How to Cope – An Ancient Guide to Enduring Hardship

This is a new translation of selections from Boethius’ (480-524 CE) famous work Consolations of Philosophy. His life trajectory resembles that of Nicolas Fouquet, Louis XIV’s treasurer, who was once the wealthiest and most influential man in France, building the magnificent Château at Vaux le Vicomte. He made the mistake of inviting the court to an extended lavish feast, which enabled his enemies to bring charges of corruption, following which he spent the last 17 years of his life in prison. Boethius was accused, probably unjustly, of treason, as a result of which he lost everything and sought to understand why such injustice had befallen him. The text charts his journey in a conversation with Philosophy personified from bitterness and anger to reconciliation and peace (‘Now you see the result of my innocence. Instead of a reward for true virtue, I am punished for a crime I didn’t commit.’), showing how ancient Stoicism helped him deal with adversity.

The editor distils five perennial lessons from the text: fortune is always changing; bad fortune is actually more beneficial for you than good fortune; hard times teach you who your true friends are; the things people often value the most do not bring true happiness; and the secret to true happiness lies in the pursuit of goodness. These themes are all explored in the four books that make up the text. Boethius is encouraged to count his blessings in terms of the kindness and happiness he has previously enjoyed; and to remember that there is no constancy in human affairs. Philosophy outlines five false paths to happiness – wealth, honours, power, glory, and pleasure – it is no different today. The conclusion is a tough one, that all fortune is certainly good as a means of gaining virtue. Adversity and struggle can be regarded as an opportunity for growth.