Book 2, Chapter 24

“What of those who want to shout more loudly? Are they content to tense the sides, throat, and tongue, from which we see the voice drawn out and poured forth? Their whole body, ‘every fingernail,’ as the saying goes, serves the effort of their voice.

57 “By Hercules, I have seen Marcus Antonius touch the ground with his knee while speaking with all his strength in his own defense under the Varian law. Just as stone-hurling engines and other missile weapons launch their loads with greater force the more tightly they are strained and drawn back, so a voice, a running stride, a blow gains force from the greater exertion that propels it. Since such exertion has such power, we shall use a groan in pain if it helps to strengthen the mind. But if the groan is plaintive, feeble, abject, tearful, I would scarcely call the person who yields to it a man. Even if such groaning brought some relief, we should still consider what befits a brave, spirited man. Since it does nothing to lessen pain, why do we choose disgrace for nothing? What is more disgraceful for a man than womanish weeping?

58 “And this advice about pain extends further: all things, not pain alone, must be resisted with a similar exertion of mind. Anger blazes up, lust is roused: we must retreat to the same citadel and take up the same weapons. But since we are speaking of pain, let us leave these aside.

“What helps most, then, in bearing pain calmly and composedly is to reflect with our whole heart, as the saying goes, on how honorable it is to do so. By nature, as I said before—and it must be said often—we are most eager and hungry for honor. If we catch so much as a gleam of its light, there is nothing we are not ready to bear and endure to possess it. This swift rush of the spirit toward true glory and honor leads men to face those dangers in battle. Brave men do not feel their wounds in the fighting—or they feel them, but would rather die than be displaced even a little from their station of dignity.

59 “The Decii saw the glittering swords of their enemies as they rushed into their battle line. The nobility and glory of their death relieved them of all fear of wounds. Do you suppose Epaminondas groaned when he felt his life flowing out with his blood? He was leaving his country mistress of the Spartans, though he had received it in servitude. These are the consolations, these the soothing remedies for the greatest pains.”

“And what about people who want to shout louder? Is it enough for them to tense their sides, throats, and tongues, the parts we see producing and releasing the voice? They use their whole body to force their voice out—‘with every hoof,’ as the saying goes.

57 “By Hercules, I saw Marcus Antonius touch the ground with his knee as he spoke forcefully in his own defense under the Varian law. Stone-throwing catapults and other missile engines shoot harder the more strongly they’re stretched and drawn back. In the same way, a voice, a run, or a blow has more force the more effort goes into launching it. Since this effort is so powerful, we’ll use groaning if it helps strengthen the mind in pain. But if the groan is a lament, weak, low, and tearful, I’d hardly call someone who gives way to it a man. Even if groaning like that brought some relief, we’d still have to ask what suits a brave, spirited man. But when it doesn’t lessen the pain at all, why do we choose to disgrace ourselves for nothing? What could be more shameful for a man than womanish weeping?

58 “And this rule about pain applies more widely. We have to resist everything, not just pain, with the same mental effort. Anger flares up, desire is stirred: we must retreat to the same fortress and take up the same weapons. But since we’re talking about pain, let’s leave those aside.

“So, to bear pain calmly and quietly, it helps a great deal to think with your whole heart, as people say, about how morally right that is. As I said before—and it needs to be said often—nature gives us an intense interest in and desire for moral goodness. Once we catch a glimpse of what you might call its light, there’s nothing we aren’t ready to bear and endure to gain it. This rush and drive of the mind toward true praise and moral goodness is what makes men face those dangers in battle. Brave men don’t feel their wounds in combat—or they do, but would rather die than be moved down even one step in dignity.

59 “The Decii saw the enemies’ flashing swords as they charged into their battle line. The nobility and glory of their death took away all fear of wounds. Do you think Epaminondas groaned when he felt his life pouring out with his blood? He was leaving his country in command of the Spartans, though he’d found it subject to them. These are the comforts, the soothing remedies for the worst pain.”