Book 3, Chapter 3

5 Yet the soul’s diseases are both more destructive and more numerous than the body’s. Indeed, bodily diseases themselves are hateful because they affect and trouble the soul; and, as Ennius says, “The sick soul is always wandering; it can neither bear nor endure, and never ceases to desire.” To leave others aside, what bodily diseases could be more grievous than these two, distress and desire? And how can it be maintained that the soul cannot heal itself, when it was the soul that discovered medicine for the body? In healing bodies, the bodies themselves and nature have great power, yet not everyone who submits to treatment immediately recovers; but souls that wish to be healed and obey the precepts of the wise are healed beyond any doubt.

6 There certainly is a medicine for the soul: philosophy. We must not seek its help outside ourselves, as with bodily diseases, but must labor with all our resources and strength to become capable of healing ourselves. Still, I believe I have said enough in the Hortensius about philosophy as a whole, and how earnestly it should be sought and cultivated. Since then I have scarcely ceased either discussing or writing about the greatest questions. These books set out the discussions I held with my friends at Tusculum. But since the two preceding books dealt with death and pain, the third day’s discussion will furnish this third volume.

7 When we had gone down to our Academy, as the day was already turning toward afternoon, I asked one of those present to propose a subject for discussion. The conversation then went as follows:

5 In fact, illnesses of the mind are both more numerous and more destructive than illnesses of the body. Physical illnesses themselves distress us because they affect and trouble the mind. As Ennius says, “A sick mind is always going astray. It can’t bear things or keep bearing them, and it never stops wanting.” To leave the others aside, what bodily illnesses could be worse than these two mental ones, distress and desire? And how can anyone prove that the mind can’t heal itself? It was the mind that invented medicine for the body. Besides, the body itself and nature contribute a great deal to physical recovery. Not everyone who agrees to treatment actually gets well. But minds that want to be healed and obey the advice of wise people recover without any doubt.

6 Philosophy really does offer treatment for the mind. For bodily sickness we seek outside help; here that isn’t necessary. Our task is to put every resource and all our strength into being able to heal ourselves. I think the Hortensius already says enough about philosophy in general, about the effort we should devote to pursuing and practicing it. Since then I’ve hardly paused in either writing or discussion about the greatest questions. In these books I’ve presented the conversations with my friends at Tusculum. Two earlier volumes covered death and pain; the conversation on the third day will furnish volume three.

7 The day was already well into the afternoon when we went down to our Academy. I asked someone there to propose a subject to argue about. Here’s how it went: