No single fact more earned the goodwill of Augustus Caesar, and made it easy for Furnius to obtain from him other favors than his saying, when Augustus at his request had granted pardon to his father, who had supported the side of Antony. “The only injury, Caesar, that I have ever received from you is this — you have forced me both to live and to die without expressing my gratitude!” For what so much proves a grateful heart as the impossibility of ever satisfying oneself, or of even attaining the hope of ever being able to make adequate return for a benefit?
By these and similar utterances, instead of concealing, let us try to reveal clearly our wishes. Though words should fail, yet, if we have the feelings we ought to have, the consciousness of them will show in our face. The man who intends to be grateful, immediately, while he is receiving, should turn his thought to repaying. Such a man, declares Chrysippus, like a racer, who is all set for the struggle and remains shut up within the barriers, must await the proper moment to leap forth when, as it were, the signal has been given; and, truly, he will need to show great energy, great swiftness, if he is to overtake the other who has the start of him.