Cebes

Name: The Greek Pilgrim's progress. Generally known as the Picture, by Kebes
Author: Cebes

The Greek Pilgrim's progress. Generally known as the Picture… (1st century)

Summary

“The Greek Pilgrim's progress. Generally known as the Picture, by Kebes”, published in 1st century, is a work by Cebes. It explores elements such as evil, Sham-Culture and Pilgrim.

Quotes from The Greek Pilgrim's progress. Generally known as the Picture… (Cebes)

Cebes, The Greek Pilgrim's progress. Generally known as the Picture… (1st century)

“ Within our life, What is a good? What is an evil? What is neither?
'If anyone does not solve this, the Sphinx destroys him, not all at once, as in ancient times, but gradually, in his whole life, he perishes away, just like victims tortured to death. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Cebes, The Greek Pilgrim's progress. Generally known as the Picture… (1st century)

“ I assure you that we are most anxious to understand the meaning of this symbol!'
'With pleasure, Strangers!' said he. 'But first you must hear that such an explanation is not without its very real dangers.'
'How so?' cried we all.
'Should you,' said he, 'understand and assimilate what I should say, you shall become wise and happy; but if not, you will live badly, having become foolish, unfortunate, bitter, and ignorant.
'For the explanation is not unlike the Sphinx's Riddle, that he propounded to all men. Whoever solved it was saved; but destruction by the Sphinx overtook those who could not. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Cebes, The Greek Pilgrim's progress. Generally known as the Picture… (1st century)

“ No more can he be troubled by Grief or Sorrow, by Incontinence or Love-of-Money, by Need or any other evil – for now he lords it over all those by whom he formerly was grieved.
'Just like a serpent-charmer, whose snakes, though they do to death all others but him, yet him they do not injure, because of an antidote against them which he possesses; just like this immune snake-charmer, is the crowned Pilgrim no more grieved by any of them, being immune because of the antidote which he possesses.'
27. 'To me it seems that you have spoken well. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Cebes, The Greek Pilgrim's progress. Generally known as the Picture… (1st century)

“ Our Guide answered, 'Neither do I. The evil lies in living badly, not in life itself. For were it an evil, it would be evil even to such as live righteously, in the degree that they are alive, if this was an absolute evil.'
'I agree with you.'
38. 'As therefore, life belongs to both those who live badly, and to those who live rightly, might it not then be possible that life is neither a Good nor an Evil; just as cutting and burning in themselves are neither harmful nor sanatory for the sick – it all depends on the time and manner the patient is cut or burned. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Cebes, The Greek Pilgrim's progress. Generally known as the Picture… (1st century)

“ For there are circumstances when health is unbearable.'
'You speak the truth,' said I.
39. 'Good! Let us consider wealth, in the same manner. Apparently, as is often seen, there are persons who possess wealth who live badly and shamefully.'
'By Jupiter, there are many such! So then wealth does not help them to a righteous life?'
'Evidently not, for they themselves are evil. Culture, not wealth, gives virtue. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Cebes, The Greek Pilgrim's progress. Generally known as the Picture… (1st century)

“ As long as they hold to the speculative side of Opinion, they cannot possibly take any practical steps towards Genuine-Culture. Do you not see that, just as much as the more practical Pilgrim, they have the opportunity of making use of the Opinions who lead out from the First Enclosure. But are not Opinions useless without a meeting with Repentance, and without the resulting conviction that the Culture which they do possess is a sham, and a trap? Being satisfied with their abode, they never progress to Salvation. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Cebes, The Greek Pilgrim's progress. Generally known as the Picture… (1st century)

“ For whenever they return into the first enclosure unto Sensuality and Incontinence, they do not accuse themselves far from it! Straightway they speak ill of Culture, and of those who go to her; saying that they are wretched, miserable, and unhappy; and that on leaving their accustomed manner of life they live badly, enjoying no good thing that is, no thing that is accounted good among themselves.'
'And what goods may they be referring to?'
'Why, to Debauchery and Incontinence, to speak plainly, for their highest ideal is to feed like cattle.'
29. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Cebes, The Greek Pilgrim's progress. Generally known as the Picture… (1st century)

“ Besides, both opposites cannot well coexist in one and the same thing. Wealth, Fame, Victory and other such external goods do not exclude badness. Consequently these things are neither Goods nor even evils, they are no more than external applications of the internal principle: Wisdom alone is a Good, while Foolishness is the only Evil.'
'It seems to me that you have proved your point.' ”

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Source: Wikisource

Cebes, The Greek Pilgrim's progress. Generally known as the Picture… (1st century)

“ Within the outer circular wall might be seen a crowd of women; while outside, around the outer gate, surged a large mob, to whose entering streams a certain old man seemed, by his gestures, to be uttering some command. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Cebes, The Greek Pilgrim's progress. Generally known as the Picture… (1st century)

“ What is Good and Evil? 36. 'Indeed we shall do so. But explain us this: how that which men receive from Luck – namely life, health, wealth honor, children, victory, and more such, are not goods; and again, how the absence thereof is not an evil? ”

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Source: Wikisource

Cebes, The Greek Pilgrim's progress. Generally known as the Picture… (1st century)

“ This innumerable multitude surging in front of the Gate, are they who are about to enter into Life.
'The Old man who holds in one hand a scroll, and with the other is pointing out something is the Good Genius. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Cebes, The Greek Pilgrim's progress. Generally known as the Picture… (1st century)

“ Hence many are those who have amassed Wealth through evil and shameful deeds such as treason, robbery, murder, eaves-dropping, theft, and other crimes.'
'So it is.'
41. 'If then out of evil means can arise no good end, as is evident; and if out of evil deeds can arise wealth, then can Wealth never be an absolutely good end?'
'An evident consequence!'
'But, then, none can attain unto Righteousness thro any evil action; as little as one can attain injustice or foolishness thro good deeds. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Cebes, The Greek Pilgrim's progress. Generally known as the Picture… (1st century)

“ Should, however, any soul be by them persuaded to enter into enjoyment, this seems a pleasant pastime until he is satiated, but no longer. For whenever he sobers up, he notices that he has not eaten, but that he has, by her, been devoured, and maltreated. Wherefore, when he has consumed all the goods he received from fortune, he is forced to slave to those Women, to suffer all things, to be dishonored, and on their account to do many pitiable deeds such as to steal, to profane temples, to perjure himself, to betray, to plunder. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Cebes, The Greek Pilgrim's progress. Generally known as the Picture… (1st century)

“ Who are they who seem to be descending from the Mountain? For while some of them are crowned and are making gestures of joy, others are uncrowned, grieved and distressed; they seem to be so weary in head and limb as to be in real need of that their support by certain Women!'
'The crowned are those who were saved by Culture, and they are rejoicing at having reached her. The uncrowned, however, are those who were by Culture rejected, and are returning to an existence miserable and wretched ”

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Source: Wikisource

Cebes, The Greek Pilgrim's progress. Generally known as the Picture… (1st century)

“ Upon the entering souls fall these, each of them embracing and leading away a soul.'
'And whither? would I like to know!'
'Some to be saved, indeed; but others, alas! to be destroyed by Delusion.'
'O Good Genius of ours, how fateful is that Drink!'
'Surely, for each of those Courtesans promises to the soul that she has embraced that she will lead it to the best things and to a life happy and profitable ”

Cebes

Summary

Quotes from The Greek Pilgrim's progress. Generally known as the Picture… (Cebes)

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