THE GARDENS OF EPICURUS 19 



resolutions in Athens were managed. They thought 

 that sort of business too gross and material for the 

 abstracted fineness of their speculations. They es- 

 teemed it too sordid and too artificial for the cleanness 

 and simplicity of their manners and lives. They 

 would have no part in the faults of a government ; and 

 they knew too well, that the nature and passions of 

 men made them incapable of any that was perfect and 

 good ; and therefore thought all the service they 

 could do to the State they live under, was to mend the 

 lives and manners of particular men that composed it. 

 But where factions were once entered and rooted in 

 a State, they thought it madness for good men to 

 meddle with public affairs ; which made them turn 

 their thoughts and entertainments to anything rather 

 than this : and Heraclitus having upon the factions of 

 the citizens quitted the government of his city, and 

 amusing himself to play with the boys in the porch 

 of the temple, asked those who wondered at him, 

 whether 'twas not better to play with such boys, than 

 govern such men ? But above all, they esteemed 

 public business the most contrary of all others to that 

 tranquillity of mind, which they esteemed and taught 

 to be the only true felicity of man. 



For this reason Epicurus passed his life wholly in 



