Someone said to Rufus when Emperor Galba was murdered: "Is the world still governed by Providence?" But Rufus replied: "Did I ever use Galba as proof that the world is governed by Providence?"
A person said to Rufus when Galba was murdered: Is the world now governed by Providence? But Rufus replied: Did I ever incidentally form an argument from Galba that the world is governed by Providence?
Think through all of this carefully. Then, if you still want to pursue philosophy, go ahead — if you're willing to trade everything else for peace of mind, freedom, and calm. But if you haven't thought it through, stay away from philosophy. Don't be like children who play pretend — one day a philosopher, the next day a tax collector, then a public speaker, then a government official. These roles don't mix. You must be one person, either good or bad. You must either work on your own character or chase external things. You must focus either on what's within your control or on external matters. In other words, you're either a philosopher or you're just another person in the crowd.
When you have considered all these things completely, then, if you think proper, approach to philosophy, if you would gain in exchange for these things freedom from perturbations, liberty, tranquillity. If you have not considered these things, do not approach philosophy: do not act like children, at one time a philosopher, then a tax collector, then a rhetorician, then a procurator (officer) of Cæsar. These things are not consistent. You must be one man either good or bad; you must either labor at your own ruling faculty or at external things; you must either labor at things within or at external things; that is, you must either occupy the place of a philosopher or that of one of the vulgar.