(no subject)
A joy it is, when the strong winds of storm stir up the waters of a mighty sea, to watch from shore the troubles of another. No pleasure this in any man's distress, but joy to see the ills from which you are spared, and joy to see great armies locked in conflict across the plains, yourself free from the danger. But nothing sweeter is than this: to dwell in quiet halls and lofty sanctuaries well fortified by doctrines of the wise, and look thence down on others wandering and seeking all astray the path of life - the clash of intellects, the fight for honours, the lust for wealth, the efforts night and day with toil and sweat to scale the heights of power. O wretched minds of men! O hearts so blind! How dark the life, how great the perils are in which whatever time is given is passed! Do you not see that Nature cries for this, and only this, that pain from out the body shall be removed away, and mind enjoy sweet sense of pleasure, freed from care and fear?
Lucretius, "On the Nature of the Universe"
Lucretius, "On the Nature of the Universe"