166

_Diversion._--Death is easier to bear without thinking of it, than is
the thought of death without peril.


167

The miseries of human life have established all this: as men have seen
this, they have taken up diversion.


168

_Diversion._--As men are not able to fight against death, misery,
ignorance, they have taken it into their heads, in order to be happy,
not to think of them at all.


169

Despite these miseries, man wishes to be happy, and only wishes to be
happy, and cannot wish not to be so. But how will he set about it? To be
happy he would have to make himself immortal; but, not being able to do
so, it has occurred to him to prevent himself from thinking of death.


170