184 Wisconsin ACADEMY SCIENCES, ARTS, AXD LETTERS 



Stoics an^ree that v/hatever is virtuous is useful, and that nothing 

 is useful which is not vi?'tuou3." (do., iii, 3, 4, and 4, 15.) '" Pa- 

 n83tias taught that virtue ought io he cultivated because it is tlie 

 cause of utility, that it is never at variance with real but only with 

 imaginary utility, that nothing is useful which is not also right, or 

 right which is not also useful, and that no worse disease has ever 

 invaded human life, than the theory v/hich di->j;nned these tvvo 

 ideas." (do., iii, 3, 5, and 7. 6.) "The law of nature vv^atches over 

 and hohls together the interests of mankind.'" (D)., iii, 6, 14.) 

 '"Duty is ahvays performed when the advantage of mankind is con- 

 sulted."' (Do., iii, 0, 15.) "Although nothing is so conirarj' to 

 nature as depravity, yet nothing is so much in accordance vrith 

 nature as utility, and certainly depravity and utility cannot be 

 found together." (Do., iii, 8, 2.) "This is the law of nature which 

 you should obey and follow, that j'our interest is the universal, and 

 the universal one your ovrn." (Do., iii, 13, 7. and 6, 1.) " He is a 

 good man v/ho benefits as many people as possible and harms no- 

 body." (Do., iii, 18, 9.) " Those who separate utility and morality 

 overtlirow the fundamental principles of nature. We all seek util- 

 ity, are carried av/ay b^^ it, and cannot do otherwise. For who 

 flees awaj' from v/hat is useful? Who does not rather pursue it 

 most diligently?" (Do., iii, 2S. 1, 2.) " Whatever is useful is vir- 

 tuous, though it does not at first seem so." (Do., iii, 23, 9. and 30, 

 10.) 



These quotations show how fully the Stoics recognized utility as 

 the inseparable and characteristic result of virtue; though their 

 position cannot be further explained, until we have considered 

 their language about happiness and ])leasnre. 



The following passages are in harmony with the two about hap- 

 piness, already quoted from Seneca. 



"All men wish to live liappily but cannot discern the proper 

 way." (Seneca, De Vita Beata, I. 1.) " To live happily is the 

 same as to live accordir>g to nature." (do, do, 8, 3, also 3, 3, and 

 Ep. 124, 7.) " lie has reached the perfection of wisdom, who does 

 not place his happiness in another's power." (do, Ep. 23, 2.) 

 '' Make 3^ourself happy." (do Ep. 31, 9.) " All men seek happiness. 

 In what do they err? In taking its conditions for itself." (do Ep. 

 44, 7.) " He who is not happ3% has not attained the supreme good." 

 (do Ep. 71, 18.) What is the business of virtue? A life truly 



