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(Of course one must not suppose a life which is depraved and

corrupted, nor one spent in pain, for that which is such is

indefinite as are its inherent qualities: however, what is to be

said of pain will be clearer in what is to follow.)

If then the fact of living is in itself good and pleasant (and

this appears from the fact that all desire it, and specially

those who are good and in high happiness; their course of life

being most choice-worthy and their existence most choice-worthy

likewise), then also he that sees perceives that he sees; and he

that hears perceives that he hears; and he that walks perceives

that he walks; and in all the other instances in like manner

there is a faculty which reflects upon and perceives the fact

that we are working, so that we can perceive that we perceive and

intellectually know that we intellectually know: but to perceive

that we perceive or that we intellectually know is to perceive

that we exist, since existence was defined to be perceiving or

intellectually knowing. Now to perceive that one lives is a thing

pleasant in itself, life being a thing naturally good, and the

perceiving of the presence in ourselves of things naturally good

being pleasant.