Someone gets promoted to a high position? Everyone who meets him congratulates him. One person kisses his eyes, another his neck, and his servants kiss his hands. He goes home and finds torches lit in his honor. He climbs the Capitol and makes a sacrifice to celebrate. But who ever makes a sacrifice for having good desires? Who sacrifices for acting according to nature? The truth is, we thank the gods for things we think are good for us.
Has a man been exalted to the tribuneship? All who meet him offer their congratulations; one kisses his eyes, another the neck, and the slaves kiss his hands. He goes to his house, he finds torches lighted. He ascends the Capitol; he offers a sacrifice on the occasion. Now who ever sacrificed for having had good desires? for having acted conformably to nature? For in fact we thank the gods for those things in which we place our good.