Here is at least part of what I am remembering about Munro's commentary. The first line about not caring if it is true is not good but may be part of the old issue of self-protection. However read the part marked in red as to "sterile wisdom" and "barren virtue" and I think we have good evidence of an Epicurean heart:
XIV (14)
τῆς ἀσφαλείας τῆς ἐξ ἀνθρώπων γενομένης μέχρι τινὸς δυνάμει τε ἐξερειστικῇ καὶ εὐπορίᾳ, εἰλικρινεστάτη γίνεται ἡ ἐκ τῆς ἡσυχίας καὶ ἐκχωρήσεως τῶν πολλῶν ἀσφάλεια.
“Irresistible power and great wealth may, up to a certain point, give us security as far as men are concerned; but the security of men in general depends upon the tranquillity of their souls, and their freedom from ambition.” Yonge (1853)
“When tolerable security against our fellow-men is attained, then on a basis of power arises most genuine bliss, to wit, the security of a private life withdrawn from the multitude.” Hicks (1910)
“When tolerable security against our fellow-men is attained, then on a basis of power sufficient to afford support and of material prosperity arises in most genuine form the security of a quiet private life withdrawn from the multitude.” Hicks (1925)
“The most unalloyed source of protection from men, which is secured to some extent by a certain force of expulsion, is in fact the immunity which results from a quiet life and the retirement from the world.” Bailey (1926)
“Although safety from the attacks of men has been secured to a certain degree by dynastic protection and abundance of means, that which comes of the retired life and withdrawal from the multitude is the most unalloyed.” (De Witt, Epicurus and His Philosophy 189; 1954)
“Even though security from the injuries of men may have been established to a certain degree by dynastic protection, the most unalloyed feeling of security is to be found in the retired life and withdrawal from the multitude." (De Witt, St. Paul and Epicurus 188; 1954)
“When reasonable security from men has been attained, then the security that comes from peace of mind and withdrawal from the crowd is present, sufficient in strength and most unmixed in well-being.” Geer (1964)
“When tolerable security against our fellow humans is attained, then on a basis of power sufficient to afford supports and of material prosperity arises in most genuine form the security of a quiet private life withdrawn from the multitude.” O'Connor (1993)
“The purest security is that which comes from a quiet life and withdrawal from the many, although a certain degree of security from other men does come by means of the power to repel [attacks] and by means of prosperity.” Inwood & Gerson (1994)
“Supreme power and great wealth may, to some degree, protect us from other men; but security in general depends upon peace of mind and social detachment.” Anderson (2004)
“Although some measure of safety from other people is based in the power to fight them off and in abundant wealth, the purest security comes from solitude and breaking away from the herd.” Saint-Andre (2008)
“The simplest means of procuring protection from other men (which is gained to a certain extent by deterrent force) is the security of quiet solitude and withdrawal from the mass of people.” Strodach (2012)
“While some degree of security from other men can be attained on the basis of stable power and material prosperity, the purest security comes from tranquillity and from a life withdrawn from the many.” Mensch (2018)
That translation comes from Russel Geer's book Letters, Principal Doctrines, and Vatican Sayings (1964)
I see that is on Archive.org. I wonder who Geer was and what were his credentials?
Oops - only partly
Oops - only partly
If you "borrow" it, is the whole book there?
It's just a free account to borrow.
If you "borrow" it, is the whole book there?
It's just a free account to borrow.
Looks like borrowing would give access to the full book. I'll just have to find the time. Bobbs-merrill is a reputable publisher, but I'd like to know his credentials, especially since the one we're talking about seems pretty far off.
Does anybody have any information on Strodach? I like some of his translations but find his commentary disturbing. All I can find with a Google search is that he was born in 1905.
Does anybody have any information on Strodach? I like some of his translations but find his commentary disturbing. All I can find with a Google search is that he was born in 1905.
Do you have a copy of his book? I do but it doesn't seem to contain much bio information other than that he seems to have been a professor perhaps at Northwestern which published his book?
I have the Kindle version, it doesn't say much, if anything, about him.
