Book 5, Chapter 37

“Once honor has been scorned, and money too, what remains to be feared?

106 “Exile, I suppose, which is reckoned among the greatest evils. If it is an evil because the people’s will is hostile and embittered against us, we said a little while ago how little that will deserves our regard. But if being away from one’s country is misery, the provinces are full of miserable people, very few of whom ever return to their native land.

107 “‘But exiles lose their property.’ What of it? Have we said too little about enduring poverty? Indeed, if we consider the reality rather than the disgrace of the name, how much does exile differ from lifelong travel abroad? The most celebrated philosophers spent their lives in this way: Xenocrates, Crantor, Arcesilaus, Lacydes, Aristotle, Theophrastus, Zeno, Cleanthes, Chrysippus, Antipater, Carneades, Clitomachus, Philo, Antiochus, Panaetius, Posidonius, and countless others who, once they had left, never returned home. ‘But without disgrace.’ Can exile bring disgrace on the wise man? For this whole discussion concerns the wise man, to whom such a thing could not happen justly; someone justly exiled ought not to be consoled.

108 “Finally, those who refer the objects of their pursuit in life to pleasure have the simplest principle for meeting every turn of fortune: wherever pleasure is supplied, there they can live happily. And so the words of Teucer can be adapted to every philosophical position:

“‘Home is wherever life is good.’

“When Socrates was asked what country he belonged to, he said, ‘The world’; for he regarded himself as an inhabitant and citizen of the whole world. What of Titus Albucius? Did he not philosophize at Athens in exile with perfect equanimity? Yet that very misfortune would not have befallen him if he had followed Epicurus’ rules and remained inactive in politics.

109 “For how was Epicurus, because he lived in his native city, happier than Metrodorus, who lived at Athens? Or did Plato surpass Xenocrates, or Polemo surpass Arcesilaus, in happiness? How much, indeed, should we value a state from which good and wise men are driven? Demaratus, the father of our king Tarquin, could not endure the tyrant Cypselus, and so fled from Corinth to Tarquinii, where he established his fortune and had children. Was he foolish to prefer the freedom of exile to slavery at home?”

“Once we’ve dismissed public office and dismissed money too, what’s left to frighten us?

106 “Exile, I suppose. It’s counted among the worst things. If it’s bad because the public is hostile and offended, we’ve just said how little we should care about that attitude. But if being away from your country makes you miserable, the provinces are full of miserable people: very few of them ever return home.

107 “‘Exiles have their possessions confiscated, though.’ And? Haven’t we heard enough arguments for bearing poverty? Forget the discredit attached to the word ‘exile’ and consider the actual situation. Is it so different from a lifetime spent away on foreign travels? A great many celebrated philosophers lived that way: Xenocrates, Crantor, Arcesilaus, Lacydes, Aristotle, Theophrastus, Zeno, Cleanthes, Chrysippus, Antipater, Carneades, Clitomachus, Philo, Antiochus, Panaetius, and Posidonius, to name only some of the countless examples. Not one of those men went home after leaving. ‘Their absence wasn’t shameful, though.’ Can banishment shame someone wise? A wise person is the subject of this whole discussion, and he cannot rightly be exiled. Someone who deserves exile shouldn’t be consoled.

108 “Besides, philosophers who guide their choices in life by pleasure have the easiest answer to any misfortune. They can be happy living anywhere that offers pleasure. Teucer’s words can therefore suit any philosophical approach: “‘Where life goes well, that’s my country.’ “Asked where he came from, Socrates said, ‘The world.’ He thought he lived in the whole world and belonged to it as a citizen. Titus Albucius, too, calmly pursued philosophy at Athens while in exile. He could have avoided exile itself by following Epicurus’ instructions and leaving politics alone.

109 “How was Epicurus happier because he lived in his own country than Metrodorus was because he lived at Athens? Or did Plato surpass Xenocrates in happiness, or Polemo Arcesilaus? And how much should we value a community that drives out good and wise people? Damaratus, the father of our King Tarquin, couldn’t put up with the tyrant Cypselus. He fled from Corinth to Tarquinii, established his fortune there, and had children. Was he foolish to prefer freedom in exile to slavery at home?”