Friday, January 22, 2010

Praise

Nightingales

I have long valued the teachings of that greatest of stoic philosophers, Epictetus. He was born a slave and was physically disabled, having been lame from childhood. Here's something very beautiful that he said:
What else can I do, a lame old man, but sing hymns to God? If I were a nightingale, I would do the nightingale's part; if I were a swan, I would do as a swan. But now I am a rational creature, and I ought to praise God. This is my work. I do it, nor will I desert my post, so long as I am allowed to keep it. And I ask you to join me in this same song.

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