We may even allow a centurion or standard-bearer to be angry, or any others, whom, not to explain too far the mysteries of the rhetoricians, I shall not mention here; for to touch the passions, where reason cannot be come at, may have its use; but my inquiry, as I often repeat, is about a wise man.
XXVI.

But even envy, detraction, pity, have their use.

Why should you pity rather than assist, if it is in your power to do so?
Is it because you cannot be liberal without pity?
We should not take sorrows on ourselves upon another's account; but we ought to relieve others of their grief if we can.

But to detract from another's reputation, or to rival him with that vicious emulation which resembles an enmity, of what use can that conduct be?
Now, envy implies being uneasy at another's good because one does not enjoy it one's self; but detraction is the being uneasy at another's good, merely because he enjoys it.

How can it be right that you should voluntarily grieve, rather than take the trouble of acquiring what you want to have?
for it is madness in the highest degree to desire to be the only one that has any particular happiness.