The Stoic Philosophy
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subaltern, abashed; “then no doubt it was a very small rat.” “It was a damned large rat,” said the Duke. And there the matter has rested ever since.
Zeno began by asserting the existence of the real world. “What do you mean by real?” asked the Sceptic. “I mean solid and material. I mean that this table is solid matter.” “And God,” said the Sceptic, “and the soul? Are they solid matter?” “Perfectly solid,” says Zeno; “more solid, if anything, than the table.” “And virtue or justice or the Rule of Three; also solid matter?” “Of course,” said Zeno; “quite solid.” This is what may be called “high doctrine,” and Zeno's successors eventually explained that their master did not really mean that justice was solid matter, but
