Wherefore there is no doubt but that these ways to happiness are only
certain by-paths, which can never bring any man thither whither they
promise to lead him. And with how great evils they are beset, I will
briefly show. For what? Wilt thou endeavour to gather money? But thou
shalt take it away from him who hath it. Wilt thou excel in dignities?
Thou shalt crouch to the giver, and thou who desirest to surpass others
in honour shalt become vile by thy baseness in begging. Wishest thou for
power? Thou shalt be in danger of thy subjects' treacheries. Seekest
thou for glory? But, drawn into many dangers, thou shalt lose thy
safety. Wilt thou live a voluptuous life? But who would not despise and
neglect the service of so vile and frail a thing as his body? Now they
who boast of the habilities of their body, upon how unsteadfast a
possession do they ground themselves! For can you be bigger than
elephants, or stronger than bulls? Or swifter than tigers? Look upon the
space, firmness, and speedy motion of the heavens, and cease at length
to have in admiration these base things. Which heavens are not more to
be admired for these qualities than for the manner of their government.
As for the glittering of beauty, how soon and swiftly doth it vanish
away! As suddenly decaying and changing as the frail flowers in the
spring. And if, as Aristotle saith, men had Lynceus's eyes, that they
could see through stone walls, would not they judge that body of
Alcibiades, seeming outwardly most fair, to be most foul and ugly by
discovering his entrails? Wherefore not thy nature but the weakness of
the beholders' eyes maketh thee seem fair. But esteem the goods of the
body as much as you will, so that you acknowledge this, that whatsoever
you admire may be dissolved with the burning of an ague of three days.
Out of which we may briefly collect this sum; that these goods, which
can neither perform that they promise, nor are perfect by having all
that is good, do neither, as so many paths, lead men to happiness, nor
make men happy of themselves.