Self-Improvement

And the distinction between these things is indeed easy and ready. For in free time, when the option of choice is open to us and nothing prevents us from doing what pleases us most, all pleasure is to be embraced, all pain is to be rejected. But at certain times, either due to duties or the necessities of life, it will often happen that both pleasures are to be rejected and annoyances are not to be refused. Therefore, here the wise man is bound by these things.

But we both accuse and consider most deserving of just hatred those who, soothed and corrupted by the flatteries of present pleasures, do not foresee, blinded by greed, what pains and annoyances they will be spared, and are in a similar fault who abandon their duties through weakness of mind, that is, the flight from labors and pains.