Didn't you hear this when you studied with the philosophers? Didn't you learn this lesson? Don't you know that human life is warfare? One person must stand guard. Another must go out and scout. A third must fight. It's impossible for everyone to be in the same place. And it wouldn't be better if they could. But you ignore the general's orders. Then you complain when something harder than usual gets assigned to you. You don't see what you're doing to the army — at least the part that's up to you. If everyone copies you, no one will dig trenches. No one will build walls or stand guard or face danger. Everyone will be useless as soldiers.
Did you hear this when you were with the philosophers? did you learn this? do you not know that human life is a warfare? that one man must keep watch, another must go out as a spy, and a third must fight? and it is not possible that all should be in one place, nor is it better that it should be so. But you neglecting to do the commands of the general complain when anything more hard than usual is imposed on you, and you do not observe what you make the army become as far as it is in your power; that if all imitate you, no man will dig a trench, no man will put a rampart round, nor keep watch, nor expose himself to danger, but will appear to be useless for the purposes of an army.