But suppose someone grabs you by the cloak and drags you to the town square. Then people start yelling: "Philosopher, what good are your beliefs now? Look, you're being dragged to prison. You're about to be executed." What kind of philosophy could I have developed that would prevent a stronger man from grabbing my cloak and dragging me away? What system would stop ten men from throwing me in prison? Have I learned nothing then? I have learned to see that everything that happens — if it's not up to me — means nothing to me. I might ask you: haven't you gained something from this? Then why do you look for benefits anywhere else except in what you've actually learned brings benefits?
But a man has seized me by the cloak, and is drawing me to the public place: then others bawl out, Philosopher, what has been the use of your opinions? see, you are dragged to prison, you are going to be beheaded. And what system of philosophy could I have made so that, if a stronger man should have laid hold of my cloak, I should not be dragged off; that if ten men should have laid hold of me and cast me into prison, I should not be cast in? Have I learned nothing else then? I have learned to see that everything which happens, if it be independent of my will, is nothing to me. I may ask, if you have not gained by this. Why then do you seek advantage in anything else than in that in which you have learned that advantage is?