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PD16 - Alternate Renderings

  • Cassius
  • July 5, 2025 at 7:00 PM
  • Cassius
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    • July 5, 2025 at 7:00 PM
    • #1

    ailey: 16. In but few things chance hinders a wise man, but the greatest and most important matters, reason has ordained, and throughout the whole period of life does and will ordain.

    “The wise man is but little favoured by fortune; but his reason procures him the greatest and most valuable goods, and these he does enjoy, and will enjoy the whole of his life.” Yonge (1853)

    “Fortune but slightly crosses the wise man's path; his greatest and highest interests are directed by reason throughout the course of life.” Hicks (1910)

    “Fortune but seldom interferes with the wise man; his greatest and highest interests have been, are, and will be, directed by reason throughout the course of his life.” Hicks (1925)

    “In but few things chance hinders a wise man, but the greatest and most important matters reason has ordained and throughout the whole period of life does and will ordain.” Bailey (1926)

    “Fortune plays but little part in the life of a wise man and the things that are of most value and consequence are subject to arrangement by rational planning, and throughout the whole extent of life are subject and will be subject to it.” DeWitt, Epicurus and His Philosophy 177-178 (1954)

    “Fortune seldom troubles the wise man. Reason has controlled his greatest and most important affairs, controls them throughout his life, and will continue to control them.” Geer (1964)


    “In a few instances does chance intrude upon the wise man, but reason has administered his greatest and most important affairs, and will continue to do so throughout his whole life.” O'Connor (1993)

    “Chance has a small impact on the wise man, while reasoning has arranged for, is arranging for, and will arrange for the greatest and most important matters throughout the whole of his life.” Inwood & Gerson (1994)

    “Chance has little effect upon the wise man, for his greatest and highest interests are directed by reason throughout the course of life.” Anderson (2004)

    “The wise are rarely infringed by chance; the matters that are most signifcant and decisive have been, are, and always will be governed by reason throughout the entire span of a wise person's life.” Makridis (2005)

    “Chance steals only a bit into the life of a wise person: for throughout the complete span of his life the greatest and most important matters have been, are, and will be directed by the power of reason.” Saint-Andre (2008)

    “Bad luck strikes the sophisticated man in a few cases, but reason has directed the big, essential things, and for the duration of life it is and will be the guide.” Strodach (2012)

    “Fortune impinges but little on a wise man; reason has directed his greatest and most important pursuits; these it directs and will continue to direct over the course of his life.” Mensch (2018)

    “Fortune has little impact on the wise; their reasoning has already arranged the greatest and most important matters, and it does so and will continue to do so throughout their lifetime.” White (2021)

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