallies tothe winning side, and although it may happen to serve his fortune andhis family, he does not allow himself to be influenced by thatconsideration, but thinking only of the public weal, holds out his handheartily to the conqueror.
What would become of the state if no one consented to serve it? Wouldnot everything come to a standstill? To keep his place is the duty of agood citizen. Learn to sacrifice your secret preferences. Appointmentsmust be filled, and some one must necessarily sacrifice himself. To befaithful to public functions is true fidelity. The retirement of publicofficials would paralyse the state. What! banish yourself!--how weak! Asan example?--what vanity! As a defiance?--what audacity! What do you setyourself up to be, I wonder? Learn that we are just as good as you. Ifwe chose we too could be intractable and untameable and do worse thingsthan you; but we prefer to be sensible people. Because I am aTrimalcion, you think that I could not be a Cato! What nonsense!