TheMeditations

    ByMarcusAurelius

    Written167A.C.E.

    TranslatedbyGeorgeLong

    TableofContents

    BookOne

    FrommygrandfatherVerusIlearnedgoodmoralsandthegovernmentofmytemper.

    Fromthereputationandremembranceofmyfather,modestyandamanlycharacter.

    Frommymother,pietyandbeneficence,andabstinence,notonlyfromevildeeds,butevenfromevilthoughts;andfurther,simplicityinmywayofliving,farremovedfromthehabitsoftherich.

    Frommygreat-grandfather,nottohavefrequentedpublicschools,andtohavehadgoodteachersathome,andtoknowthatonsuchthingsamanshouldspendliberally.

    Frommygovernor,tobeneitherofthegreennorofthebluepartyatthegamesintheCircus,norapartizaneitheroftheParmulariusortheScutariusatthegladiators-fights;fromhimtooIlearnedenduranceoflabour,andtowantlittle,andtoworkwithmyownhands,andnottomeddlewithotherpeople-saffairs,andnottobereadytolistentoslander.

    FromDiognetus,nottobusymyselfabouttriflingthings,andnottogivecredittowhatwassaidbymiracle-workersandjugglersaboutincantationsandthedrivingawayofdaemonsandsuchthings;andnottobreedquailsforfighting,nortogivemyselfuppassionatelytosuchthings;andtoendurefreedomofspeech;andtohavebecomeintimatewithphilosophy;andtohavebeenahearer,firstofBacchius,thenofTandasisandMarcianus;andtohavewrittendialoguesinmyyouth;andtohavedesiredaplankbedandskin,andwhateverelseofthekindbelongstotheGreciandiscipline.

    FromRusticusIreceivedtheimpressionthatmycharacterrequiredimprovementanddiscipline;andfromhimIlearnednottobeledastraytosophisticemulation,nortowritingonspeculativematters,nortodeliveringlittlehortatoryorations,nortoshowingmyselfoffasamanwhopractisesmuchdiscipline,ordoesbenevolentactsinordertomakeadisplay;andtoabstainfromrhetoric,andpoetry,andfinewriting;andnottowalkaboutinthehouseinmyoutdoordress,nortodootherthingsofthekind;andtowritemyletterswithsimplicity,liketheletterwhichRusticuswrotefromSinuessatomymother;andwithrespecttothosewhohaveoffendedmebywords,ordonemewrong,tobeeasilydisposedtobepacifiedandreconciled,assoonastheyhaveshownareadinesstobereconciled;andtoreadcarefully,andnottobesatisfiedwithasuperficialunderstandingofabook;norhastilytogivemyassenttothosewhotalkovermuch;andIamindebtedtohimforbeingacquaintedwiththediscoursesofEpictetus,whichhecommunicatedtomeoutofhisowncollection.

    FromApolloniusIlearnedfreedomofwillandundeviatingsteadinessofpurpose;andtolooktonothingelse,notevenforamoment,excepttoreason;andtobealwaysthesame,insharppains,ontheoccasionofthelossofachild,andinlongillness;andtoseeclearlyinalivingexamplethatthesamemancanbebothmostresoluteandyielding,andnotpeevishingivinghisinstruction;andtohavehadbeforemyeyesamanwhoclearlyconsideredhisexperienceandhisskillinexpoundingphilosophicalprinciplesasthesmallestofhismerits;andfromhimIlearnedhowtoreceivefromfriendswhatareesteemedfavours,withoutbeingeitherhumbledbythemorlettingthempassunnoticed.

    FromSextus,abenevolentdisposition,andtheexampleofafamilygovernedinafatherlymanner,andtheideaoflivingconformablytonature;andgravitywithoutaffectation,andtolookcarefullyaftertheinterestsoffriends,andtotolerateignorantpersons,andthosewhoformopinionswithoutconsideration:hehadthepowerofreadilyaccommodatinghimselftoall,sothatintercoursewithhimwasmoreagreeablethananyflattery;andatthesametimehewasmosthighlyveneratedbythosewhoassociatedwithhim:andhehadthefacultybothofdiscoveringandordering,inanintelligentandmethodicalway,theprinciplesnecessaryforlife;andhenevershowedangeroranyotherpassion,butwasentirelyfreefrompassion,andalsomostaffectionate;andhecouldexpressapprobationwithoutnoisydisplay,andhepossessedmuchknowledgewithoutostentation.

    FromAlexanderthegrammarian,torefrainfromfault-finding,andnotinareproachfulwaytochidethosewhoutteredanybarbarousorsolecisticorstrange-soundingexpression;butdexterouslytointroducetheveryexpressionwhichoughttohavebeenused,andinthewayofanswerorgivingconfirmation,orjoininginaninquiryaboutthethingitself,notabouttheword,orbysomeotherfitsuggestion.

    FromFrontoIlearnedtoobservewhatenvy,andduplicity,andhypocrisyareinatyrant,andthatgenerallythoseamonguswhoarecalledPatriciansareratherdeficientinpaternalaffection.

    FromAlexanderthePlatonic,notfrequentlynorwithoutnecessitytosaytoanyone,ortowriteinaletter,thatIhavenoleisure;norcontinuallytoexcusetheneglectofdutiesrequiredbyourrelationtothosewithwhomwelive,byallegingurgentoccupations.

    FromCatulus,nottobeindifferentwhenafriendfindsfault,evenifheshouldfindfaultwithoutreason,buttotrytorestorehimtohisusualdisposition;andtobereadytospeakwellofteachers,asitisreportedofDomitiusandAthenodotus;andtolovemychildrentruly.

    FrommybrotherSeverus,tolovemykin,andtolovetruth,andtolovejustice;andthroughhimIlearnedtoknowThrasea,Helvidius,Cato,Dion,Brutus;andfromhimIreceivedtheideaofapolityinwhichthereisthesamelawforall,apolityadministeredwithregardtoequalrightsandequalfreedomofspeech,andtheideaofakinglygovernmentwhichrespectsmostofallthefreedomofthegoverned;Ilearnedfromhimalsoconsistencyandundeviatingsteadinessinmyregardforphilosophy;andadispositiontodogood,andtogivetoothersreadily,andtocherishgoodhopes,andtobelievethatIamlovedbymyfriends;andinhimIobservednoconcealmentofhisopinionswithrespecttothosewhomhecondemned,andthathisfriendshadnoneedtoconjecturewhathewishedordidnotwish,butitwasquiteplain.

    FromMaximusIlearnedself-government,andnottobeledasidebyanything;andcheerfulnessinallcircumstances,aswellasinillness;andajustadmixtureinthemoralcharacterofsweetnessanddignity,andtodowhatwassetbeforemewithoutcomplaining.Iobservedthateverybodybelievedthathethoughtashespoke,andthatinallthathedidheneverhadanybadintention;andhenevershowedamazementandsurprise,andwasneverinahurry,andneverputoffdoingathing,norwasperplexednordejected,nordidheeverlaughtodisguisehisvexation,nor,ontheotherhand,washeeverpassionateorsuspicious.Hewasaccustomedtodoactsofbeneficence,andwasreadytoforgive,andwasfreefromallfalsehood;andhepresentedtheappearanceofamanwhocouldnotbedivertedfromrightratherthanofamanwhohadbeenimproved.Iobserved,too,thatnomancouldeverthinkthathewasdespisedbyMaximus,oreverventuretothinkhimselfabetterman.Hehadalsotheartofbeinghumorousinanagreeableway.

    InmyfatherIobservedmildnessoftemper,andunchangeableresolutioninthethingswhichhehaddeterminedafterduedeliberation;andnovaingloryinthosethingswhichmencallhonours;andaloveoflabourandperseverance;andareadinesstolistentothosewhohadanythingtoproposeforthecommonweal;andundeviatingfirmnessingivingtoeverymanaccordingtohisdeserts;andaknowledgederivedfromexperienceoftheoccasionsforvigorousactionandforremission.AndIobservedthathehadovercomeallpassionforboys;andheconsideredhimselfnomorethananyothercitizen;andhereleasedhisfriendsfromallobligationtosupwithhimortoattendhimofnecessitywhenhewentabroad,andthosewhohadfailedtoaccompanyhim,byreasonofanyurgentcircumstances,alwaysfoundhimthesame.Iobservedtoohishabitofcarefulinquiryinallmattersofdeliberation,andhispersistency,andthatheneverstoppedhisinvestigationthroughbeingsatisfiedwithappearanceswhichfirstpresentthemselves;andthathisdispositionwastokeephisfriends,andnottobesoontiredofthem,noryettobeextravagantinhisaffection;andtobesatisfiedonalloccasions,andcheerful;andtoforeseethingsalongwayoff,andtoprovideforthesmallestwithoutdisplay;andtocheckimmediatelypopularapplauseandallflattery;andtobeeverwatchfuloverthethingswhichwerenecessaryfortheadministrationoftheempire,andtobeagoodmanageroftheexpenditure,andpatientlytoenduretheblamewhichhegotforsuchconduct;andhewasneithersuperstitiouswithrespecttothegods,nordidhecourtmenbygiftsorbytryingtopleasethem,orbyflatteringthepopulace;butheshowedsobrietyinallthingsandfirmness,andneveranymeanthoughtsoraction,norloveofnovelty.Andthethingswhichconduceinanywaytothecommodityoflife,andofwhichfortunegivesanabundantsupply,heusedwithoutarroganceandwithoutexcusinghimself;sothatwhenhehadthem,heenjoyedthemwithoutaffectation,andwhenhehadthemnot,hedidnotwantthem.Noonecouldeversayofhimthathewaseitherasophistorahome-bredflippantslaveorapedant;buteveryoneacknowledgedhimtobeamanripe,perfect,aboveflattery,abletomanagehisownandothermen-saffairs.Besidesthis,hehonouredthosewhoweretruephilosophers,andhedidnotreproachthosewhopretendedtobephilosophers,noryetwasheeasilyledbythem.Hewasalsoeasyinconversation,andhemadehimselfagreeablewithoutanyoffensiveaffectation.Hetookareasonablecareofhisbody-shealth,notasonewhowasgreatlyattachedtolife,noroutofregardtopersonalappearance,noryetinacarelessway,butsothat,throughhisownattention,heveryseldomstoodinneedofthephysician-sartorofmedicineorexternalapplications.Hewasmostreadytogivewaywithoutenvytothosewhopossessedanyparticularfaculty,suchasthatofeloquenceorknowledgeofthelaworofmorals,orofanythingelse;andhegavethemhishelp,thateachmightenjoyreputationaccordingtohisdeserts;andhealwaysactedconformablytotheinstitutionsofhiscountry,withoutshowinganyaffectationofdoingso.Further,hewasnotfondofchangenorunsteady,buthelovedtostayinthesameplaces,andtoemployhimselfaboutthesamethings;andafterhisparoxysmsofheadachehecameimmediatelyfreshandvigoroustohisusualoccupations.Hissecretswerenotbutveryfewandveryrare,andtheseonlyaboutpublicmatters;andheshowedprudenceandeconomyintheexhibitionofthepublicspectaclesandtheconstructionofpublicbuildings,hisdonationstothepeople,andinsuchthings,forhewasamanwholookedtowhatoughttobedone,nottothereputationwhichisgotbyaman-sacts.Hedidnottakethebathatunseasonablehours;hewasnotfondofbuildinghouses,norcuriousaboutwhatheate,noraboutthetextureandcolourofhisclothes,noraboutthebeautyofhisslaves.HisdresscamefromLorium,hisvillaonthecoast,andfromLanuviumgenerally.Weknowhowhebehavedtothetoll-collectoratTusculumwhoaskedhispardon;andsuchwasallhisbehaviour.Therewasinhimnothingharsh,norimplacable,norviolent,nor,asonemaysay,anythingcarriedtothesweatingpoint;butheexaminedallthingsseverally,asifhehadabundanceoftime,andwithoutconfusion,inanorderlyway,vigorouslyandconsistently.AndthatmightbeappliedtohimwhichisrecordedofSocrates,thathewasablebothtoabstainfrom,andtoenjoy,thosethingswhichmanyaretooweaktoabstainfrom,andcannotenjoywithoutexcess.Buttobestrongenoughbothtobeartheoneandtobesoberintheotheristhemarkofamanwhohasaperfectandinvinciblesoul,suchasheshowedintheillnessofMaximus.

    TothegodsIamindebtedforhavinggoodgrandfathers,goodparents,agoodsister,goodteachers,goodassociates,goodkinsmenandfriends,nearlyeverythinggood.Further,IoweittothegodsthatIwasnothurriedintoanyoffenceagainstanyofthem,thoughIhadadispositionwhich,ifopportunityhadoffered,mighthaveledmetodosomethingofthiskind;but,throughtheirfavour,thereneverwassuchaconcurrenceofcircumstancesasputmetothetrial.Further,IamthankfultothegodsthatIwasnotlongerbroughtupwithmygrandfather-sconcubine,andthatIpreservedtheflowerofmyyouth,andthatIdidnotmakeproofofmyvirilitybeforetheproperseason,butevendeferredthetime;thatIwassubjectedtoarulerandafatherwhowasabletotakeawayallpridefromme,andtobringmetotheknowledgethatitispossibleforamantoliveinapalacewithoutwantingeitherguardsorembroidereddresses,ortorchesandstatues,andsuch-likeshow;butthatitisinsuchaman-spowertobringhimselfveryneartothefashionofaprivateperson,withoutbeingforthisreasoneithermeanerinthought,ormoreremissinaction,withrespecttothethingswhichmustbedoneforthepublicinterestinamannerthatbefitsaruler.Ithankthegodsforgivingmesuchabrother,whowasablebyhismoralcharactertorousemetovigilanceovermyself,andwho,atthesametime,pleasedmebyhisrespectandaffection;thatmychildrenhavenotbeenstupidnordeformedinbody;thatIdidnotmakemoreproficiencyinrhetoric,poetry,andtheotherstudies,inwhichIshouldperhapshavebeencompletelyengaged,ifIhadseenthatIwasmakingprogressinthem;thatImadehastetoplacethosewhobroughtmeupinthestationofhonour,whichtheyseemedtodesire,withoutputtingthemoffwithhopeofmydoingitsometimeafter,becausetheywerethenstillyoung;thatIknewApollonius,Rusticus,Maximus;thatIreceivedclearandfrequentimpressionsaboutlivingaccordingtonature,andwhatkindofalifethatis,sothat,sofarasdependedonthegods,andtheirgifts,andhelp,andinspirations,nothinghinderedmefromforthwithlivingaccordingtonature,thoughIstillfallshortofitthroughmyownfault,andthroughnotobservingtheadmonitionsofthegods,and,Imayalmostsay,theirdirectinstructions;thatmybodyhasheldoutsolonginsuchakindoflife;thatInevertouchedeitherBenedictaorTheodotus,andthat,afterhavingfallenintoamatorypassions,Iwascured;and,thoughIwasoftenoutofhumourwithRusticus,IneverdidanythingofwhichIhadoccasiontorepent;that,thoughitwasmymother-sfatetodieyoung,shespentthelastyearsofherlifewithme;that,wheneverIwishedtohelpanymaninhisneed,oronanyotheroccasion,IwasnevertoldthatIhadnotthemeansofdoingit;andthattomyselfthesamenecessityneverhappened,toreceiveanythingfromanother;thatIhavesuchawife,soobedient,andsoaffectionate,andsosimple;thatIhadabundanceofgoodmastersformychildren;andthatremedieshavebeenshowntomebydreams,bothothers,andagainstbloodspittingandgiddiness;andthat,whenIhadaninclinationtophilosophy,Ididnotfallintothehandsofanysophist,andthatIdidnotwastemytimeonwritersofhistories,orintheresolutionofsyllogisms,oroccupymyselfabouttheinvestigationofappearancesintheheavens;forallthesethingsrequirethehelpofthegodsandfortune.

    AmongtheQuadiattheGranua.

    BookTwo

    Beginthemorningbysayingtothyself,Ishallmeetwiththebusy-body,theungrateful,arrogant,deceitful,envious,unsocial.Allthesethingshappentothembyreasonoftheirignoranceofwhatisgoodandevil.ButIwhohaveseenthenatureofthegoodthatitisbeautiful,andofthebadthatitisugly,andthenatureofhimwhodoeswrong,thatitisakintome,notonlyofthesamebloodorseed,butthatitparticipatesinthesameintelligenceandthesameportionofthedivinity,Icanneitherbeinjuredbyanyofthem,fornoonecanfixonmewhatisugly,norcanIbeangrywithmykinsman,norhatehim,Forwearemadeforco-operation,likefeet,likehands,likeeyelids,liketherowsoftheupperandlowerteeth.Toactagainstoneanothertheniscontrarytonature;anditisactingagainstoneanothertobevexedandtoturnaway.

    WhateverthisisthatIam,itisalittlefleshandbreath,andtherulingpart.Throwawaythybooks;nolongerdistractthyself:itisnotallowed;butasifthouwastnowdying,despisetheflesh;itisbloodandbonesandanetwork,acontextureofnerves,veins,andarteries.Seethebreathalso,whatkindofathingitis,air,andnotalwaysthesame,buteverymomentsentoutandagainsuckedin.Thethirdthenistherulingpart:considerthus:Thouartanoldman;nolongerletthisbeaslave,nolongerbepulledbythestringslikeapuppettounsocialmovements,nolongereitherbedissatisfiedwiththypresentlot,orshrinkfromthefuture.

    AllthatisfromthegodsisfullofProvidence.ThatwhichisfromfortuneisnotseparatedfromnatureorwithoutaninterweavingandinvolutionwiththethingswhichareorderedbyProvidence.Fromthenceallthingsflow;andthereisbesidesnecessity,andthatwhichisfortheadvantageofthewholeuniverse,ofwhichthouartapart.Butthatisgoodforeverypartofnaturewhichthenatureofthewholebrings,andwhatservestomaintainthisnature.Nowtheuniverseispreserved,asbythechangesoftheelementssobythechangesofthingscompoundedoftheelements.Lettheseprinciplesbeenoughforthee,letthemalwaysbefixedopinions.Butcastawaythethirstafterbooks,thatthoumayestnotdiemurmuring,butcheerfully,truly,andfromthyheartthankfultothegods.

    Rememberhowlongthouhastbeenputtingoffthesethings,andhowoftenthouhastreceivedanopportunityfromthegods,andyetdostnotuseit.Thoumustnowatlastperceiveofwhatuniversethouartapart,andofwhatadministratoroftheuniversethyexistenceisanefflux,andthatalimitoftimeisfixedforthee,whichifthoudostnotuseforclearingawaythecloudsfromthymind,itwillgoandthouwiltgo,anditwillneverreturn.

    EverymomentthinksteadilyasaRomanandamantodowhatthouhastinhandwithperfectandsimpledignity,andfeelingofaffection,andfreedom,andjustice;andtogivethyselfrelieffromallotherthoughts.Andthouwiltgivethyselfrelief,ifthoudoesteveryactofthylifeasifitwerethelast,layingasideallcarelessnessandpassionateaversionfromthecommandsofreason,andallhypocrisy,andself-love,anddiscontentwiththeportionwhichhasbeengiventothee.Thouseesthowfewthethingsare,thewhichifamanlaysholdof,heisabletolivealifewhichflowsinquiet,andisliketheexistenceofthegods;forthegodsontheirpartwillrequirenothingmorefromhimwhoobservesthesethings.

    Dowrongtothyself,dowrongtothyself,mysoul;butthouwiltnolongerhavetheopportunityofhonouringthyself.Everyman-slifeissufficient.Butthineisnearlyfinished,thoughthysoulreverencesnotitselfbutplacesthyfelicityinthesoulsofothers.

    Dothethingsexternalwhichfallupontheedistractthee?Givethyselftimetolearnsomethingnewandgood,andceasetobewhirledaround.Butthenthoumustalsoavoidbeingcarriedabouttheotherway.Forthosetooaretriflerswhohaveweariedthemselvesinlifebytheiractivity,andyethavenoobjecttowhichtodirecteverymovement,and,inaword,alltheirthoughts.

    Throughnotobservingwhatisinthemindofanotheramanhasseldombeenseentobeunhappy;butthosewhodonotobservethemovementsoftheirownmindsmustofnecessitybeunhappy.

    Thisthoumustalwaysbearinmind,whatisthenatureofthewhole,andwhatismynature,andhowthisisrelatedtothat,andwhatkindofapartitisofwhatkindofawhole;andthatthereisnoonewhohinderstheefromalwaysdoingandsayingthethingswhichareaccordingtothenatureofwhichthouartapart.

    Theophrastus,inhiscomparisonofbadacts-suchacomparisonasonewouldmakeinaccordancewiththecommonnotionsofmankind-says,likeatruephilosopher,thattheoffenceswhicharecommittedthroughdesirearemoreblameablethanthosewhicharecommittedthroughanger.Forhewhoisexcitedbyangerseemstoturnawayfromreasonwithacertainpainandunconsciouscontraction;buthewhooffendsthroughdesire,beingoverpoweredbypleasure,seemstobeinamannermoreintemperateandmorewomanishinhisoffences.Rightlythen,andinawayworthyofphilosophy,hesaidthattheoffencewhichiscommittedwithpleasureismoreblameablethanthatwhichiscommittedwithpain;andonthewholetheoneismorelikeapersonwhohasbeenfirstwrongedandthroughpainiscompelledtobeangry;buttheotherismovedbyhisownimpulsetodowrong,beingcarriedtowardsdoingsomethingbydesire.

    Sinceitispossiblethatthoumayestdepartfromlifethisverymoment,regulateeveryactandthoughtaccordingly.Buttogoawayfromamongmen,iftherearegods,isnotathingtobeafraidof,forthegodswillnotinvolvetheeinevil;butifindeedtheydonotexist,oriftheyhavenoconcernabouthumanaffairs,whatisittometoliveinauniversedevoidofgodsordevoidofProvidence?Butintruththeydoexist,andtheydocareforhumanthings,andtheyhaveputallthemeansinman-spowertoenablehimnottofallintorealevils.Andastotherest,iftherewasanythingevil,theywouldhaveprovidedforthisalso,thatitshouldbealtogetherinaman-spowernottofallintoit.Nowthatwhichdoesnotmakeamanworse,howcanitmakeaman-slifeworse?Butneitherthroughignorance,norhavingtheknowledge,butnotthepowertoguardagainstorcorrectthesethings,isitpossiblethatthenatureoftheuniversehasoverlookedthem;norisitpossiblethatithasmadesogreatamistake,eitherthroughwantofpowerorwantofskill,thatgoodandevilshouldhappenindiscriminatelytothegoodandthebad.Butdeathcertainly,andlife,honouranddishonour,painandpleasure,allthesethingsequallyhappentogoodmenandbad,beingthingswhichmakeusneitherbetternorworse.Thereforetheyareneithergoodnorevil.

    Howquicklyallthingsdisappear,intheuniversethebodiesthemselves,butintimetheremembranceofthem;whatisthenatureofallsensiblethings,andparticularlythosewhichattractwiththebaitofpleasureorterrifybypain,orarenoisedabroadbyvapouryfame;howworthless,andcontemptible,andsordid,andperishable,anddeadtheyare-allthisitisthepartoftheintellectualfacultytoobserve.Toobservetoowhothesearewhoseopinionsandvoicesgivereputation;whatdeathis,andthefactthat,ifamanlooksatitinitself,andbytheabstractivepowerofreflectionresolvesintotheirpartsallthethingswhichpresentthemselvestotheimaginationinit,hewillthenconsiderittobenothingelsethananoperationofnature;andifanyoneisafraidofanoperationofnature,heisachild.This,however,isnotonlyanoperationofnature,butitisalsoathingwhichconducestothepurposesofnature.Toobservetoohowmancomesneartothedeity,andbywhatpartofhim,andwhenthispartofmanissodisposed.

    Nothingismorewretchedthanamanwhotraverseseverythinginaround,andpriesintothethingsbeneaththeearth,asthepoetsays,andseeksbyconjecturewhatisinthemindsofhisneighbours,withoutperceivingthatitissufficienttoattendtothedaemonwithinhim,andtoreverenceitsincerely.Andreverenceofthedaemonconsistsinkeepingitpurefrompassionandthoughtlessness,anddissatisfactionwithwhatcomesfromgodsandmen.Forthethingsfromthegodsmeritvenerationfortheirexcellence;andthethingsfrommenshouldbedeartousbyreasonofkinship;andsometimeseven,inamanner,theymoveourpitybyreasonofmen-signoranceofgoodandbad;thisdefectbeingnotlessthanthatwhichdeprivesusofthepowerofdistinguishingthingsthatarewhiteandblack.

    Thoughthoushouldstbegoingtolivethreethousandyears,andasmanytimestenthousandyears,stillrememberthatnomanlosesanyotherlifethanthiswhichhenowlives,norlivesanyotherthanthiswhichhenowloses.Thelongestandshortestarethusbroughttothesame.Forthepresentisthesametoall,thoughthatwhichperishesisnotthesame;andsothatwhichislostappearstobeameremoment.Foramancannotloseeitherthepastorthefuture:forwhatamanhasnot,howcananyonetakethisfromhim?Thesetwothingsthenthoumustbearinmind;theone,thatallthingsfrometernityareoflikeformsandcomeroundinacircle,andthatitmakesnodifferencewhetheramanshallseethesamethingsduringahundredyearsortwohundred,oraninfinitetime;andthesecond,thatthelongestliverandhewhowilldiesoonestlosejustthesame.Forthepresentistheonlythingofwhichamancanbedeprived,ifitistruethatthisistheonlythingwhichhehas,andthatamancannotloseathingifhehasitnot.

    Rememberthatallisopinion.ForwhatwassaidbytheCynicMonimusismanifest:andmanifesttooistheuseofwhatwassaid,ifamanreceiveswhatmaybegotoutofitasfarasitistrue.

    Thesoulofmandoesviolencetoitself,firstofall,whenitbecomesanabscessand,asitwere,atumourontheuniverse,sofarasitcan.Fortobevexedatanythingwhichhappensisaseparationofourselvesfromnature,insomepartofwhichthenaturesofallotherthingsarecontained.Inthenextplace,thesouldoesviolencetoitselfwhenitturnsawayfromanyman,orevenmovestowardshimwiththeintentionofinjuring,suchasarethesoulsofthosewhoareangry.Inthethirdplace,thesouldoesviolencetoitselfwhenitisoverpoweredbypleasureorbypain.Fourthly,whenitplaysapart,anddoesorsaysanythinginsincerelyanduntruly.Fifthly,whenitallowsanyactofitsownandanymovementtobewithoutanaim,anddoesanythingthoughtlesslyandwithoutconsideringwhatitis,itbeingrightthateventhesmallestthingsbedonewithreferencetoanend;andtheendofrationalanimalsistofollowthereasonandthelawofthemostancientcityandpolity.

    Ofhumanlifethetimeisapoint,andthesubstanceisinaflux,andtheperceptiondull,andthecompositionofthewholebodysubjecttoputrefaction,andthesoulawhirl,andfortunehardtodivine,andfameathingdevoidofjudgement.And,tosayallinaword,everythingwhichbelongstothebodyisastream,andwhatbelongstothesoulisadreamandvapour,andlifeisawarfareandastranger-ssojourn,andafter-fameisoblivion.Whatthenisthatwhichisabletoconductaman?Onethingandonlyone,philosophy.Butthisconsistsinkeepingthedaemonwithinamanfreefromviolenceandunharmed,superiortopainsandpleasures,doingnothingwithoutpurpose,noryetfalselyandwithhypocrisy,notfeelingtheneedofanotherman-sdoingornotdoinganything;andbesides,acceptingallthathappens,andallthatisallotted,ascomingfromthence,whereveritis,fromwhencehehimselfcame;and,finally,waitingfordeathwithacheerfulmind,asbeingnothingelsethanadissolutionoftheelementsofwhicheverylivingbeingiscompounded.Butifthereisnoharmtotheelementsthemselvesineachcontinuallychangingintoanother,whyshouldamanhaveanyapprehensionaboutthechangeanddissolutionofalltheelements?Foritisaccordingtonature,andnothingisevilwhichisaccordingtonature.

    ThisinCarnuntum.

    BookThree

    Weughttoconsidernotonlythatourlifeisdailywastingawayandasmallerpartofitisleft,butanotherthingalsomustbetakenintotheaccount,thatifamanshouldlivelonger,itisquiteuncertainwhethertheunderstandingwillstillcontinuesufficientforthecomprehensionofthings,andretainthepowerofcontemplationwhichstrivestoacquiretheknowledgeofthedivineandthehuman.Forifheshallbegintofallintodotage,perspirationandnutritionandimaginationandappetite,andwhateverelsethereisofthekind,willnotfail;butthepowerofmakinguseofourselves,andfillingupthemeasureofourduty,andclearlyseparatingallappearances,andconsideringwhetheramanshouldnowdepartfromlife,andwhateverelseofthekindabsolutelyrequiresadisciplinedreason,allthisisalreadyextinguished.Wemustmakehastethen,notonlybecausewearedailynearertodeath,butalsobecausetheconceptionofthingsandtheunderstandingofthemceasefirst.

    Weoughttoobservealsothateventhethingswhichfollowafterthethingswhichareproducedaccordingtonaturecontainsomethingpleasingandattractive.Forinstance,whenbreadisbakedsomepartsaresplitatthesurface,andthesepartswhichthusopen,andhaveacertainfashioncontrarytothepurposeofthebaker-sart,arebeautifulinamanner,andinapeculiarwayexciteadesireforeating.Andagain,figs,whentheyarequiteripe,gapeopen;andintheripeolivestheverycircumstanceoftheirbeingneartorottennessaddsapeculiarbeautytothefruit.Andtheearsofcornbendingdown,andthelion-seyebrows,andthefoamwhichflowsfromthemouthofwildboars,andmanyotherthings-thoughtheyarefarfrombeingbeautiful,ifamanshouldexaminethemseverally-still,becausetheyareconsequentuponthethingswhichareformedbynature,helptoadornthem,andtheypleasethemind;sothatifamanshouldhaveafeelinganddeeperinsightwithrespecttothethingswhichareproducedintheuniverse,thereishardlyoneofthosewhichfollowbywayofconsequencewhichwillnotseemtohimtobeinamannerdisposedsoastogivepleasure.Andsohewillseeeventherealgapingjawsofwildbeastswithnolesspleasurethanthosewhichpaintersandsculptorsshowbyimitation;andinanoldwomanandanoldmanhewillbeabletoseeacertainmaturityandcomeliness;andtheattractivelovelinessofyoungpersonshewillbeabletolookonwithchasteeyes;andmanysuchthingswillpresentthemselves,notpleasingtoeveryman,buttohimonlywhohasbecometrulyfamiliarwithnatureandherworks.

    Hippocratesaftercuringmanydiseaseshimselffellsickanddied.TheChaldaeiforetoldthedeathsofmany,andthenfatecaughtthemtoo.Alexander,andPompeius,andCaiusCaesar,aftersooftencompletelydestroyingwholecities,andinbattlecuttingtopiecesmanytenthousandsofcavalryandinfantry,themselvestooatlastdepartedfromlife.Heraclitus,aftersomanyspeculationsontheconflagrationoftheuniverse,wasfilledwithwaterinternallyanddiedsmearedalloverwithmud.AndlicedestroyedDemocritus;andotherlicekilledSocrates.Whatmeansallthis?Thouhastembarked,thouhastmadethevoyage,thouartcometoshore;getout.Ifindeedtoanotherlife,thereisnowantofgods,noteventhere.Butiftoastatewithoutsensation,thouwiltceasetobeheldbypainsandpleasures,andtobeaslavetothevessel,whichisasmuchinferiorasthatwhichservesitissuperior:fortheoneisintelligenceanddeity;theotherisearthandcorruption.

    Donotwastetheremainderofthylifeinthoughtsaboutothers,whenthoudostnotreferthythoughtstosomeobjectofcommonutility.Forthoulosesttheopportunityofdoingsomethingelsewhenthouhastsuchthoughtsasthese,Whatissuchapersondoing,andwhy,andwhatishesaying,andwhatishethinkingof,andwhatishecontriving,andwhateverelseofthekindmakesuswanderawayfromtheobservationofourownrulingpower.Weoughtthentocheckintheseriesofourthoughtseverythingthatiswithoutapurposeanduseless,butmostofalltheover-curiousfeelingandthemalignant;andamanshouldusehimselftothinkofthosethingsonlyaboutwhichifoneshouldsuddenlyask,Whathastthounowinthythoughts?Withperfectopennessthoumightest,immediatelyanswer,ThisorThat;sothatfromthywordsitshouldbeplainthateverythingintheeissimpleandbenevolent,andsuchasbefitsasocialanimal,andonethatcaresnotforthoughtsaboutpleasureorsensualenjoymentsatall,norhasanyrivalryorenvyandsuspicion,oranythingelseforwhichthouwouldstblushifthoushouldstsaythatthouhadstitinthymind.Forthemanwhoissuchandnolongerdelaysbeingamongthenumberofthebest,islikeapriestandministerofthegods,usingtoothedeitywhichisplantedwithinhim,whichmakesthemanuncontaminatedbypleasure,unharmedbyanypain,untouchedbyanyinsult,feelingnowrong,afighterinthenoblestfight,onewhocannotbeoverpoweredbyanypassion,dyeddeepwithjustice,acceptingwithallhissouleverythingwhichhappensandisassignedtohimashisportion;andnotoften,noryetwithoutgreatnecessityandforthegeneralinterest,imaginingwhatanothersays,ordoes,orthinks.Foritisonlywhatbelongstohimselfthathemakesthematterforhisactivity;andheconstantlythinksofthatwhichisallottedtohimselfoutofthesumtotalofthings,andhemakeshisownactsfair,andheispersuadedthathisownportionisgood.Forthelotwhichisassignedtoeachmaniscarriedalongwithhimandcarrieshimalongwithit.Andheremembersalsothateveryrationalanimalishiskinsman,andthattocareforallmenisaccordingtoman-snature;andamanshouldholdontotheopinionnotofall,butofthoseonlywhoconfessedlyliveaccordingtonature.Butastothosewholivenotso,healwaysbearsinmindwhatkindofmentheyarebothathomeandfromhome,bothbynightandbyday,andwhattheyare,andwithwhatmentheyliveanimpurelife.Accordingly,hedoesnotvalueatallthepraisewhichcomesfromsuchmen,sincetheyarenotevensatisfiedwiththemselves.

    Labournotunwillingly,norwithoutregardtothecommoninterest,norwithoutdueconsideration,norwithdistraction;norletstudiedornamentsetoffthythoughts,andbenoteitheramanofmanywords,orbusyabouttoomanythings.Andfurther,letthedeitywhichisintheebetheguardianofalivingbeing,manlyandofripeage,andengagedinmatterpolitical,andaRoman,andaruler,whohastakenhispostlikeamanwaitingforthesignalwhichsummonshimfromlife,andreadytogo,havingneedneitherofoathnorofanyman-stestimony.Becheerfulalso,andseeknotexternalhelpnorthetranquilitywhichothersgive.Amanthenmuststanderect,notbekepterectbyothers.

    Ifthoufindestinhumanlifeanythingbetterthanjustice,truth,temperance,fortitude,and,inaword,anythingbetterthanthyownmind-sself-satisfactioninthethingswhichitenablestheetodoaccordingtorightreason,andintheconditionthatisassignedtotheewithoutthyownchoice;if,Isay,thouseestanythingbetterthanthis,turntoitwithallthysoul,andenjoythatwhichthouhastfoundtobethebest.Butifnothingappearstobebetterthanthedeitywhichisplantedinthee,whichhassubjectedtoitselfallthyappetites,andcarefullyexaminesalltheimpressions,and,asSocratessaid,hasdetacheditselffromthepersuasionsofsense,andhassubmitteditselftothegods,andcaresformankind;ifthoufindesteverythingelsesmallerandoflessvaluethanthis,giveplacetonothingelse,forifthoudostoncedivergeandinclinetoit,thouwiltnolongerwithoutdistractionbeabletogivethepreferencetothatgoodthingwhichisthyproperpossessionandthyown;foritisnotrightthatanythingofanyotherkind,suchaspraisefromthemany,orpower,orenjoymentofpleasure,shouldcomeintocompetitionwiththatwhichisrationallyandpoliticallyorpracticallygood.Allthesethings,eventhoughtheymayseemtoadaptthemselvestothebetterthingsinasmalldegree,obtainthesuperiorityallatonce,andcarryusaway.Butdothou,Isay,simplyandfreelychoosethebetter,andholdtoit-Butthatwhichisusefulisthebetter-Wellthen,ifitisusefultotheeasarationalbeing,keeptoit;butifitisonlyusefultotheeasananimal,sayso,andmaintainthyjudgementwithoutarrogance:onlytakecarethatthoumakesttheinquirybyasuremethod.

    Nevervalueanythingasprofitabletothyselfwhichshallcompeltheetobreakthypromise,tolosethyself-respect,tohateanyman,tosuspect,tocurse,toactthehypocrite,todesireanythingwhichneedswallsandcurtains:forhewhohaspreferredtoeverythingintelligenceanddaemonandtheworshipofitsexcellence,actsnotragicpart,doesnotgroan,willnotneedeithersolitudeormuchcompany;and,whatischiefofall,hewilllivewithouteitherpursuingorflyingfromdeath;butwhetherforalongerorashortertimeheshallhavethesoulinclosedinthebody,hecaresnotatall:forevenifhemustdepartimmediately,hewillgoasreadilyasifheweregoingtodoanythingelsewhichcanbedonewithdecencyandorder;takingcareofthisonlyallthroughlife,thathisthoughtsturnnotawayfromanythingwhichbelongstoanintelligentanimalandamemberofacivilcommunity.

    Inthemindofonewhoischastenedandpurifiedthouwiltfindnocorruptmatter,norimpurity,noranysoreskinnedover.Norishislifeincompletewhenfateovertakeshim,asonemaysayofanactorwholeavesthestagebeforeendingandfinishingtheplay.Besides,thereisinhimnothingservile,noraffected,nortoocloselyboundtootherthings,noryetdetachedfromotherthings,nothingworthyofblame,nothingwhichseeksahiding-place.

    Reverencethefacultywhichproducesopinion.Onthisfacultyitentirelydependswhetherthereshallexistinthyrulingpartanyopinioninconsistentwithnatureandtheconstitutionoftherationalanimal.Andthisfacultypromisesfreedomfromhastyjudgement,andfriendshiptowardsmen,andobediencetothegods.

    Throwingawaythenallthings,holdtotheseonlywhicharefew;andbesidesbearinmindthateverymanlivesonlythispresenttime,whichisanindivisiblepoint,andthatalltherestofhislifeiseitherpastoritisuncertain.Shortthenisthetimewhicheverymanlives,andsmallthenookoftheearthwherehelives;andshorttoothelongestposthumousfame,andeventhisonlycontinuedbyasuccessionofpoorhumanbeings,whowillverysoondie,andwhoknownoteventhemselves,muchlesshimwhodiedlongago.

    Totheaidswhichhavebeenmentionedletthisonestillbeadded:-Makeforthyselfadefinitionordescriptionofthethingwhichispresentedtothee,soastoseedistinctlywhatkindofathingitisinitssubstance,initsnudity,initscompleteentirety,andtellthyselfitspropername,andthenamesofthethingsofwhichithasbeencompounded,andintowhichitwillberesolved.Fornothingissoproductiveofelevationofmindastobeabletoexaminemethodicallyandtrulyeveryobjectwhichispresentedtotheeinlife,andalwaystolookatthingssoastoseeatthesametimewhatkindofuniversethisis,andwhatkindofuseeverythingperformsinit,andwhatvalueeverythinghaswithreferencetothewhole,andwhatwithreferencetoman,whoisacitizenofthehighestcity,ofwhichallothercitiesarelikefamilies;whateachthingis,andofwhatitiscomposed,andhowlongitisthenatureofthisthingtoendurewhichnowmakesanimpressiononme,andwhatvirtueIhaveneedofwithrespecttoit,suchasgentleness,manliness,truth,fidelity,simplicity,contentment,andtherest.Wherefore,oneveryoccasionamanshouldsay:thiscomesfromGod;andthisisaccordingtotheapportionmentandspinningofthethreadofdestiny,andsuch-likecoincidenceandchance;andthisisfromoneofthesamestock,andakinsmanandpartner,onewhoknowsnothoweverwhatisaccordingtohisnature.ButIknow;forthisreasonIbehavetowardshimaccordingtothenaturallawoffellowshipwithbenevolenceandjustice.AtthesametimehoweverinthingsindifferentIattempttoascertainthevalueofeach.

    Ifthouworkestatthatwhichisbeforethee,followingrightreasonseriously,vigorously,calmly,withoutallowinganythingelsetodistractthee,butkeepingthydivinepartpure,asifthoushouldstbeboundtogiveitbackimmediately;ifthouholdesttothis,expectingnothing,fearingnothing,butsatisfiedwiththypresentactivityaccordingtonature,andwithheroictruthineverywordandsoundwhichthouutterest,thouwiltlivehappy.Andthereisnomanwhoisabletopreventthis.

    Asphysicianshavealwaystheirinstrumentsandknivesreadyforcaseswhichsuddenlyrequiretheirskill,sodothouhaveprinciplesreadyfortheunderstandingofthingsdivineandhuman,andfordoingeverything,eventhesmallest,witharecollectionofthebondwhichunitesthedivineandhumantooneanother.Forneitherwiltthoudoanythingwellwhichpertainstomanwithoutatthesametimehavingareferencetothingsdivine;northecontrary.

    Nolongerwanderathazard;forneitherwiltthoureadthyownmemoirs,northeactsoftheancientRomansandHellenes,andtheselectionsfrombookswhichthouwastreservingforthyoldage.Hastenthentotheendwhichthouhastbeforethee,andthrowingawayidlehopes,cometothyownaid,ifthoucarestatallforthyself,whileitisinthypower.

    Theyknownothowmanythingsaresignifiedbythewordsstealing,sowing,buying,keepingquiet,seeingwhatoughttobedone;forthisisnoteffectedbytheeyes,butbyanotherkindofvision.

    Body,soul,intelligence:tothebodybelongsensations,tothesoulappetites,totheintelligenceprinciples.Toreceivetheimpressionsofformsbymeansofappearancesbelongseventoanimals;tobepulledbythestringsofdesirebelongsbothtowildbeastsandtomenwhohavemadethemselvesintowomen,andtoaPhalarisandaNero:andtohavetheintelligencethatguidestothethingswhichappearsuitablebelongsalsotothosewhodonotbelieveinthegods,andwhobetraytheircountry,anddotheirimpuredeedswhentheyhaveshutthedoors.IftheneverythingelseiscommontoallthatIhavementioned,thereremainsthatwhichispeculiartothegoodman,tobepleasedandcontentwithwhathappens,andwiththethreadwhichisspunforhim;andnottodefilethedivinitywhichisplantedinhisbreast,nordisturbitbyacrowdofimages,buttopreserveittranquil,followingitobedientlyasagod,neithersayinganythingcontrarytothetruth,nordoinganythingcontrarytojustice.Andifallmenrefusetobelievethathelivesasimple,modest,andcontentedlife,heisneitherangrywithanyofthem,nordoeshedeviatefromthewaywhichleadstotheendoflife,towhichamanoughttocomepure,tranquil,readytodepart,andwithoutanycompulsionperfectlyreconciledtohislot.

    BookFour

    Thatwhichruleswithin,whenitisaccordingtonature,issoaffectedwithrespecttotheeventswhichhappen,thatitalwayseasilyadaptsitselftothatwhichisandispresentedtoit.Foritrequiresnodefinitematerial,butitmovestowardsitspurpose,undercertainconditionshowever;anditmakesamaterialforitselfoutofthatwhichopposesit,asfirelaysholdofwhatfallsintoit,bywhichasmalllightwouldhavebeenextinguished:butwhenthefireisstrong,itsoonappropriatestoitselfthematterwhichisheapedonit,andconsumesit,andriseshigherbymeansofthisverymaterial.

    Letnoactbedonewithoutapurpose,norotherwisethanaccordingtotheperfectprinciplesofart.

    Menseekretreatsforthemselves,housesinthecountry,sea-shores,andmountains;andthoutooartwonttodesiresuchthingsverymuch.Butthisisaltogetheramarkofthemostcommonsortofmen,foritisinthypowerwheneverthoushaltchoosetoretireintothyself.Fornowhereeitherwithmorequietormorefreedomfromtroubledoesamanretirethanintohisownsoul,particularlywhenhehaswithinhimsuchthoughtsthatbylookingintothemheisimmediatelyinperfecttranquility;andIaffirmthattranquilityisnothingelsethanthegoodorderingofthemind.Constantlythengivetothyselfthisretreat,andrenewthyself;andletthyprinciplesbebriefandfundamental,which,assoonasthoushaltrecurtothem,willbesufficienttocleansethesoulcompletely,andtosendtheebackfreefromalldiscontentwiththethingstowhichthoureturnest.Forwithwhatartthoudiscontented?Withthebadnessofmen?Recalltothymindthisconclusion,thatrationalanimalsexistforoneanother,andthattoendureisapartofjustice,andthatmendowronginvoluntarily;andconsiderhowmanyalready,aftermutualenmity,suspicion,hatred,andfighting,havebeenstretcheddead,reducedtoashes;andbequietatlast-Butperhapsthouartdissatisfiedwiththatwhichisassignedtotheeoutoftheuniverse-Recalltothyrecollectionthisalternative;eitherthereisprovidenceoratoms,fortuitousconcurrenceofthings;orremembertheargumentsbywhichithasbeenprovedthattheworldisakindofpoliticalcommunity,andbequietatlast-Butperhapscorporealthingswillstillfastenuponthee-Considerthenfurtherthatthemindminglesnotwiththebreath,whethermovinggentlyorviolently,whenithasoncedrawnitselfapartanddiscovereditsownpower,andthinkalsoofallthatthouhastheardandassentedtoaboutpainandpleasure,andbequietatlast-Butperhapsthedesireofthethingcalledfamewilltormentthee-Seehowsooneverythingisforgotten,andlookatthechaosofinfinitetimeoneachsideofthepresent,andtheemptinessofapplause,andthechangeablenessandwantofjudgementinthosewhopretendtogivepraise,andthenarrownessofthespacewithinwhichitiscircumscribed,andbequietatlast.Forthewholeearthisapoint,andhowsmallanookinitisthisthydwelling,andhowfewarethereinit,andwhatkindofpeoplearetheywhowillpraisethee.

    Thisthenremains:Remembertoretireintothislittleterritoryofthyown,andabovealldonotdistractorstrainthyself,butbefree,andlookatthingsasaman,asahumanbeing,asacitizen,asamortal.Butamongthethingsreadiesttothyhandtowhichthoushaltturn,lettherebethese,whicharetwo.Oneisthatthingsdonottouchthesoul,fortheyareexternalandremainimmovable;butourperturbationscomeonlyfromtheopinionwhichiswithin.Theotheristhatallthesethings,whichthouseest,changeimmediatelyandwillnolongerbe;andconstantlybearinmindhowmanyofthesechangesthouhastalreadywitnessed.Theuniverseistransformation:lifeisopinion.

    Ifourintellectualpartiscommon,thereasonalso,inrespectofwhichwearerationalbeings,iscommon:ifthisisso,commonalsoisthereasonwhichcommandsuswhattodo,andwhatnottodo;ifthisisso,thereisacommonlawalso;ifthisisso,wearefellow-citizens;ifthisisso,wearemembersofsomepoliticalcommunity;ifthisisso,theworldisinamannerastate.Forofwhatothercommonpoliticalcommunitywillanyonesaythatthewholehumanracearemembers?Andfromthence,fromthiscommonpoliticalcommunitycomesalsoourveryintellectualfacultyandreasoningfacultyandourcapacityforlaw;orwhencedotheycome?Forasmyearthlypartisaportiongiventomefromcertainearth,andthatwhichiswateryfromanotherelement,andthatwhichishotandfieryfromsomepeculiarsource(fornothingcomesoutofthatwhichisnothing,asnothingalsoreturnstonon-existence),soalsotheintellectualpartcomesfromsomesource.

    Deathissuchasgenerationis,amysteryofnature;acompositionoutofthesameelements,andadecompositionintothesame;andaltogethernotathingofwhichanymanshouldbeashamed,foritisnotcontrarytothenatureofareasonableanimal,andnotcontrarytothereasonofourconstitution.

    Itisnaturalthatthesethingsshouldbedonebysuchpersons,itisamatterofnecessity;andifamanwillnothaveitso,hewillnotallowthefig-treetohavejuice.Butbyallmeansbearthisinmind,thatwithinaveryshorttimeboththouandhewillbedead;andsoonnotevenyournameswillbeleftbehind.

    Takeawaythyopinion,andthenthereistakenawaythecomplaint,"Ihavebeenharmed."Takeawaythecomplaint,"Ihavebeenharmed,"andtheharmistakenaway.

    Thatwhichdoesnotmakeamanworsethanhewas,alsodoesnotmakehislifeworse,nordoesitharmhimeitherfromwithoutorfromwithin.

    Thenatureofthatwhichisuniversallyusefulhasbeencompelledtodothis.

    Considerthateverythingwhichhappens,happensjustly,andifthouobservestcarefully,thouwiltfindittobeso.Idonotsayonlywithrespecttothecontinuityoftheseriesofthings,butwithrespecttowhatisjust,andasifitweredonebyonewhoassignstoeachthingitsvalue.Observethenasthouhastbegun;andwhateverthoudoest,doitinconjunctionwiththis,thebeinggood,andinthesenseinwhichamanisproperlyunderstoodtobegood.Keeptothisineveryaction.

    Donothavesuchanopinionofthingsashehaswhodoestheewrong,orsuchashewishestheetohave,butlookatthemastheyareintruth.

    Amanshouldalwayshavethesetworulesinreadiness;theone,todoonlywhateverthereasonoftherulingandlegislatingfacultymaysuggestfortheuseofmen;theother,tochangethyopinion,ifthereisanyoneathandwhosetstheerightandmovestheefromanyopinion.Butthischangeofopinionmustproceedonlyfromacertainpersuasion,asofwhatisjustorofcommonadvantage,andthelike,notbecauseitappearspleasantorbringsreputation.

    Hastthoureason?Ihave-Whythendostnotthouuseit?Forifthisdoesitsownwork,whatelsedostthouwish?

    Thouhastexistedasapart.Thoushaltdisappearinthatwhichproducedthee;butratherthoushaltbereceivedbackintoitsseminalprinciplebytransmutation.

    Manygrainsoffrankincenseonthesamealtar:onefallsbefore,anotherfallsafter;butitmakesnodifference.

    Withintendaysthouwiltseemagodtothosetowhomthouartnowabeastandanape,ifthouwiltreturntothyprinciplesandtheworshipofreason.

    Donotactasifthouwertgoingtolivetenthousandyears.Deathhangsoverthee.Whilethoulivest,whileitisinthypower,begood.

    Howmuchtroubleheavoidswhodoesnotlooktoseewhathisneighboursaysordoesorthinks,butonlytowhathedoeshimself,thatitmaybejustandpure;orasAgathonsays,looknotroundatthedepravedmoralsofothers,butrunstraightalongthelinewithoutdeviatingfromit.

    Hewhohasavehementdesireforposthumousfamedoesnotconsiderthateveryoneofthosewhorememberhimwillhimselfalsodieverysoon;thenagainalsotheywhohavesucceededthem,untilthewholeremembranceshallhavebeenextinguishedasitistransmittedthroughmenwhofoolishlyadmireandperish.Butsupposethatthosewhowillrememberareevenimmortal,andthattheremembrancewillbeimmortal,whatthenisthistothee?AndIsaynotwhatisittothedead,butwhatisittotheliving?Whatispraiseexceptindeedsofarasithasacertainutility?Forthounowrejectestunseasonablythegiftofnature,clingingtosomethingelse

    Everythingwhichisinanywaybeautifulisbeautifulinitself,andterminatesinitself,nothavingpraiseaspartofitself.Neitherworsethennorbetterisathingmadebybeingpraised.Iaffirmthisalsoofthethingswhicharecalledbeautifulbythevulgar,forexample,materialthingsandworksofart.Thatwhichisreallybeautifulhasnoneedofanything;notmorethanlaw,notmorethantruth,notmorethanbenevolenceormodesty.Whichofthesethingsisbeautifulbecauseitispraised,orspoiledbybeingblamed?Issuchathingasanemeraldmadeworsethanitwas,ifitisnotpraised?Orgold,ivory,purple,alyre,alittleknife,aflower,ashrub?

    Ifsoulscontinuetoexist,howdoestheaircontainthemfrometernity?-Buthowdoestheearthcontainthebodiesofthosewhohavebeenburiedfromtimesoremote?Forasherethemutationofthesebodiesafteracertaincontinuance,whateveritmaybe,andtheirdissolutionmakeroomforotherdeadbodies;sothesoulswhichareremovedintotheairaftersubsistingforsometimearetransmutedanddiffused,andassumeafierynaturebybeingreceivedintotheseminalintelligenceoftheuniverse,andinthiswaymakeroomforthefreshsoulswhichcometodwellthere.Andthisistheanswerwhichamanmightgiveonthehypothesisofsoulscontinuingtoexist.Butwemustnotonlythinkofthenumberofbodieswhicharethusburied,butalsoofthenumberofanimalswhicharedailyeatenbyusandtheotheranimals.Forwhatanumberisconsumed,andthusinamannerburiedinthebodiesofthosewhofeedonthem!Andneverthelessthisearthreceivesthembyreasonofthechangesofthesebodiesintoblood,andthetransformationsintotheaerialorthefieryelement.

    Whatistheinvestigationintothetruthinthismatter?Thedivisionintothatwhichismaterialandthatwhichisthecauseofform,theformal.

    Donotbewhirledabout,butineverymovementhaverespecttojustice,andontheoccasionofeveryimpressionmaintainthefacultyofcomprehensionorunderstanding.

    Everythingharmonizeswithme,whichisharmonioustothee,OUniverse.Nothingformeistooearlynortoolate,whichisinduetimeforthee.Everythingisfruittomewhichthyseasonsbring,ONature:fromtheeareallthings,intheeareallthings,totheeallthingsreturn.Thepoetsays,DearcityofCecrops;andwiltnotthousay,DearcityofZeus?

    Occupythyselfwithfewthings,saysthephilosopher,ifthouwouldstbetranquil-Butconsiderifitwouldnotbebettertosay,Dowhatisnecessary,andwhateverthereasonoftheanimalwhichisnaturallysocialrequires,andasitrequires.Forthisbringsnotonlythetranquilitywhichcomesfromdoingwell,butalsothatwhichcomesfromdoingfewthings.Forthegreatestpartofwhatwesayanddobeingunnecessary,ifamantakesthisaway,hewillhavemoreleisureandlessuneasiness.Accordinglyoneveryoccasionamanshouldaskhimself,Isthisoneoftheunnecessarythings?Nowamanshouldtakeawaynotonlyunnecessaryacts,butalso,unnecessarythoughts,forthussuperfluousactswillnotfollowafter.

    Tryhowthelifeofthegoodmansuitsthee,thelifeofhimwhoissatisfiedwithhisportionoutofthewhole,andsatisfiedwithhisownjustactsandbenevolentdisposition.

    Hastthouseenthosethings?Lookalsoatthese.Donotdisturbthyself.Makethyselfallsimplicity.Doesanyonedowrong?Itistohimselfthathedoesthewrong.Hasanythinghappenedtothee?Well;outoftheuniversefromthebeginningeverythingwhichhappenshasbeenapportionedandspunouttothee.Inaword,thylifeisshort.Thoumustturntoprofitthepresentbytheaidofreasonandjustice.Besoberinthyrelaxation.

    Eitheritisawell-arrangeduniverseorachaoshuddledtogether,butstillauniverse.Butcanacertainordersubsistinthee,anddisorderintheAll?Andthistoowhenallthingsaresoseparatedanddiffusedandsympathetic.

    Ablackcharacter,awomanishcharacter,astubborncharacter,bestial,childish,animal,stupid,counterfeit,scurrilous,fraudulent,tyrannical.

    Ifheisastrangertotheuniversewhodoesnotknowwhatisinit,nolessisheastrangerwhodoesnotknowwhatisgoingoninit.Heisarunaway,whofliesfromsocialreason;heisblind,whoshutstheeyesoftheunderstanding;heispoor,whohasneedofanother,andhasnotfromhimselfallthingswhichareusefulforlife.Heisanabscessontheuniversewhowithdrawsandseparateshimselffromthereasonofourcommonnaturethroughbeingdispleasedwiththethingswhichhappen,forthesamenatureproducesthis,andhasproducedtheetoo:heisapiecerentasunderfromthestate,whotearshisownsoulfromthatofreasonableanimals,whichisone.

    Theoneisaphilosopherwithoutatunic,andtheotherwithoutabook:hereisanotherhalfnaked:BreadIhavenot,hesays,andIabidebyreason-AndIdonotgetthemeansoflivingoutofmylearning,andIabidebymyreason.

    Lovetheart,poorasitmaybe,whichthouhastlearned,andbecontentwithit;andpassthroughtherestoflifelikeonewhohasintrustedtothegodswithhiswholesoulallthathehas,makingthyselfneitherthetyrantnortheslaveofanyman.

    Consider,forexample,thetimesofVespasian.Thouwiltseeallthesethings,peoplemarrying,bringingupchildren,sick,dying,warring,feasting,trafficking,cultivatingtheground,flattering,obstinatelyarrogant,suspecting,plotting,wishingforsometodie,grumblingaboutthepresent,loving,heapinguptreasure,desiringcounsulship,kinglypower.Wellthen,thatlifeofthesepeoplenolongerexistsatall.Again,removetothetimesofTrajan.Again,allisthesame.Theirlifetooisgone.Inlikemannerviewalsotheotherepochsoftimeandofwholenations,andseehowmanyaftergreateffortssoonfellandwereresolvedintotheelements.Butchieflythoushouldstthinkofthosewhomthouhastthyselfknowndistractingthemselvesaboutidlethings,neglectingtodowhatwasinaccordancewiththeirproperconstitution,andtoholdfirmlytothisandtobecontentwithit.Andhereinitisnecessarytorememberthattheattentiongiventoeverythinghasitspropervalueandproportion.Forthusthouwiltnotbedissatisfied,ifthouappliestthyselftosmallermattersnofurtherthanisfit.

    Thewordswhichwereformerlyfamiliararenowantiquated:soalsothenamesofthosewhowerefamedofold,arenowinamannerantiquated,Camillus,Caeso,Volesus,Leonnatus,andalittleafteralsoScipioandCato,thenAugustus,thenalsoHadrianandAntoninus.Forallthingssoonpassawayandbecomeameretale,andcompleteoblivionsoonburiesthem.AndIsaythisofthosewhohaveshoneinawondrousway.Fortherest,assoonastheyhavebreathedouttheirbreath,theyaregone,andnomanspeaksofthem.And,toconcludethematter,whatisevenaneternalremembrance?Amerenothing.Whatthenisthataboutwhichweoughttoemployourseriouspains?Thisonething,thoughtsjust,andactssocial,andwordswhichneverlie,andadispositionwhichgladlyacceptsallthathappens,asnecessary,asusual,asflowingfromaprincipleandsourceofthesamekind.

    WillinglygivethyselfuptoClotho,oneoftheFates,allowinghertospinthythreadintowhateverthingsshepleases.

    Everythingisonlyforaday,boththatwhichremembersandthatwhichisremembered.

    Observeconstantlythatallthingstakeplacebychange,andaccustomthyselftoconsiderthatthenatureoftheUniverselovesnothingsomuchastochangethethingswhichareandtomakenewthingslikethem.Foreverythingthatexistsisinamannertheseedofthatwhichwillbe.Butthouartthinkingonlyofseedswhicharecastintotheearthorintoawomb:butthisisaveryvulgarnotion.

    Thouwiltsoondie,andthouartnotyetsimple,notfreefromperturbations,norwithoutsuspicionofbeinghurtbyexternalthings,norkindlydisposedtowardsall;nordostthouyetplacewisdomonlyinactingjustly.

    Examinemen-srulingprinciples,eventhoseofthewise,whatkindofthingstheyavoid,andwhatkindtheypursue.

    Whatiseviltotheedoesnotsubsistintherulingprincipleofanother;noryetinanyturningandmutationofthycorporealcovering.Whereisitthen?Itisinthatpartoftheeinwhichsubsiststhepowerofformingopinionsaboutevils.Letthispowerthennotformsuchopinions,andalliswell.Andifthatwhichisnearesttoit,thepoorbody,isburnt,filledwithmatterandrottenness,neverthelessletthepartwhichformsopinionsaboutthesethingsbequiet,thatis,letitjudgethatnothingiseitherbadorgoodwhichcanhappenequallytothebadmanandthegood.Forthatwhichhappensequallytohimwholivescontrarytonatureandtohimwholivesaccordingtonature,isneitheraccordingtonaturenorcontrarytonature.

    Constantlyregardtheuniverseasonelivingbeing,havingonesubstanceandonesoul;andobservehowallthingshavereferencetooneperception,theperceptionofthisonelivingbeing;andhowallthingsactwithonemovement;andhowallthingsarethecooperatingcausesofallthingswhichexist;observetoothecontinuousspinningofthethreadandthecontextureoftheweb.

    Thouartalittlesoulbearingaboutacorpse,asEpictetususedtosay.

    Itisnoevilforthingstoundergochange,andnogoodforthingstosubsistinconsequenceofchange.

    Timeislikearivermadeupoftheeventswhichhappen,andaviolentstream;forassoonasathinghasbeenseen,itiscarriedaway,andanothercomesinitsplace,andthiswillbecarriedawaytoo.

    Everythingwhichhappensisasfamiliarandwellknownastheroseinspringandthefruitinsummer;forsuchisdisease,anddeath,andcalumny,andtreachery,andwhateverelsedelightsfoolsorvexesthem.

    Intheseriesofthingsthosewhichfollowarealwaysaptlyfittedtothosewhichhavegonebefore;forthisseriesisnotlikeamereenumerationofdisjointedthings,whichhasonlyanecessarysequence,butitisarationalconnection:andasallexistingthingsarearrangedtogetherharmoniously,sothethingswhichcomeintoexistenceexhibitnomeresuccession,butacertainwonderfulrelationship.

    AlwaysrememberthesayingofHeraclitus,thatthedeathofearthistobecomewater,andthedeathofwateristobecomeair,andthedeathofairistobecomefire,andreversely.Andthinktooofhimwhoforgetswhitherthewayleads,andthatmenquarrelwiththatwithwhichtheyaremostconstantlyincommunion,thereasonwhichgovernstheuniverse;andthethingswhichdailymeetwithseemtothemstrange:andconsiderthatweoughtnottoactandspeakasifwewereasleep,foreveninsleepweseemtoactandspeak;andthatweoughtnot,likechildrenwholearnfromtheirparents,simplytoactandspeakaswehavebeentaught.

    Ifanygodtoldtheethatthoushaltdieto-morrow,orcertainlyonthedayafterto-morrow,thouwouldstnotcaremuchwhetheritwasonthethirddayoronthemorrow,unlessthouwastinthehighestdegreemean-spirited-forhowsmallisthedifference?-Sothinkitnogreatthingtodieafterasmanyyearsasthoucanstnameratherthanto-morrow.

    Thinkcontinuallyhowmanyphysiciansaredeadafteroftencontractingtheireyebrowsoverthesick;andhowmanyastrologersafterpredictingwithgreatpretensionsthedeathsofothers;andhowmanyphilosophersafterendlessdiscoursesondeathorimmortality;howmanyheroesafterkillingthousands;andhowmanytyrantswhohaveusedtheirpowerovermen-sliveswithterribleinsolenceasiftheywereimmortal;andhowmanycitiesareentirelydead,sotospeak,HeliceandPompeiiandHerculaneum,andothersinnumerable.Addtothereckoningallwhomthouhastknown,oneafteranother.Onemanafterburyinganotherhasbeenlaidoutdead,andanotherburieshim:andallthisinashorttime.Toconclude,alwaysobservehowephemeralandworthlesshumanthingsare,andwhatwasyesterdayalittlemucusto-morrowwillbeamummyorashes.Passthenthroughthislittlespaceoftimeconformablytonature,andendthyjourneyincontent,justasanolivefallsoffwhenitisripe,blessingnaturewhoproducedit,andthankingthetreeonwhichitgrew.

    Belikethepromontoryagainstwhichthewavescontinuallybreak,butitstandsfirmandtamesthefuryofthewateraroundit.

    UnhappyamIbecausethishashappenedtome-Notso,buthappyamI,thoughthishashappenedtome,becauseIcontinuefreefrompain,neithercrushedbythepresentnorfearingthefuture.Forsuchathingasthismighthavehappenedtoeveryman;buteverymanwouldnothavecontinuedfreefrompainonsuchanoccasion.Whythenisthatratheramisfortunethanthisagoodfortune?Anddostthouinallcasescallthataman-smisfortune,whichisnotadeviationfromman-snature?Anddoesathingseemtotheetobeadeviationfromman-snature,whenitisnotcontrarytothewillofman-snature?Well,thouknowestthewillofnature.Willthenthiswhichhashappenedpreventtheefrombeingjust,magnanimous,temperate,prudent,secureagainstinconsiderateopinionsandfalsehood;willitpreventtheefromhavingmodesty,freedom,andeverythingelse,bythepresenceofwhichman-snatureobtainsallthatisitsown?Remembertoooneveryoccasionwhichleadstheetovexationtoapplythisprinciple:notthatthisisamisfortune,butthattobearitnoblyisgoodfortune.

    Itisavulgar,butstillausefulhelptowardscontemptofdeath,topassinreviewthosewhohavetenaciouslystucktolife.Whatmorethenhavetheygainedthanthosewhohavediedearly?Certainlytheylieintheirtombssomewhereatlast,Cadicianus,Fabius,Julianus,Lepidus,oranyoneelselikethem,whohavecarriedoutmanytobeburied,andthenwerecarriedoutthemselves.Altogethertheintervalissmallbetweenbirthanddeath;andconsiderwithhowmuchtrouble,andincompanywithwhatsortofpeopleandinwhatafeeblebodythisintervalislaboriouslypassed.Donotthenconsiderlifeathingofanyvalue.Forlooktotheimmensityoftimebehindthee,andtothetimewhichisbeforethee,anotherboundlessspace.Inthisinfinitythenwhatisthedifferencebetweenhimwholivesthreedaysandhimwholivesthreegenerations?

    Alwaysruntotheshortway;andtheshortwayisthenatural:accordinglysayanddoeverythinginconformitywiththesoundestreason.Forsuchapurposefreesamanfromtrouble,andwarfare,andallartificeandostentatiousdisplay.

    BookFive

    Inhemorningwhenthourisestunwillingly,letthisthoughtbepresent-Iamrisingtotheworkofahumanbeing.WhythenamIdissatisfiedifIamgoingtodothethingsforwhichIexistandforwhichIwasbroughtintotheworld?OrhaveIbeenmadeforthis,tolieinthebed-clothesandkeepmyselfwarm?-Butthisismorepleasant-Dostthouexistthentotakethypleasure,andnotatallforactionorexertion?Dostthounotseethelittleplants,thelittlebirds,theants,thespiders,thebeesworkingtogethertoputinordertheirseveralpartsoftheuniverse?Andartthouunwillingtodotheworkofahumanbeing,anddostthounotmakehastetodothatwhichisaccordingtothynature?-Butitisnecessarytotakerestalso-Itisnecessary:howevernaturehasfixedboundstothistoo:shehasfixedboundsbothtoeatinganddrinking,andyetthougoestbeyondthesebounds,beyondwhatissufficient;yetinthyactsitisnotso,butthoustoppestshortofwhatthoucanstdo.Sothoulovestnotthyself,forifthoudidst,thouwouldstlovethynatureandherwill.Butthosewholovetheirseveralartsexhaustthemselvesinworkingatthemunwashedandwithoutfood;butthouvaluestthyownownnaturelessthantheturnervaluestheturningart,orthedancerthedancingart,ortheloverofmoneyvalueshismoney,orthevaingloriousmanhislittleglory.Andsuchmen,whentheyhaveaviolentaffectiontoathing,chooseneithertoeatnortosleepratherthantoperfectthethingswhichtheycarefor.Butaretheactswhichconcernsocietymorevileinthyeyesandlessworthyofthylabour?

    Howeasyitistorepelandtowipeawayeveryimpressionwhichistroublesomeorunsuitable,andimmediatelytobeinalltranquility.

    Judgeeverywordanddeedwhichareaccordingtonaturetobefitforthee;andbenotdivertedbytheblamewhichfollowsfromanypeoplenorbytheirwords,butifathingisgoodtobedoneorsaid,donotconsideritunworthyofthee.Forthosepersonshavetheirpeculiarleadingprincipleandfollowtheirpeculiarmovement;whichthingsdonotthouregard,butgostraighton,followingthyownnatureandthecommonnature;andthewayofbothisone.

    IgothroughthethingswhichhappenaccordingtonatureuntilIshallfallandrest,breathingoutmybreathintothatelementoutofwhichIdailydrawitin,andfallinguponthatearthoutofwhichmyfathercollectedtheseed,andmymothertheblood,andmynursethemilk;outofwhichduringsomanyyearsIhavebeensuppliedwithfoodanddrink;whichbearsmewhenItreadonitandabuseitforsomanypurposes.

    Thousayest,Mencannotadmirethesharpnessofthywits-Beitso:buttherearemanyotherthingsofwhichthoucanstnotsay,Iamnotformedforthembynature.Showthosequalitiesthenwhicharealtogetherinthypower,sincerity,gravity,enduranceoflabour,aversiontopleasure,contentmentwiththyportionandwithfewthings,benevolence,frankness,noloveofsuperfluity,freedomfromtriflingmagnanimity.Dostthounotseehowmanyqualitiesthouartimmediatelyabletoexhibit,inwhichthereisnoexcuseofnaturalincapacityandunfitness,andyetthoustillremainestvoluntarilybelowthemark?Orartthoucompelledthroughbeingdefectivelyfurnishedbynaturetomurmur,andtobestingy,andtoflatter,andtofindfaultwiththypoorbody,andtotrytopleasemen,andtomakegreatdisplay,andtobesorestlessinthymind?No,bythegods:butthoumightesthavebeendeliveredfromthesethingslongago.Onlyifintruththoucanstbechargedwithbeingratherslowanddullofcomprehension,thoumustexertthyselfaboutthisalso,notneglectingitnoryettakingpleasureinthydulness.

    Oneman,whenhehasdoneaservicetoanother,isreadytosetitdowntohisaccountasafavourconferred.Anotherisnotreadytodothis,butstillinhisownmindhethinksofthemanashisdebtor,andheknowswhathehasdone.Athirdinamannerdoesnotevenknowwhathehasdone,butheislikeavinewhichhasproducedgrapes,andseeksfornothingmoreafterithasonceproduceditsproperfruit.Asahorsewhenhehasrun,adogwhenhehastrackedthegame,abeewhenithasmadethehoney,soamanwhenhehasdoneagoodact,doesnotcalloutforotherstocomeandsee,buthegoesontoanotheract,asavinegoesontoproduceagainthegrapesinseason-Mustamanthenbeoneofthese,whoinamanneractthuswithoutobservingit?-Yes-Butthisverythingisnecessary,theobservationofwhatamanisdoing:for,itmaybesaid,itischaracteristicofthesocialanimaltoperceivethatheisworkinginasocialmanner,andindeedtowishthathissocialpartneralsoshouldperceiveit-Itistruewhatthousayest,butthoudostnotrightlyunderstandwhatisnowsaid:andforthisreasonthouwiltbecomeoneofthoseofwhomIspokebefore,foreventheyaremisledbyacertainshowofreason.Butifthouwiltchoosetounderstandthemeaningofwhatissaid,donotfearthatforthisreasonthouwiltomitanysocialact.

    AprayeroftheAthenians:Rain,rain,OdearZeus,downontheploughedfieldsoftheAtheniansandontheplains-Intruthweoughtnottoprayatall,orweoughttoprayinthissimpleandnoblefashion.

    Justaswemustunderstandwhenitissaid,ThatAesculapiusprescribedtothismanhorse-exercise,orbathingincoldwaterorgoingwithoutshoes;sowemustunderstanditwhenitissaid,Thatthenatureoftheuniverseprescribedtothismandiseaseormutilationorlossoranythingelseofthekind.ForinthefirstcasePrescribedmeanssomethinglikethis:heprescribedthisforthismanasathingadaptedtoprocurehealth;andinthesecondcaseitmeans:Thatwhichhappensto(or,suits)everymanisfixedinamannerforhimsuitablytohisdestiny.Forthisiswhatwemeanwhenwesaythatthingsaresuitabletous,astheworkmensayofsquaredstonesinwallsorthepyramids,thattheyaresuitable,whentheyfitthemtooneanotherinsomekindofconnexion.Forthereisaltogetheronefitness,harmony.Andastheuniverseismadeupoutofallbodiestobesuchabodyasitis,sooutofallexistingcausesnecessity(destiny)ismadeuptobesuchacauseasitis.AndeventhosewhoarecompletelyignorantunderstandwhatImean,fortheysay,It(necessity,destiny)broughtthistosuchaperson-Thisthenwasbroughtandthiswasprecribedtohim.Letusthenreceivethesethings,aswellasthosewhichAesculapiusprescribes.Manyasamatterofcourseevenamonghisprescriptionsaredisagreeable,butweaccepttheminthehopeofhealth.Lettheperfectingandaccomplishmentofthethings,whichthecommonnaturejudgestobegood,bejudgedbytheetobeofthesamekindasthyhealth.Andsoaccepteverythingwhichhappens,evenifitseemdisagreeable,becauseitleadstothis,tothehealthoftheuniverseandtotheprosperityandfelicityofZeus(theuniverse).Forhewouldnothavebroughtonanymanwhathehasbrought,ifitwerenotusefulforthewhole.Neitherdoesthenatureofanything,whateveritmaybe,causeanythingwhichisnotsuitabletothatwhichisdirectedbyit.Fortworeasonsthenitisrighttobecontentwiththatwhichhappenstothee;theone,becauseitwasdonefortheeandprescribedforthee,andinamannerhadreferencetothee,originallyfromthemostancientcausesspunwiththydestiny;andtheother,becauseeventhatwhichcomesseverallytoeverymanistothepowerwhichadministerstheuniverseacauseoffelicityandperfection,nayevenofitsverycontinuance.Fortheintegrityofthewholeismutilated,ifthoucuttestoffanythingwhateverfromtheconjunctionandthecontinuityeitherofthepartsorofthecauses.Andthoudostcutoff,asfarasitisinthypower,whenthouartdissatisfied,andinamannertriesttoputanythingoutoftheway.

    Benotdisgusted,nordiscouraged,nordissatisfied,ifthoudostnotsucceedindoingeverythingaccordingtorightprinciples;butwhenthoubastfailed,returnbackagain,andbecontentifthegreaterpartofwhatthoudoestisconsistentwithman-snature,andlovethistowhichthoureturnest;anddonotreturntophilosophyasifshewereamaster,butactlikethosewhohavesoreeyesandapplyabitofspongeandegg,orasanotherappliesaplaster,ordrenchingwithwater.Forthusthouwiltnotfailtoobeyreason,andthouwiltreposeinit.Andrememberthatphilosophyrequiresonlythethingswhichthynaturerequires;butthouwouldsthavesomethingelsewhichisnotaccordingtonature-Itmaybeobjected,WhywhatismoreagreeablethanthiswhichIamdoing?-Butisnotthistheveryreasonwhypleasuredeceivesus?Andconsiderifmagnanimity,freedom,simplicity,equanimity,piety,arenotmoreagreeable.Forwhatismoreagreeablethanwisdomitself,whenthouthinkestofthesecurityandthehappycourseofallthingswhichdependonthefacultyofunderstandingandknowledge?

    Thingsareinsuchakindofenvelopmentthattheyhaveseemedtophilosophers,notafewnorthosecommonphilosophers,altogetherunintelligible;nayeventotheStoicsthemselvestheyseemdifficulttounderstand.Andallourassentischangeable;forwhereisthemanwhoneverchanges?Carrythythoughtsthentotheobjectsthemselves,andconsiderhowshort-livedtheyareandworthless,andthattheymaybeinthepossessionofafilthywretchorawhoreorarobber.Thenturntothemoralsofthosewholivewiththee,anditishardlypossibletoendureeventhemostagreeableofthem,tosaynothingofamanbeinghardlyabletoendurehimself.Insuchdarknessthenanddirtandinsoconstantafluxbothofsubstanceandoftime,andofmotionandofthingsmoved,whatthereisworthbeinghighlyprizedorevenanobjectofseriouspursuit,Icannotimagine.Butonthecontraryitisaman-sdutytocomforthimself,andtowaitforthe

    naturaldissolutionandnottobevexedatthedelay,buttorestintheseprinciplesonly:theone,thatnothingwillhappentomewhichisnotconformabletothenatureoftheuniverse;andtheother,thatitisinmypowernevertoactcontrarytomygodanddaemon:forthereisnomanwhowillcompelmetothis.

    AboutwhatamInowemployingmyownsoul?OneveryoccasionImustaskmyselfthisquestion,andinquire,whathaveInowinthispartofmewhichtheycalltherulingprinciple?AndwhosesoulhaveInow?Thatofachild,orofayoungman,orofafeeblewoman,orofatyrant,orofadomesticanimal,orofawildbeast?

    Whatkindofthingsthosearewhichappeargoodtothemany,wemaylearnevenfromthis.Forifanymanshouldconceivecertainthingsasbeingreallygood,suchasprudence,temperance,justice,fortitude,hewouldnotafterhavingfirstconceivedtheseenduretolistentoanythingwhichshouldnotbeinharmonywithwhatisreallygood.Butifamanhasfirstconceivedasgoodthethingswhichappeartothemanytobegood,hewilllistenandreadilyreceiveasveryapplicablethatwhichwassaidbythecomicwriter.Thuseventhemanyperceivethedifference.Forwereitnotso,thissayingwouldnotoffendandwouldnotberejectedinthefirstcase,whilewereceiveitwhenitissaidofwealth,andofthemeanswhichfurtherluxuryandfame,assaidfitlyandwittily.Goonthenandaskifweshouldvalueandthinkthosethingstobegood,towhichaftertheirfirstconceptioninthemindthewordsofthecomicwritermightbeaptlyapplied-thathewhohasthem,throughpureabundancehasnotaplacetoeasehimselfin.

    Iamcomposedoftheformalandthematerial;andneitherofthemwillperishintonon-existence,asneitherofthemcameintoexistenceoutofnon-existence.Everypartofmethenwillbereducedbychangeintosomepartoftheuniverse,andthatagainwillchangeintoanotherpartoftheuniverse,andsoonforever.AndbyconsequenceofsuchachangeItooexist,andthosewhobegotme,andsoonforeverintheotherdirection.Fornothinghindersusfromsayingso,eveniftheuniverseisadministeredaccordingtodefiniteperiodsofrevolution.

    Reasonandthereasoningart(philosophy)arepowerswhicharesufficientforthemselvesandfortheirownworks.Theymovethenfromafirstprinciplewhichistheirown,andtheymaketheirwaytotheendwhichisproposedtothem;andthisisthereasonwhysuchactsarenamedcatorthoseisorrightacts,whichwordsignifiesthattheyproceedbytherightroad.

    Noneofthesethingsoughttobecalledaman-s,whichdonotbelongtoaman,asman.Theyarenotrequiredofaman,nordoesman-snaturepromisethem,noraretheythemeansofman-snatureattainingitsend.Neitherthendoestheendofmanlieinthesethings,noryetthatwhichaidstotheaccomplishmentofthisend,andthatwhichaidstowardsthisendisthatwhichisgood.Besides,ifanyofthesethingsdidbelongtoman,itwouldnotberightforamantodespisethemandtosethimselfagainstthem;norwouldamanbeworthyofpraisewhoshowedthathedidnotwantthesethings,norwouldhewhostintedhimselfinanyofthembegood,ifindeedthesethingsweregood.Butnowthemoreofthesethingsamandepriveshimselfof,orofotherthingslikethem,orevenwhenheisdeprivedofanyofthem,themorepatientlyheendurestheloss,justinthesamedegreeheisabetterman.

    Suchasarethyhabitualthoughts,suchalsowillbethecharacterofthymind;forthesoulisdyedbythethoughts.Dyeitthenwithacontinuousseriesofsuchthoughtsasthese:forinstance,thatwhereamancanlive,therehecanalsolivewell.Buthemustliveinapalace;-wellthen,hecanalsolivewellinapalace.Andagain,considerthatforwhateverpurposeeachthinghasbeenconstituted,forthisithasbeenconstituted,andtowardsthisitiscarried;anditsendisinthattowardswhichitiscarried;andwheretheendis,therealsoistheadvantageandthegoodofeachthing.Nowthegoodforthereasonableanimalissociety;forthatwearemadeforsocietyhasbeenshownabove.Isitnotplainthattheinferiorexistforthesakeofthesuperior?Butthethingswhichhavelifearesuperiortothosewhichhavenotlife,andofthosewhichhavelifethesuperiorarethosewhichhavereason.

    Toseekwhatisimpossibleismadness:anditisimpossiblethatthebadshouldnotdosomethingofthiskind.

    Nothinghappenstoanymanwhichheisnotformedbynaturetobear.Thesamethingshappentoanother,andeitherbecausehedoesnotseethattheyhavehappenedorbecausehewouldshowagreatspiritheisfirmandremainsunharmed.Itisashamethenthatignoranceandconceitshouldbestrongerthanwisdom.

    Thingsthemselvestouchnotthesoul,notintheleastdegree;norhavetheyadmissiontothesoul,norcantheyturnormovethesoul:butthesoulturnsandmovesitselfalone,andwhateverjudgementsitmaythinkpropertomake,suchitmakesforitselfthethingswhichpresentthemselvestoit.

    Inonerespectmanisthenearestthingtome,sofarasImustdogoodtomenandendurethem.Butsofarassomemenmakethemselvesobstaclestomyproperacts,manbecomestomeoneofthethingswhichareindifferent,nolessthanthesunorwindorawildbeast.Nowitistruethatthesemayimpedemyaction,buttheyarenoimpedimentstomyaffectsanddisposition,whichhavethepowerofactingconditionallyandchanging:forthemindconvertsandchangeseveryhindrancetoitsactivityintoanaid;andsothatwhichisahindranceismadeafurtherancetoanact;andthatwhichisanobstacleontheroadhelpsusonthisroad.

    Reverencethatwhichisbestintheuniverse;andthisisthatwhichmakesuseofallthingsanddirectsallthings.Andinlikemanneralsoreverencethatwhichisbestinthyself;andthisisofthesamekindasthat.Forinthyselfalso,thatwhichmakesuseofeverythingelse,isthis,andthylifeisdirectedbythis.

    Thatwhichdoesnoharmtothestate,doesnoharmtothecitizen.Inthecaseofeveryappearanceofharmapplythisrule:ifthestateisnotharmedbythis,neitheramIharmed.Butifthestateisharmed,thoumustnotbeangrywithhimwhodoesharmtothestate.Showhimwherehiserroris.

    Oftenthinkoftherapiditywithwhichthingspassbyanddisappear,boththethingswhichareandthethingswhichareproduced.Forsubstanceislikeariverinacontinualflow,andtheactivitiesofthingsareinconstantchange,andthecausesworkininfinitevarieties;andthereishardlyanythingwhichstandsstill.Andconsiderthiswhichisneartothee,thisboundlessabyssofthepastandofthefutureinwhichallthingsdisappear.Howthenishenotafoolwhoispuffedupwithsuchthingsorplaguedaboutthemandmakeshimselfmiserable?fortheyvexhimonlyforatime,andashorttime.

    Thinkoftheuniversalsubstance,ofwhichthouhastaverysmallportion;andofuniversaltime,ofwhichashortandindivisibleintervalhasbeenassignedtothee;andofthatwhichisfixedbydestiny,andhowsmallapartofitthouart.

    Doesanotherdomewrong?Lethimlooktoit.Hehashisowndisposition,hisownactivity.Inowhavewhattheuniversalnaturewillsmetohave;andIdowhatmynaturenowwillsmetodo.

    Letthepartofthysoulwhichleadsandgovernsbeundisturbedbythemovementsintheflesh,whetherofpleasureorofpain;andletitnotunitewiththem,butletitcircumscribeitselfandlimitthoseaffectstotheirparts.Butwhentheseaffectsriseuptothemindbyvirtueofthatothersympathythatnaturallyexistsinabodywhichisallone,thenthoumustnotstrivetoresistthesensation,foritisnatural:butletnottherulingpartofitselfaddtothesensationtheopinionthatitiseithergoodorbad.

    Livewiththegods.Andhedoeslivewiththegodswhoconstantlyshowstothem,hisownsoulissatisfiedwiththatwhichisassignedtohim,andthatitdoesallthatthedaemonwishes,whichZeushathgiventoeverymanforhisguardianandguide,aportionofhimself.Andthisiseveryman-sunderstandingandreason.

    Artthouangrywithhimwhosearmpitsstink?Artthouangrywithhimwhosemouthsmellsfoul?Whatgoodwillthisdangerdothee?Hehassuchamouth,hehassucharm-pits:itisnecessarythatsuchanemanationmustcomefromsuchthings-butthemanhasreason,itwillbesaid,andheisable,ifhetakespain,todiscoverwhereinheoffends-Iwishtheewellofthydiscovery.Wellthen,andthouhastreason:bythyrationalfacultystiruphisrationalfaculty;showhimhiserror,admonishhim.Forifhelistens,thouwiltcurehim,andthereisnoneedofanger.Neithertragicactornorwhore

    Asthouintendesttolivewhenthouartgoneout,soitisinthypowertolivehere.Butifmendonotpermitthee,thengetawayoutoflife,yetsoasifthouwertsufferingnoharm.Thehouseissmoky,andIquitit.Whydostthouthinkthatthisisanytrouble?Butsolongasnothingofthekinddrivesmeout,Iremain,amfree,andnomanshallhindermefromdoingwhatIchoose;andIchoosetodowhatisaccordingtothenatureoftherationalandsocialanimal.

    Theintelligenceoftheuniverseissocial.Accordinglyithasmadetheinferiorthingsforthesakeofthesuperior,andithasfittedthesuperiortooneanother.Thouseesthowithassubordinated,co-ordinatedandassignedtoeverythingitsproperportion,andhasbroughttogetherintoconcordwithoneanotherthethingswhicharethebest.

    Howhastthoubehavedhithertotothegods,thyparents,brethren,children,teachers,tothosewholookedafterthyinfancy,tothyfriends,kinsfolk,tothyslaves?Considerifthouhasthithertobehavedtoallinsuchawaythatthismaybesaidofthee:

    Neverhaswrongedamanindeedorword.Andcalltorecollectionbothhowmanythingsthouhastpassedthrough,andhowmanythingsthouhastbeenabletoendure:andthatthehistoryofthylifeisnowcompleteandthyserviceisended:andhowmanybeautifulthingsthouhastseen:andhowmanypleasuresandpainsthouhastdespised;andhowmanythingscalledhonourablethouhastspurned;andtohowmanyill-mindedfolksthouhastshownakinddisposition.

    Whydounskilledandignorantsoulsdisturbhimwhohasskillandknowledge?Whatsoulthenhasskillandknowledge?Thatwhichknowsbeginningandend,andknowsthereasonwhichpervadesallsubstanceandthroughalltimebyfixedperiods(revolutions)administerstheuniverse.

    Soon,verysoon,thouwiltbeashes,oraskeleton,andeitheranameornotevenaname;butnameissoundandecho.Andthethingswhicharemuchvaluedinlifeareemptyandrottenandtrifling,andlikelittledogsbitingoneanother,andlittlechildrenquarrelling,laughing,andthenstraightwayweeping.Butfidelityandmodestyandjusticeandtrutharefled

    UptoOlympusfromthewide-spreadearth.Whatthenistherewhichstilldetainstheehere?Iftheobjectsofsenseareeasilychangedandneverstandstill,andtheorgansofperceptionaredullandeasilyreceivefalseimpressions;andthepoorsoulitselfisanexhalationfromblood.Buttohavegoodreputeamidstsuchaworldasthisisanemptything.Whythendostthounotwaitintranquilityforthyend,whetheritisextinctionorremovaltoanotherstate?Anduntilthattimecomes,whatissufficient?Why,whatelsethantoveneratethegodsandblessthem,andtodogoodtomen,andtopractisetoleranceandself-restraint;butastoeverythingwhichisbeyondthelimitsofthepoorfleshandbreath,torememberthatthisisneitherthinenorinthypower.

    Thoucanstpassthylifeinanequableflowofhappiness,ifthoucanstgobytherightway,andthinkandactintherightway.ThesetwothingsarecommonbothtothesoulofGodandtothesoulofman,andtothesoulofeveryrationalbeing,nottobehinderedbyanother;andtoholdgoodtoconsistinthedispositiontojusticeandthepracticeofit,andinthistoletthydesirefinditstermination.

    Ifthisisneithermyownbadness,noraneffectofmyownbadness,andthecommonwealisnotinjured,whyamItroubledaboutit?Andwhatistheharmtothecommonweal?

    Donotbecarriedalonginconsideratelybytheappearanceofthings,butgivehelptoallaccordingtothyabilityandtheirfitness;andiftheyshouldhavesustainedlossinmatterswhichareindifferent,donotimaginethistobeadamage.Foritisabadhabit.Butastheoldman,whenhewentaway,askedbackhisfoster-child-stop,rememberingthatitwasatop,sodothouinthiscasealso.

    WhenthouartcallingoutontheRostra,hastthouforgotten,man,whatthesethingsare?-Yes;buttheyareobjectsofgreatconcerntothesepeople-wiltthoutoothenbemadeafoolforthesethings?-Iwasonceafortunateman,butIlostit,Iknownothow-Butfortunatemeansthatamanhasassignedtohimselfagoodfortune:andagoodfortuneisgooddispositionofthesoul,goodemotions,goodactions.

    BookSix

    Thesubstanceoftheuniverseisobedientandcompliant;andthereasonwhichgovernsithasinitselfnocausefordoingevil,forithasnomalice,nordoesitdoeviltoanything,norisanythingharmedbyit.Butallthingsaremadeandperfectedaccordingtothisreason.

    Letitmakenodifferencetotheewhetherthouartcoldorwarm,ifthouartdoingthyduty;andwhetherthouartdrowsyorsatisfiedwithsleep;andwhetherill-spokenoforpraised;andwhetherdyingordoingsomethingelse.Foritisoneoftheactsoflife,thisactbywhichwedie:itissufficienttheninthisactalsotodowellwhatwehaveinhand.

    Lookwithin.Letneitherthepeculiarqualityofanythingnoritsvalueescapethee.

    Allexistingthingssoonchange,andtheywilleitherbereducedtovapour,ifindeedallsubstanceisone,ortheywillbedispersed.

    Thereasonwhichgovernsknowswhatitsowndispositionis,andwhatitdoes,andonwhatmaterialitworks.

    Thebestwayofavengingthyselfisnottobecomelikethewrongdoer.

    Takepleasureinonethingandrestinit,inpassingfromonesocialacttoanothersocialact,thinkingofGod.

    Therulingprincipleisthatwhichrousesandturnsitself,andwhileitmakesitselfsuchasitisandsuchasitwillstobe,italsomakeseverythingwhichhappensappeartoitselftobesuchasitwills.

    Inconformitytothenatureoftheuniverseeverysinglethingisaccomplished,forcertainlyitisnotinconformitytoanyothernaturethateachthingisaccomplished,eitheranaturewhichexternallycomprehendsthis,oranaturewhichiscomprehendedwithinthisnature,oranatureexternalandindependentofthis.

    Theuniverseiseitheraconfusion,andamutualinvolutionofthings,andadispersion;oritisunityandorderandprovidence.Ifthenitistheformer,whydoIdesiretotarryinafortuitouscombinationofthingsandsuchadisorder?AndwhydoIcareaboutanythingelsethanhowIshallatlastbecomeearth?AndwhyamIdisturbed,forthedispersionofmyelementswillhappenwhateverIdo.Butiftheothersuppositionistrue,Ivenerate,andIamfirm,andItrustinhimwhogoverns.

    Whenthouhastbeencompelledbycircumstancestobedisturbedinamanner,quicklyreturntothyselfanddonotcontinueoutoftunelongerthanthecompulsionlasts;forthouwilthavemoremasteryovertheharmonybycontinuallyrecurringtoit.

    Ifthouhadstastep-motherandamotheratthesametime,thouwouldstbedutifultothystep-mother,butstillthouwouldstconstantlyreturntothymother.Letthecourtandphilosophynowbetotheestep-motherandmother:returntophilosophyfrequentlyandreposeinher,throughwhomwhatthoumeetestwithinthecourtappearstotheetolerable,andthouappearesttolerableinthecourt.

    Whenwehavemeatbeforeusandsucheatableswereceivetheimpression,thatthisisthedeadbodyofafish,andthisisthedeadbodyofabirdorofapig;andagain,thatthisFalernianisonlyalittlegrapejuice,andthispurplerobesomesheep-swooldyedwiththebloodofashell-fish:suchthenaretheseimpressions,andtheyreachthethingsthemselvesandpenetratethem,andsoweseewhatkindofthingstheyare.Justinthesamewayoughtwetoactallthroughlife,andwheretherearethingswhichappearmostworthyofourapprobation,weoughttolaythembareandlookattheirworthlessnessandstripthemofallthewordsbywhichtheyareexalted.Foroutwardshowisawonderfulperverterofthereason,andwhenthouartmostsurethatthouartemployedaboutthingsworththypains,itisthenthatitcheatstheemost.ConsiderthenwhatCratessaysofXenocrateshimself.

    Mostofthethingswhichthemultitudeadmirearereferredtoobjectsofthemostgeneralkind,thosewhichareheldtogetherbycohesionornaturalorganization,suchasstones,wood,fig-trees,vines,olives.Butthosewhichareadmiredbymenwhoarealittlemorereasonablearereferredtothethingswhichareheldtogetherbyalivingprinciple,asflocks,herds.Thosewhichareadmiredbymenwhoarestillmoreinstructedarethethingswhichareheldtogetherbyarationalsoul,nothoweverauniversalsoul,butrationalsofarasitisasoulskilledinsomeart,orexpertinsomeotherway,orsimplyrationalsofarasitpossessesanumberofslaves.Buthewhovaluesrationalsoul,asouluniversalandfittedforpoliticallife,regardsnothingelseexceptthis;andaboveallthingshekeepshissoulinaconditionandinanactivityconformabletoreasonandsociallife,andheco-operatestothisendwiththosewhoareofthesamekindashimself.

    Somethingsarehurryingintoexistence,andothersarehurryingoutofit;andofthatwhichiscomingintoexistencepartisalreadyextinguished.Motionsandchangesarecontinuallyrenewingtheworld,justastheuninterruptedcourseoftimeisalwaysrenewingtheinfinitedurationofages.Inthisflowingstreamthen,onwhichthereisnoabiding,whatisthereofthethingswhichhurrybyonwhichamanwouldsetahighprice?Itwouldbejustasifamanshouldfallinlovewithoneofthesparrowswhichflyby,butithasalreadypassedoutofsight.Somethingofthiskindistheverylifeofeveryman,liketheexhalationofthebloodandtherespirationoftheair.Forsuchasitistohaveoncedrawnintheairandtohavegivenitback,whichwedoeverymoment,justthesameisitwiththewholerespiratorypower,whichthoudidstreceiveatthybirthyesterdayandthedaybefore,togiveitbacktotheelementfromwhichthoudidstfirstdrawit.

    Neitheristranspiration,asinplants,athingtobevalued,norrespiration,asindomesticatedanimalsandwildbeasts,northereceivingofimpressionsbytheappearancesofthings,norbeingmovedbydesiresaspuppetsbystrings,norassemblinginherds,norbeingnourishedbyfood;forthisisjustliketheactofseparatingandpartingwiththeuselesspartofourfood.Whatthenisworthbeingvalued?Tobereceivedwithclappingofhands?No.Neithermustwevaluetheclappingoftongues,forthepraisewhichcomesfromthemanyisaclappingoftongues.Supposethenthatthouhastgivenupthisworthlessthingcalledfame,whatremainsthatisworthvaluing?Thisinmyopinion,tomovethyselfandtorestrainthyselfinconformitytothyproperconstitution,towhichendbothallemploymentsandartslead.Foreveryartaimsatthis,thatthethingwhichhasbeenmadeshouldbeadaptedtotheworkforwhichithasbeenmade;andboththevine-planterwholooksafterthevine,andthehorse-breaker,andhewhotrainsthedog,seekthisend.Buttheeducationandtheteachingofyouthaimatsomething.Inthisthenisthevalueoftheeducationandtheteaching.Andifthisiswell,thouwiltnotseekanythingelse.Wiltthounotceasetovaluemanyotherthingstoo?Thenthouwiltbeneitherfree,norsufficientforthyownhappiness,norwithoutpassion.Forofnecessitythoumustbeenvious,jealous,andsuspiciousofthosewhocantakeawaythosethings,andplotagainstthosewhohavethatwhichisvaluedbythee.Ofnecessityamanmustbealtogetherinastateofperturbationwhowantsanyofthesethings;andbesides,hemustoftenfindfaultwiththegods.Buttoreverenceandhonourthyownmindwillmaketheecontentwiththyself,andinharmonywithsociety,andinagreementwiththegods,thatis,praisingallthattheygiveandhaveordered.

    Above,below,allaroundarethemovementsoftheelements.Butthemotionofvirtueisinnoneofthese:itissomethingmoredivine,andadvancingbyawayhardlyobserveditgoeshappilyonitsroad.

    Howstrangelymenact.Theywillnotpraisethosewhoarelivingatthesametimeandlivingwiththemselves;buttobethemselvespraisedbyposterity,bythosewhomtheyhaveneverseenoreverwillsee,thistheysetmuchvalueon.Butthisisverymuchthesameasifthoushouldstbegrievedbecausethosewhohavelivedbeforetheedidnotpraisethee.

    Ifathingisdifficulttobeaccomplishedbythyself,donotthinkthatitisimpossibleforman:butifanythingispossibleformanandconformabletohisnature,thinkthatthiscanbeattainedbythyselftoo.

    Inthegymnasticexercisessupposethatamanhastorntheewithhisnails,andbydashingagainstthyheadhasinflictedawound.Well,weneithershowanysignsofvexation,norareweoffended,nordowesuspecthimafterwardsasatreacherousfellow;andyetweareonourguardagainsthim,nothoweverasanenemy,noryetwithsuspicion,butwequietlygetoutofhisway.Somethinglikethisletthybehaviourbeinalltheotherpartsoflife;letusoverlookmanythingsinthosewhoarelikeantagonistsinthegymnasium.Foritisinourpower,asIsaid,togetoutoftheway,andtohavenosuspicionnorhatred.

    IfanymanisabletoconvincemeandshowmethatIdonotthinkoractright,Iwillgladlychange;forIseekthetruthbywhichnomanwaseverinjured.Butheisinjuredwhoabidesinhiserrorandignorance.

    Idomyduty:otherthingstroublemenot;fortheyareeitherthingswithoutlife,orthingswithoutreason,orthingsthathaverambledandknownottheway.

    Astotheanimalswhichhavenoreasonandgenerallyallthingsandobjects,dothou,sincethouhastreasonandtheyhavenone,makeuseofthemwithagenerousandliberalspirit.Buttowardshumanbeings,astheyhavereason,behaveinasocialspirit.Andonalloccasionscallonthegods,anddonotperplexthyselfaboutthelengthoftimeinwhichthoushaltdothis;foreventhreehourssospentaresufficient.

    AlexandertheMacedonianandhisgroombydeathwerebroughttothesamestate;foreithertheywerereceivedamongthesameseminalprinciplesoftheuniverse,ortheywerealikedispersedamongtheatoms.

    Considerhowmanythingsinthesameindivisibletimetakeplaceineachofus,thingswhichconcernthebodyandthingswhichconcernthesoul:andsothouwiltnotwonderifmanymorethings,orratherallthingswhichcomeintoexistenceinthatwhichistheoneandall,whichwecallCosmos,existinitatthesametime.

    Ifanymanshouldproposetotheethequestion,howthenameAntoninusiswritten,wouldstthouwithastrainingofthevoiceuttereachletter?Whattheniftheygrowangry,wiltthoubeangrytoo?Wiltthounotgoonwithcomposureandnumbereveryletter?justsotheninthislifealsorememberthateverydutyismadeupofcertainparts.Theseitisthydutytoobserveandwithoutbeingdisturbedorshowingangertowardsthosewhoareangrywiththeetogoonthywayandfinishthatwhichissetbeforethee.

    Howcruelitisnottoallowmentostriveafterthethingswhichappeartothemtobesuitabletotheirnatureandprofitable!Andyetinamannerthoudostnotallowthemtodothis,whenthouartvexedbecausetheydowrong.Fortheyarecertainlymovedtowardsthingsbecausetheysupposethemtobesuitabletotheirnatureandprofitabletothem-Butitisnotso-Teachthemthen,andshowthemwithoutbeingangry.

    Deathisacessationoftheimpressionsthroughthesenses,andofthepullingofthestringswhichmovetheappetites,andofthediscursivemovementsofthethoughts,andoftheservicetotheflesh.

    Itisashameforthesoultobefirsttogivewayinthislife,whenthybodydoesnotgiveway.

    TakecarethatthouartnotmadeintoaCaesar,thatthouartnotdyedwiththisdye;forsuchthingshappen.Keepthyselfthensimple,good,pure,serious,freefromaffectation,afriendofjustice,aworshipperofthegods,kind,affectionate,strenuousinallproperacts.Strivetocontinuetobesuchasphilosophywishedtomakethee.Reverencethegods,andhelpmen.Shortislife.Thereisonlyonefruitofthisterrenelife,apiousdispositionandsocialacts.DoeverythingasadiscipleofAntoninus.Rememberhisconstancyineveryactwhichwasconformabletoreason,andhisevennessinallthings,andhispiety,andtheserenityofhiscountenance,andhissweetness,andhisdisregardofemptyfame,andhiseffortstounderstandthings;andhowhewouldneverletanythingpasswithouthavingfirstmostcarefullyexamineditandclearlyunderstoodit;andhowheborewiththosewhoblamedhimunjustlywithoutblamingtheminreturn;howhedidnothinginahurry;andhowhelistenednottocalumnies,andhowexactanexaminerofmannersandactionshewas;andnotgiventoreproachpeople,nortimid,norsuspicious,norasophist;andwithhowlittlehewassatisfied,suchaslodging,bed,dress,food,servants;andhowlaboriousandpatient;andhowhewasableonaccountofhissparingdiettoholdouttotheevening,notevenrequiringtorelievehimselfbyanyevacuationsexceptattheusualhour;andhisfirmnessanduniformityinhisfriendships;andhowhetoleratedfreedomofspeechinthosewhoopposedhisopinions;andthepleasurethathehadwhenanymanshowedhimanythingbetter;andhowreligioushewaswithoutsuperstition.Imitateallthisthatthoumayesthaveasgoodaconscience,whenthylasthourcomes,ashehad.

    Returntothysobersensesandcallthyselfback;andwhenthouhastrousedthyselffromsleepandhastperceivedthattheywereonlydreamswhichtroubledthee,nowinthywakinghourslookatthese(thethingsaboutthee)asthoudidstlookatthose(thedreams).

    Iconsistofalittlebodyandasoul.Nowtothislittlebodyallthingsareindifferent,foritisnotabletoperceivedifferences.Buttotheunderstandingthosethingsonlyareindifferent,whicharenottheworksofitsownactivity.Butwhateverthingsaretheworksofitsownactivity,alltheseareinitspower.Andofthesehoweveronlythosewhicharedonewithreferencetothepresent;forastothefutureandthepastactivitiesofthemind,eventheseareforthepresentindifferent.

    Neitherthelabourwhichthehanddoesnorthatofthefootiscontrarytonature,solongasthefootdoesthefoot-sworkandthehandthehand-s.Sothenneithertoamanasamanishislabourcontrarytonature,solongasitdoesthethingsofaman.Butifthelabourisnotcontrarytohisnature,neitherisitaneviltohim.

    Howmanypleasureshavebeenenjoyedbyrobbers,patricides,tyrants.

    Dostthounotseehowthehandicraftsmenaccommodatethemselvesuptoacertainpointtothosewhoarenotskilledintheircraft-neverthelesstheyclingtothereason(theprinciples)oftheirartanddonotenduretodepartfromit?Isitnotstrangeifthearchitectandthephysicianshallhavemorerespecttothereason(theprinciples)oftheirownartsthanmantohisownreason,whichiscommontohimandthegods?

    Asia,Europearecornersoftheuniverse:alltheseaadropintheuniverse;Athosalittleclodoftheuniverse:allthepresenttimeisapointineternity.Allthingsarelittle,changeable,perishable.Allthingscomefromthence,fromthatuniversalrulingpowereitherdirectlyproceedingorbywayofsequence.Andaccordinglythelion-sgapingjaws,andthatwhichispoisonous,andeveryharmfulthing,asathorn,asmud,areafter-productsofthegrandandbeautiful.Donotthenimaginethattheyareofanotherkindfromthatwhichthoudostvenerate,butformajustopinionofthesourceofall.

    Hewhohasseenpresentthingshasseenall,botheverythingwhichhastakenplacefromalleternityandeverythingwhichwillbefortimewithoutend;forallthingsareofonekinandofoneform.

    Frequentlyconsidertheconnexionofallthingsintheuniverseandtheirrelationtooneanother.Forinamannerallthingsareimplicatedwithoneanother,andallinthiswayarefriendlytooneanother;foronethingcomesinorderafteranother,andthisisbyvirtueoftheactivemovementandmutualconspirationandtheunityofthesubstance.

    Adaptthyselftothethingswithwhichthylothasbeencast:andthemenamongwhomthouhastreceivedthyportion,lovethem,butdoittruly,sincerely.

    Everyinstrument,tool,vessel,ifitdoesthatforwhichithasbeenmade,iswell,andyethewhomadeitisnotthere.Butinthethingswhichareheldtogetherbynaturethereiswithinandthereabidesinthemthepowerwhichmadethem;whereforethemoreisitfittoreverencethispower,andtothink,that,ifthoudostliveandactaccordingtoitswill,everythingintheeisinconformitytointelligence.Andthusalsointheuniversethethingswhichbelongtoitareinconformitytointelligence.

    Whateverofthethingswhicharenotwithinthypowerthoushaltsupposetobegoodfortheeorevil,itmustofnecessitybethat,ifsuchabadthingbefalltheeorthelossofsuchagoodthing,thouwiltblamethegods,andhatementoo,thosewhoarethecauseofthemisfortuneortheloss,orthosewhoaresuspectedofbeinglikelytobethecause;andindeedwedomuchinjustice,becausewemakeadifferencebetweenthesethings.Butifwejudgeonlythosethingswhichareinourpowertobegoodorbad,thereremainsnoreasoneitherforfindingfaultwithGodorstandinginahostileattitudetoman.

    Weareallworkingtogethertooneend,somewithknowledgeanddesign,andotherswithoutknowingwhattheydo;asmenalsowhentheyareasleep,ofwhomitisHeraclitus,Ithink,whosaysthattheyarelabourersandco-operatorsinthethingswhichtakeplaceintheuniverse.Butmenco-operateafterdifferentfashions:andeventhoseco-operateabundantly,whofindfaultwithwhathappensandthosewhotrytoopposeitandtohinderit;fortheuniversehadneedevenofsuchmenasthese.Itremainsthenfortheetounderstandamongwhatkindofworkmenthouplacestthyself;forhewhorulesallthingswillcertainlymakearightuseofthee,andhewillreceivetheeamongsomepartoftheco-operatorsandofthosewhoselaboursconducetooneend.Butbenotthousuchapartasthemeanandridiculousverseintheplay,whichChrysippusspeaksof.

    Doesthesunundertaketodotheworkoftherain,orAesculapiustheworkoftheFruit-bearer(theearth)?Andhowisitwithrespecttoeachofthestars,aretheynotdifferentandyettheyworktogethertothesameend?

    Ifthegodshavedeterminedaboutmeandaboutthethingswhichmusthappentome,theyhavedeterminedwell,foritisnoteasyeventoimagineadeitywithoutforethought;andastodoingmeharm,whyshouldtheyhaveanydesiretowardsthat?Forwhatadvantagewouldresulttothemfromthisortothewhole,whichisthespecialobjectoftheirprovidence?Butiftheyhavenotdeterminedaboutmeindividually,theyhavecertainlydeterminedaboutthewholeatleast,andthethingswhichhappenbywayofsequenceinthisgeneralarrangementIoughttoacceptwithpleasureandtobecontentwiththem.Butiftheydetermineaboutnothing-whichitiswickedtobelieve,orifwedobelieveit,letusneithersacrificenorpraynorswearbythemnordoanythingelsewhichwedoasifthegodswerepresentandlivedwithus-butifhoweverthegodsdetermineaboutnoneofthethingswhichconcernus,Iamabletodetermineaboutmyself,andIcaninquireaboutthatwhichisuseful;andthatisusefultoeverymanwhichisconformabletohisownconstitutionandnature.Butmynatureisrationalandsocial;andmycityandcountry,sofarasIamAntoninus,isRome,butsofarasIamaman,itistheworld.Thethingsthenwhichareusefultothesecitiesarealoneusefultome.Whateverhappenstoeveryman,thisisfortheinterestoftheuniversal:thismightbesufficient.Butfurtherthouwiltobservethisalsoasageneraltruth,ifthoudostobserve,thatwhateverisprofitabletoanymanisprofitablealsotoothermen.Butletthewordprofitablebetakenhereinthecommonsenseassaidofthingsofthemiddlekind,neithergoodnorbad.

    Asithappenstotheeintheamphitheatreandsuchplaces,thatthecontinualsightofthesamethingsandtheuniformitymakethespectaclewearisome,soitisinthewholeoflife;forallthingsabove,below,arethesameandfromthesame.Howlongthen?

    Thinkcontinuallythatallkindsofmenandofallkindsofpursuitsandofallnationsaredead,sothatthythoughtscomedowneventoPhilistionandPhoebusandOriganion.Nowturnthythoughtstotheotherkindsofmen.Tothatplacethenwemustremove,wheretherearesomanygreatorators,andsomanynoblephilosophers,Heraclitus,Pythagoras,Socrates;somanyheroesofformerdays,andsomanygeneralsafterthem,andtyrants;besidesthese,Eudoxus,Hipparchus,Archimedes,andothermenofacutenaturaltalents,greatminds,loversoflabour,versatile,confident,mockersevenoftheperishableandephemerallifeofman,asMenippusandsuchasarelikehim.Astoalltheseconsiderthattheyhavelongbeeninthedust.Whatharmthenisthistothem;andwhattothosewhosenamesarealtogetherunknown?Onethinghereisworthagreatdeal,topassthylifeintruthandjustice,withabenevolentdispositioneventoliarsandunjustmen.

    Whenthouwishesttodelightthyself,thinkofthevirtuesofthosewholivewiththee;forinstance,theactivityofone,andthemodestyofanother,andtheliberalityofathird,andsomeothergoodqualityofafourth.Fornothingdelightssomuchastheexamplesofthevirtues,whentheyareexhibitedinthemoralsofthosewholivewithusandpresentthemselvesinabundance,asfarasispossible.Whereforewemustkeepthembeforeus.

    Thouartnotdissatisfied,Isuppose,becausethouweighestonlysomanylitraeandnotthreehundred.Benotdissatisfiedthenthatthoumustliveonlysomanyyearsandnotmore;forasthouartsatisfiedwiththeamountofsubstancewhichhasbeenassignedtothee,sobecontentwiththetime.

    Letustrytopersuadethem(men).Butactevenagainsttheirwill,whentheprinciplesofjusticeleadthatway.Ifhoweveranymanbyusingforcestandsinthyway,betakethyselftocontentmentandtranquility,andatthesametimeemploythehindrancetowardstheexerciseofsomeothervirtue;andrememberthatthyattemptwaswithareservation,thatthoudidstnotdesiretodoimpossibilities.Whatthendidstthoudesire?-Somesucheffortasthis-Butthouattainestthyobject,ifthethingstowhichthouwastmovedareaccomplished.

    Hewholovesfameconsidersanotherman-sactivitytobehisowngood;andhewholovespleasure,hisownsensations;buthewhohasunderstanding,considershisownactstobehisowngood.

    Itisinourpowertohavenoopinionaboutathing,andnottobedisturbedinoursoul;forthingsthemselveshavenonaturalpowertoformourjudgements.

    Accustomthyselftoattendcarefullytowhatissaidbyanother,andasmuchasitispossible,beinthespeaker-smind.

    Thatwhichisnotgoodfortheswarm,neitherisitgoodforthebee.

    Ifsailorsabusedthehelmsmanorthesickthedoctor,wouldtheylistentoanybodyelse;orhowcouldthehelmsmansecurethesafetyofthoseintheshiporthedoctorthehealthofthosewhomheattends?

    HowmanytogetherwithwhomIcameintotheworldarealreadygoneoutofit.

    Tothejaundicedhoneytastesbitter,andtothosebittenbymaddogswatercausesfear;andtolittlechildrentheballisafinething.WhythenamIangry?Dostthouthinkthatafalseopinionhaslesspowerthanthebileinthejaundicedorthepoisoninhimwhoisbittenbyamaddog?

    Nomanwillhindertheefromlivingaccordingtothereasonofthyownnature:nothingwillhappentotheecontrarytothereasonoftheuniversalnature.

    Whatkindofpeoplearethosewhommenwishtoplease,andforwhatobjects,andbywhatkindofacts?Howsoonwilltimecoverallthings,andhowmanyithascoveredalready.

    BookSeven

    Whatisbadness?Itisthatwhichthouhastoftenseen.Andontheoccasionofeverythingwhichhappenskeepthisinmind,thatitisthatwhichthouhastoftenseen.Everywhereupanddownthouwiltfindthesamethings,withwhichtheoldhistoriesarefilled,thoseofthemiddleagesandthoseofourownday;withwhichcitiesandhousesarefillednow.Thereisnothingnew:allthingsarebothfamiliarandshort-lived.

    Howcanourprinciplesbecomedead,unlesstheimpressions(thoughts)whichcorrespondtothemareextinguished?Butitisinthypowercontinuouslytofanthesethoughtsintoaflame.Icanhavethatopinionaboutanything,whichIoughttohave.IfIcan,whyamIdisturbed?Thethingswhichareexternaltomymindhavenorelationatalltomymind-Letthisbethestateofthyaffects,andthoustandesterect.Torecoverthylifeisinthypower.Lookatthingsagainasthoudidstusetolookatthem;forinthisconsiststherecoveryofthylife.

    Theidlebusinessofshow,playsonthestage,flocksofsheep,herds,exerciseswithspears,abonecasttolittledogs,abitofbreadintofish-ponds,labouringsofantsandburden-carrying,runningsaboutoffrightenedlittlemice,puppetspulledbystrings-allalike.Itisthydutytheninthemidstofsuchthingstoshowgoodhumourandnotaproudair;tounderstandhoweverthateverymanisworthjustsomuchasthethingsareworthaboutwhichhebusieshimself.

    Indiscoursethoumustattendtowhatissaid,andineverymovementthoumustobservewhatisdoing.Andintheonethoushouldstseeimmediatelytowhatenditrefers,butintheotherwatchcarefullywhatisthethingsignified.

    Ismyunderstandingsufficientforthisornot?Ifitissufficient,Iuseitfortheworkasaninstrumentgivenbytheuniversalnature.Butifitisnotsufficient,theneitherIretirefromtheworkandgivewaytohimwhoisabletodoitbetter,unlesstherebesomereasonwhyIoughtnottodoso;orIdoitaswellasIcan,takingtohelpmethemanwhowiththeaidofmyrulingprinciplecandowhatisnowfitandusefulforthegeneralgood.ForwhatsoevereitherbymyselforwithanotherIcando,oughttobedirectedtothisonly,tothatwhichisusefulandwellsuitedtosociety.

    Howmanyafterbeingcelebratedbyfamehavebeengivenuptooblivion;andhowmanywhohavecelebratedthefameofothershavelongbeendead.

    Benotashamedtobehelped;foritisthybusinesstodothydutylikeasoldierintheassaultonatown.Howthen,ifbeinglamethoucanstnotmountuponthebattlementsalone,butwiththehelpofanotheritispossible?

    Letnotfuturethingsdisturbthee,forthouwiltcometothem,ifitshallbenecessary,havingwiththeethesamereasonwhichnowthouusestforpresentthings.

    Allthingsareimplicatedwithoneanother,andthebondisholy;andthereishardlyanythingunconnectedwithanyotherthing.Forthingshavebeenco-ordinated,andtheycombinetoformthesameuniverse(order).Forthereisoneuniversemadeupofallthings,andoneGodwhopervadesallthings,andonesubstance,andonelaw,onecommonreasoninallintelligentanimals,andonetruth;ifindeedthereisalsooneperfectionforallanimalswhichareofthesamestockandparticipateinthesamereason.

    Everythingmaterialsoondisappearsinthesubstanceofthewhole;andeverythingformal(causal)isverysoontakenbackintotheuniversalreason;andthememoryofeverythingisverysoonoverwhelmedintime.

    Totherationalanimalthesameactisaccordingtonatureandaccordingtoreason.

    Bethouerect,orbemadeerect.

    Justasitiswiththemembersinthosebodieswhichareunitedinone,soitiswithrationalbeingswhichexistseparate,fortheyhavebeenconstitutedforoneco-operation.Andtheperceptionofthiswillbemoreapparenttothee,ifthouoftensayesttothyselfthatIamamember(melos)ofthesystemofrationalbeings.Butif(usingtheletterr)thousayestthatthouartapart(meros)thoudostnotyetlovemenfromthyheart;beneficencedoesnotyetdelighttheeforitsownsake;thoustilldoestitbarelyasathingofpropriety,andnotyetasdoinggoodtothyself.

    Lettherefallexternallywhatwillonthepartswhichcanfeeltheeffectsofthisfall.Forthosepartswhichhavefeltwillcomplain,iftheychoose.ButI,unlessIthinkthatwhathashappenedisanevil,amnotinjured.Anditisinmypowernottothinkso.

    Whateveranyonedoesorsays,Imustbegood,justasifthegold,ortheemerald,orthepurplewerealwayssayingthis,Whateveranyonedoesorsays,Imustbeemeraldandkeepmycolour.

    Therulingfacultydoesnotdisturbitself;Imean,doesnotfrightenitselforcauseitselfpain.Butifanyoneelsecanfrightenorpainit,lethimdoso.Forthefacultyitselfwillnotbyitsownopinionturnitselfintosuchways.Letthebodyitselftakecare,ifitcan,thatissuffernothing,andletitspeak,ifitsuffers.Butthesoulitself,thatwhichissubjecttofear,topain,whichhascompletelythepowerofforminganopinionaboutthesethings,willsuffernothing,foritwillneverdeviateintosuchajudgement.Theleadingprincipleinitselfwantsnothing,unlessitmakesawantforitself;andthereforeitisbothfreefromperturbationandunimpeded,ifitdoesnotdisturbandimpedeitself.

    Eudaemonia(happiness)isagooddaemon,oragoodthing.Whatthenartthoudoinghere,Oimagination?Goaway,Ientreattheebythegods,asthoudidstcome,forIwanttheenot.Butthouartcomeaccordingtothyoldfashion.Iamnotangrywiththee:onlygoaway.

    Isanymanafraidofchange?Whywhatcantakeplacewithoutchange?Whatthenismorepleasingormoresuitabletotheuniversalnature?Andcanstthoutakeabathunlessthewoodundergoesachange?Andcanstthoubenourished,unlessthefoodundergoesachange?Andcananythingelsethatisusefulbeaccomplishedwithoutchange?Dostthounotseethenthatforthyselfalsotochangeisjustthesame,andequallynecessaryfortheuniversalnature?

    Throughtheuniversalsubstanceasthroughafurioustorrentallbodiesarecarried,beingbytheirnatureunitedwithandcooperatingwiththewhole,asthepartsofourbodywithoneanother.HowmanyaChrysippus,howmanyaSocrates,howmanyanEpictetushastimealreadyswallowedup?Andletthesamethoughtoccurtotheewithreferencetoeverymanandthing.

    Onethingonlytroublesme,lestIshoulddosomethingwhichtheconstitutionofmandoesnotallow,orinthewaywhichitdoesnotallow,orwhatitdoesnotallownow.

    Nearisthyforgetfulnessofallthings;andneartheforgetfulnessoftheebyall.

    Itispeculiartomantoloveeventhosewhodowrong.Andthishappens,ifwhentheydowrongitoccurstotheethattheyarekinsmen,andthattheydowrongthroughignoranceandunintentionally,andthatsoonbothofyouwilldie;andaboveall,thatthewrong-doerhasdonetheenoharm,forhehasnotmadethyrulingfacultyworsethanitwasbefore.

    Theuniversalnatureoutoftheuniversalsubstance,asifitwerewax,nowmouldsahorse,andwhenithasbrokenthisup,itusesthematerialforatree,thenforaman,thenforsomethingelse;andeachofthesethingssubsistsforaveryshorttime.Butitisnohardshipforthevesseltobebrokenup,justastherewasnoneinitsbeingfastenedtogether.

    Ascowlinglookisaltogetherunnatural;whenitisoftenassumed,theresultisthatallcomelinessdiesaway,andatlastissocompletelyextinguishedthatitcannotbeagainlightedupatall.Trytoconcludefromthisveryfactthatitiscontrarytoreason.Forifeventheperceptionofdoingwrongshalldepart,whatreasonisthereforlivinganylonger?

    Naturewhichgovernsthewholewillsoonchangeallthingswhichthouseest,andoutoftheirsubstancewillmakeotherthings,andagainotherthingsfromthesubstanceofthem,inorderthattheworldmaybeevernew.

    Whenamanhasdonetheeanywrong,immediatelyconsiderwithwhatopinionaboutgoodorevilhehasdonewrong.Forwhenthouhastseenthis,thouwiltpityhim,andwiltneitherwondernorbeangry.Foreitherthouthyselfthinkestthesamethingtobegoodthathedoesoranotherthingofthesamekind.Itisthydutythentopardonhim.Butifthoudostnotthinksuchthingstobegoodorevil,thouwiltmorereadilybewelldisposedtohimwhoisinerror.

    Thinknotsomuchofwhatthouhastnotasofwhatthouhast:butofthethingswhichthouhastselectthebest,andthenreflecthoweagerlytheywouldhavebeensought,ifthouhadstthemnot.Atthesametimehowevertakecarethatthoudostnotthroughbeingsopleasedwiththemaccustomthyselftoovervaluethem,soastobedisturbedifeverthoushouldstnothavethem.

    Retireintothyself.Therationalprinciplewhichruleshasthisnature,thatitiscontentwithitselfwhenitdoeswhatisjust,andsosecurestranquility.

    Wipeouttheimagination.Stopthepullingofthestrings.Confinethyselftothepresent.Understandwellwhathappenseithertotheeortoanother.Divideanddistributeeveryobjectintothecausal(formal)andthematerial.Thinkofthylasthour.Letthewrongwhichisdonebyamanstaytherewherethewrongwasdone.

    Directthyattentiontowhatissaid.Letthyunderstandingenterintothethingsthataredoingandthethingswhichdothem.

    Adornthyselfwithsimplicityandmodestyandwithindifferencetowardsthethingswhichliebetweenvirtueandvice.Lovemankind.FollowGod.ThepoetsaysthatLawrulesall-AnditisenoughtorememberthatLawrulesall.

    Aboutdeath:Whetheritisadispersion,oraresolutionintoatoms,orannihilation,itiseitherextinctionorchange.

    Aboutpain:Thepainwhichisintolerablecarriesusoff;butthatwhichlastsalongtimeistolerable;andthemindmaintainsitsowntranquilitybyretiringintoitself,andtherulingfacultyisnotmadeworse.Butthepartswhichareharmedbypain,letthem,iftheycan,givetheiropinionaboutit.

    Aboutfame:Lookatthemindsofthosewhoseekfame,observewhattheyare,andwhatkindofthingstheyavoid,andwhatkindofthingstheypursue.Andconsiderthatastheheapsofsandpiledononeanotherhidetheformersands,soinlifetheeventswhichgobeforearesooncoveredbythosewhichcomeafter.

    FromPlato:Themanwhohasanelevatedmindandtakesaviewofalltimeandofallsubstance,dostthousupposeitpossibleforhimtothinkthathumanlifeisanythinggreat?itisnotpossible,hesaid-Suchamanthenwillthinkthatdeathalsoisnoevil-Certainlynot.

    FromAntisthenes:Itisroyaltodogoodandtobeabused.

    Itisabasethingforthecountenancetobeobedientandtoregulateandcomposeitselfasthemindcommands,andforthemindnottoberegulatedandcomposedbyitself.

    Itisnotrighttovexourselvesatthings,

    Fortheycarenoughtaboutit.

    Totheimmortalgodsandusgivejoy.

    Lifemustbereapedliketheripeearsofcorn:

    Onemanisborn;anotherdies.

    Ifgodscarenotformeandformychildren,

    Thereisareasonforit.

    Forthegoodiswithme,andthejust.

    Nojoiningothersintheirwailing,noviolentemotion.

    FromPlato:ButIwouldmakethismanasufficientanswer,whichisthis:Thousayestnotwell,ifthouthinkestthatamanwhoisgoodforanythingatalloughttocomputethehazardoflifeordeath,andshouldnotratherlooktothisonlyinallthathedoes,whetherheisdoingwhatisjustorunjust,andtheworksofagoodorabadman.

    Forthusitis,menofAthens,intruth:whereveramanhasplacedhimselfthinkingitthebestplaceforhim,orhasbeenplacedbyacommander,thereinmyopinionheoughttostayandtoabidethehazard,takingnothingintothereckoning,eitherdeathoranythingelse,beforethebasenessofdesertinghispost.

    But,mygoodfriend,reflectwhetherthatwhichisnobleandgoodisnotsomethingdifferentfromsavingandbeingsaved;forastoamanlivingsuchorsuchatime,atleastonewhoisreallyaman,considerifthisisnotathingtobedismissedfromthethoughts:andtheremustbenoloveoflife:butastothesemattersamanmustintrustthemtothedeityandbelievewhatthewomensay,thatnomancanescapehisdestiny,thenextinquirybeinghowhemaybestlivethetimethathehastolive.

    Lookroundatthecoursesofthestars,asifthouwertgoingalongwiththem;andconstantlyconsiderthechangesoftheelementsintooneanother;forsuchthoughtspurgeawaythefilthoftheterrenelife.

    ThisisafinesayingofPlato:Thathewhoisdiscoursingaboutmenshouldlookalsoatearthlythingsasifheviewedthemfromsomehigherplace;shouldlookatthemintheirassemblies,armies,agriculturallabours,marriages,treaties,births,deaths,noiseofthecourtsofjustice,desertplaces,variousnationsofbarbarians,feasts,lamentations,markets,amixtureofallthingsandanorderlycombinationofcontraries.

    Considerthepast;suchgreatchangesofpoliticalsupremacies.Thoumayestforeseealsothethingswhichwillbe.Fortheywillcertainlybeoflikeform,anditisnotpossiblethattheyshoulddeviatefromtheorderofthethingswhichtakeplacenow:accordinglytohavecontemplatedhumanlifeforfortyyearsisthesameastohavecontemplateditfortenthousandyears.Forwhatmorewiltthousee?

    Thatwhichhasgrownfromtheearthtotheearth,

    Butthatwhichhassprungfromheavenlyseed,

    Backtotheheavenlyrealmsreturns.Thisiseitheradissolutionofthemutualinvolutionoftheatoms,orasimilardispersionoftheunsentientelements.

    Withfoodanddrinksandcunningmagicarts

    Turningthechannel-scourseto-scapefromdeath.

    Thebreezewhichheavenhassent

    Wemustendure,andtoilwithoutcomplaining.

    Anothermaybemoreexpertincastinghisopponent;butheisnotmoresocial,normoremodest,norbetterdisciplinedtomeetallthathappens,normoreconsideratewithrespecttothefaultsofhisneighbours.

    Whereanyworkcanbedoneconformablytothereasonwhichiscommontogodsandmen,therewehavenothingtofear:forwhereweareabletogetprofitbymeansoftheactivitywhichissuccessfulandproceedsaccordingtoourconstitution,therenoharmistobesuspected.

    Everywhereandatalltimesitisinthypowerpiouslytoacquiesceinthypresentcondition,andtobehavejustlytothosewhoareaboutthee,andtoexertthyskilluponthypresentthoughts,thatnothingshallstealintothemwithoutbeingwellexamined.

    Donotlookaroundtheetodiscoverothermen-srulingprinciples,butlookstraighttothis,towhatnatureleadsthee,boththeuniversalnaturethroughthethingswhichhappentothee,andthyownnaturethroughtheactswhichmustbedonebythee.Buteverybeingoughttodothatwhichisaccordingtoitsconstitution;andallotherthingshavebeenconstitutedforthesakeofrationalbeings,justasamongirrationalthingstheinferiorforthesakeofthesuperior,buttherationalforthesakeofoneanother.

    Theprimeprincipletheninman-sconstitutionisthesocial.Andthesecondisnottoyieldtothepersuasionsofthebody,foritisthepeculiarofficeoftherationalandintelligentmotiontocircumscribeitself,andnevertobeoverpoweredeitherbythemotionofthesensesoroftheappetites,forbothareanimal;buttheintelligentmotionclaimssuperiorityanddoesnotpermititselftobeoverpoweredbytheothers.Andwithgoodreason,foritisformedbynaturetouseallofthem.Thethirdthingintherationalconstitutionisfreedomfromerrorandfromdeception.Letthentherulingprincipleholdingfasttothesethingsgostraighton,andithaswhatisitsown.

    Considerthyselftobedead,andtohavecompletedthylifeuptothepresenttime;andliveaccordingtonaturetheremainderwhichisallowedthee.

    Lovethatonlywhichhappenstotheeandisspunwiththethreadofthydestiny.Forwhatismoresuitable?

    Ineverythingwhichhappenskeepbeforethyeyesthosetowhomthesamethingshappened,andhowtheywerevexed,andtreatedthemasstrangethings,andfoundfaultwiththem:andnowwherearethey?Nowhere.Whythendostthoutoochoosetoactinthesameway?Andwhydostthounotleavetheseagitationswhichareforeigntonature,tothosewhocausethemandthosewhoaremovedbythem?Andwhyartthounotaltogetherintentupontherightwayofmakinguseofthethingswhichhappentothee?Forthenthouwiltusethemwell,andtheywillbeamaterialfortheetoworkon.Onlyattendtothyself,andresolvetobeagoodmanineveryactwhichthoudoest:andremember

    Lookwithin.Withinisthefountainofgood,anditwilleverbubbleup,ifthouwilteverdig.

    Thebodyoughttobecompact,andtoshownoirregularityeitherinmotionorattitude.Forwhatthemindshowsinthefacebymaintaininginittheexpressionofintelligenceandpropriety,thatoughttoberequiredalsointhewholebody.Butallofthesethingsshouldbeobservedwithoutaffectation.

    Theartoflifeismorelikethewrestler-sartthanthedancer-s,inrespectofthis,thatitshouldstandreadyandfirmtomeetonsetswhicharesuddenandunexpected.

    Constantlyobservewhothosearewhoseapprobationthouwishesttohave,andwhatrulingprinciplestheypossess.Forthenthouwiltneitherblamethosewhooffendinvoluntarily,norwiltthouwanttheirapprobation,ifthoulookesttothesourcesoftheiropinionsandappetites.

    Everysoul,thephilosophersays,isinvoluntarilydeprivedoftruth;consequentlyinthesamewayitisdeprivedofjusticeandtemperanceandbenevolenceandeverythingofthekind.Itismostnecessarytobearthisconstantlyinmind,forthusthouwiltbemoregentletowardsall.

    Ineverypainletthisthoughtbepresent,thatthereisnodishonourinit,nordoesitmakethegoverningintelligenceworse,foritdoesnotdamagetheintelligenceeithersofarastheintelligenceisrationalorsofarasitissocial.IndeedinthecaseofmostpainsletthisremarkofEpicurusaidthee,thatpainisneitherintolerablenoreverlasting,ifthoubearestinmindthatithasitslimits,andifthouaddestnothingtoitinimagination:andrememberthistoo,thatwedonotperceivethatmanythingswhicharedisagreeabletousarethesameaspain,suchasexcessivedrowsiness,andthebeingscorchedbyheat,andthehavingnoappetite.Whenthenthouartdiscontentedaboutanyofthesethings,saytothyself,thatthouartyieldingtopain.

    Takecarenottofeeltowardstheinhuman,astheyfeeltowardsmen.

    HowdoweknowifTelaugeswasnotsuperiorincharactertoSocrates?ForitisnotenoughthatSocratesdiedamorenobledeath,anddisputedmoreskilfullywiththesophists,andpassedthenightinthecoldwithmoreendurance,andthatwhenhewasbidtoarrestLeonofSalamis,heconsidereditmorenobletorefuse,andthathewalkedinaswaggeringwayinthestreets-thoughastothisfactonemayhavegreatdoubtsifitwastrue.Butweoughttoinquire,whatkindofasoulitwasthatSocratespossessed,andifhewasabletobecontentwithbeingjusttowardsmenandpioustowardsthegods,neitheridlyvexedonaccountofmen-svillainy,noryetmakinghimselfaslavetoanyman-signorance,norreceivingasstrangeanythingthatfelltohisshareoutoftheuniversal,norenduringitasintolerable,norallowinghisunderstandingtosympathizewiththeaffectsofthemiserableflesh.

    Naturehasnotsomingledtheintelligencewiththecompositionofthebody,asnottohaveallowedtheethepowerofcircumsc**ngthyselfandofbringingundersubjectiontothyselfallthatisthyown;foritisverypossibletobeadivinemanandtoberecognisedassuchbynoone.Alwaysbearthisinmind;andanotherthingtoo,thatverylittleindeedisnecessaryforlivingahappylife.Andbecausethouhastdespairedofbecomingadialecticianandskilledintheknowledgeofnature,donotforthisreasonrenouncethehopeofbeingbothfreeandmodestandsocialandobedienttoGod.

    Itisinthypowertolivefreefromallcompulsioninthegreatesttranquilityofmind,evenifalltheworldcryoutagainsttheeasmuchastheychoose,andevenifwildbeaststearinpiecesthemembersofthiskneadedmatterwhichhasgrownaroundthee.Forwhathindersthemindinthemidstofallthisfrommaintainingitselfintranquilityandinajustjudgementofallsurroundingthingsandinareadyuseoftheobjectswhicharepresentedtoit,sothatthejudgementmaysaytothethingwhichfallsunderitsobservation:Thisthouartinsubstance(reality),thoughinmen-sopinionthoumayestappeartobeofadifferentkind;andtheuseshallsaytothatwhichfallsunderthehand:ThouartthethingthatIwasseeking;fortomethatwhichpresentsitselfisalwaysamaterialforvirtuebothrationalandpolitical,andinaword,fortheexerciseofart,whichbelongstomanorGod.ForeverythingwhichhappenshasarelationshipeithertoGodorman,andisneithernewnordifficulttohandle,butusualandaptmattertoworkon.

    Theperfectionofmoralcharacterconsistsinthis,inpassingeverydayasthelast,andinbeingneitherviolentlyexcitednortorpidnorplayingthehypocrite.

    Thegodswhoareimmortalarenotvexedbecauseduringsolongatimetheymusttoleratecontinuallymensuchastheyareandsomanyofthembad;andbesidesthis,theyalsotakecareoftheminallways.Butthou,whoartdestinedtoendsosoon,artthouweariedofenduringthebad,andthistoowhenthouartoneofthem?

    Itisaridiculousthingforamannottoflyfromhisownbadness,whichisindeedpossible,buttoflyfromothermen-sbadness,whichisimpossible.

    Whatevertherationalandpolitical(social)facultyfindstobeneitherintelligentnorsocial,itproperlyjudgestobeinferiortoitself.

    Whenthouhastdoneagoodactandanotherhasreceivedit,whydostthoulookforathirdthingbesidesthese,asfoolsdo,eithertohavethereputationofhavingdoneagoodactortoobtainareturn?

    Nomanistiredofreceivingwhatisuseful.Butitisusefultoactaccordingtonature.Donotthenbetiredofreceivingwhatisusefulbydoingittoothers.

    ThenatureoftheAnmovedtomaketheuniverse.Butnoweithereverythingthattakesplacecomesbywayofconsequenceorcontinuity;oreventhechiefthingstowardswhichtherulingpoweroftheuniversedirectsitsownmovementaregovernedbynorationalprinciple.Ifthisisremembereditwillmaketheemoretranquilinmanythings.

    BookEight

    Thisreflectionalsotendstotheremovalofthedesireofemptyfame,thatitisnolongerinthypowertohavelivedthewholeofthylife,oratleastthylifefromthyyouthupwards,likeaphilosopher;butbothtomanyothersandtothyselfitisplainthatthouartfarfromphilosophy.Thouhastfallenintodisorderthen,sothatitisnolongereasyfortheetogetthereputationofaphilosopher;andthyplanoflifealsoopposesit.Ifthenthouhasttrulyseenwherethematterlies,throwawaythethought,Howthoushaltseemtoothers,andbecontentifthoushaltlivetherestofthylifeinsuchwiseasthynaturewills.Observethenwhatitwills,andletnothingelsedistractthee;forthouhasthadexperienceofmanywanderingswithouthavingfoundhappinessanywhere,notinsyllogisms,norinwealth,norinreputation,norinenjoyment,noranywhere.Whereisitthen?Indoingwhatman-snaturerequires.Howthenshallamandothis?Ifhehasprinciplesfromwhichcomehisaffectsandhisacts.Whatprinciples?Thosewhichrelatetogoodandbad:thebeliefthatthereisnothinggoodforman,whichdoesnotmakehimjust,temperate,manly,free;andthatthereisnothingbad,whichdoesnotdothecontrarytowhathasbeenmentioned.

    Ontheoccasionofeveryactaskthyself,Howisthiswithrespecttome?ShallIrepentofit?AlittletimeandIamdead,andallisgone.WhatmoredoIseek,ifwhatIamnowdoingisworkofanintelligentlivingbeing,andasocialbeing,andonewhoisunderthesamelawwithGod?

    AlexanderandGaiusandPompeius,whataretheyincomparisonwithDiogenesandHeraclitusandSocrates?Fortheywereacquaintedwiththings,andtheircauses(forms),andtheirmatter,andtherulingprinciplesofthesemenwerethesame.Butastotheothers,howmanythingshadtheytocarefor,andtohowmanythingsweretheyslaves?

    Considerthatmenwilldothesamethingsnevertheless,eventhoughthoushouldstburst.

    Thisisthechiefthing:Benotperturbed,forallthingsareaccordingtothenatureoftheuniversal;andinalittletimethouwiltbenobodyandnowhere,likeHadrianandAugustus.Inthenextplacehavingfixedthyeyessteadilyonthybusinesslookatit,andatthesametimerememberingthatitisthydutytobeagoodman,andwhatman-snaturedemands,dothatwithoutturningaside;andspeakasitseemstotheemostjust,onlyletitbewithagooddispositionandwithmodestyandwithouthypocrisy.

    Thenatureoftheuniversalhasthisworktodo,toremovetothatplacethethingswhichareinthis,tochangethem,totakethemawayhence,andtocarrythemthere.Allthingsarechange,yetweneednotfearanythingnew.Allthingsarefamiliartous;butthedistributionofthemstillremainsthesame.

    Everynatureiscontentedwithitselfwhenitgoesonitswaywell;andarationalnaturegoesonitswaywell,wheninitsthoughtsitassentstonothingfalseoruncertain,andwhenitdirectsitsmovementstosocialactsonly,andwhenitconfinesitsdesiresandaversionstothethingswhichareinitspower,andwhenitissatisfiedwitheverythingthatisassignedtoitbythecommonnature.Forofthiscommonnatureeveryparticularnatureisapart,asthenatureoftheleafisapartofthenatureoftheplant;exceptthatintheplantthenatureoftheleafispartofanaturewhichhasnotperceptionorreason,andissubjecttobeimpeded;butthenatureofmanispartofanaturewhichisnotsubjecttoimpediments,andisintelligentandjust,sinceitgivestoeverythinginequalportionsandaccordingtoitsworth,times,substance,cause(form),activity,andincident.Butexamine,nottodiscoverthatanyonethingcomparedwithanyothersinglethingisequalinallrespects,butbytakingallthepartstogetherofonethingandcomparingthemwithallthepartstogetherofanother.

    Thouhastnotleisureorabilitytoread.Butthouhastleisureorabilitytocheckarrogance:thouhastleisuretobesuperiortopleasureandpain:thouhastleisuretobesuperiortoloveoffame,andnottobevexedatstupidandungratefulpeople,nayeventocareforthem.

    Letnomananylongerheartheefindingfaultwiththecourtlifeorwiththyown.

    Repentanceisakindofself-reproofforhavingneglectedsomethinguseful;butthatwhichisgoodmustbesomethinguseful,andtheperfectgoodmanshouldlookafterit.Butnosuchmanwouldeverrepentofhavingrefusedanysensualpleasure.Pleasurethenisneithergoodnoruseful.

    Thisthing,whatisitinitself,initsownconstitution?Whatisitssubstanceandmaterial?Andwhatitscausalnature(orform)?Andwhatisitdoingintheworld?Andhowlongdoesitsubsist?

    Whenthourisestfromsleepwithreluctance,rememberthatitisaccordingtothyconstitutionandaccordingtohumannaturetoperformsocialacts,butsleepingiscommonalsotoirrationalanimals.Butthatwhichisaccordingtoeachindividual-snatureisalsomorepeculiarlyitsown,andmoresuitabletoitsnature,andindeedalsomoreagreeable.

    Constantlyand,ifitbepossible,ontheoccasionofeveryimpressiononthesoul,applytoittheprinciplesofPhysic,ofEthic,andofDialectic.

    Whatevermanthoumeetestwith,immediatelysaytothyself:Whatopinionshasthismanaboutgoodandbad?Forifwithrespecttopleasureandpainandthecausesofeach,andwithrespecttofameandignominy,deathandlife,hehassuchandsuchopinions,itwillseemnothingwonderfulorstrangetome,ifhedoessuchandsuchthings;andIshallbearinmindthatheiscompelledtodoso.

    Rememberthatasitisashametobesurprisedifthefig-treeproducesfigs,soitistobesurprisediftheworldproducessuchandsuchthingsofwhichitisproductive;andforthephysicianandthehelmsmanitisashametobesurprised,ifamanhasafever,orifthewindisunfavourable.

    Rememberthattochangethyopinionandtofollowhimwhocorrectsthyerrorisasconsistentwithfreedomasitistopersistinthyerror.Foritisthyown,theactivitywhichisexertedaccordingtothyownmovementandjudgement,andindeedaccordingtothyownunderstandingtoo.

    Ifathingisinthyownpower,whydostthoudoit?Butifitisinthepowerofanother,whomdostthoublame?Theatoms(chance)orthegods?Botharefoolish.Thoumustblamenobody.Forifthoucanst,correctthatwhichisthecause;butifthoucanstnotdothis,correctatleastthethingitself;butifthoucanstnotdoeventhis,ofwhatuseisittotheetofindfault?Fornothingshouldbedonewithoutapurpose.

    Thatwhichhasdiedfallsnotoutoftheuniverse.Ifitstayshere,italsochangeshere,andisdissolvedintoitsproperparts,whichareelementsoftheuniverseandofthyself.Andthesetoochange,andtheymurmurnot.

    Everythingexistsforsomeend,ahorse,avine.Whydostthouwonder?Eventhesunwillsay,Iamforsomepurpose,andtherestofthegodswillsaythesame.Forwhatpurposethenartthou?toenjoypleasure?Seeifcommonsenseallowsthis.

    Naturehashadregardineverythingnolesstotheendthantothebeginningandthecontinuance,justlikethemanwhothrowsupaball.Whatgoodisitthenfortheballtobethrownup,orharmforittocomedown,oreventohavefallen?Andwhatgoodisittothebubblewhileitholdstogether,orwhatharmwhenitisburst?Thesamemaybesaidofalightalso.

    Turnit(thebody)insideout,andseewhatkindofthingitis;andwhenithasgrownold,whatkindofthingitbecomes,andwhenitisdiseased.

    Short-livedareboththepraiserandthepraised,andtheremembererandtheremembered:andallthisinanookofthispartoftheworld;andnotevenheredoallagree,no,notanyonewithhimself:andthewholeearthtooisapoint.

    Attendtothematterwhichisbeforethee,whetheritisanopinionoranactoraword.

    Thousufferestthisjustly:forthouchoosestrathertobecomegoodto-morrowthantobegoodto-day.

    AmIdoinganything?Idoitwithreferencetothegoodofmankind.Doesanythinghappentome?Ireceiveitandreferittothegods,andthesourceofallthings,fromwhichallthathappensisderived.

    Suchasbathingappearstothee-oil,sweat,dirt,filthywater,allthingsdisgusting-soiseverypartoflifeandeverything.

    LucillasawVerusdie,andthenLucilladied.SecundasawMaximusdie,andthenSecundadied.EpitynchanussawDiotimusdie,andEpitynchanusdied.AntoninussawFaustinadie,andthenAntoninusdied.Suchiseverything.CelersawHadriandie,andthenCelerdied.Andthosesharp-wittedmen,eitherseersormeninflatedwithpride,wherearethey?Forinstancethesharp-wittedmen,CharaxandDemetriusthePlatonistandEudaemon,andanyoneelselikethem.Allephemeral,deadlongago.Someindeedhavenotbeenrememberedevenforashorttime,andothershavebecometheheroesoffables,andagainothershavedisappearedevenfromfables.Rememberthisthen,thatthislittlecompound,thyself,musteitherbedissolved,orthypoorbreathmustbeextinguished,orberemovedandplacedelsewhere.

    Itissatisfactiontoamantodotheproperworksofaman.Nowitisaproperworkofamantobebenevolenttohisownkind,todespisethemovementsofthesenses,toformajustjudgementofplausibleappearances,andtotakeasurveyofthenatureoftheuniverseandofthethingswhichhappeninit.

    Therearethreerelationsbetweentheeandotherthings:theonetothebodywhichsurroundsthee;thesecondtothedivinecausefromwhichallthingscometoall;andthethirdtothosewholivewiththee.

    Painiseitheraneviltothebody-thenletthebodysaywhatitthinksofit-ortothesoul;butitisinthepowerofthesoultomaintainitsownserenityandtranquility,andnottothinkthatpainisanevil.Foreveryjudgementandmovementanddesireandaversioniswithin,andnoevilascendssohigh.

    Wipeoutthyimaginationsbyoftensayingtothyself:nowitisinmypowertoletnobadnessbeinthissoul,nordesirenoranyperturbationatall;butlookingatallthingsIseewhatistheirnature,andIuseeachaccordingtoitsvalue-Rememberthispowerwhichthouhastfromnature.

    Speakbothinthesenateandtoeveryman,whoeverhemaybe,appropriately,notwithanyaffectation:useplaindiscourse.

    Augustus-court,wife,daughter,descendants,ancestors,sister,Agrippa,kinsmen,intimates,friends,Areius,Maecenas,physiciansandsacrificingpriests-thewholecourtisdead.Thenturntotherest,notconsideringthedeathofasingleman,butofawholerace,asofthePompeii;andthatwhichisinscribedonthetombs-Thelastofhisrace.Thenconsiderwhattroublethosebeforethemhavehadthattheymightleaveasuccessor;andthen,thatofnecessitysomeonemustbethelast.Againhereconsiderthedeathofawholerace.

    Itisthydutytoorderthylifewellineverysingleact;andifeveryactdoesitsduty,asfarasispossible,becontent;andnooneisabletohindertheesothateachactshallnotdoitsduty-Butsomethingexternalwillstandintheway-Nothingwillstandinthewayofthyactingjustlyandsoberlyandconsiderately-Butperhapssomeotheractivepowerwillbehindered-Well,butbyacquiescinginthehindranceandbybeingcontenttotransferthyeffortstothatwhichisallowed,anotheropportunityofactionisimmediatelyputbeforetheeinplaceofthatwhichwashindered,andonewhichwilladaptitselftothisorderingofwhichwearespeaking.

    Receivewealthorprosperitywithoutarrogance;andbereadytoletitgo.

    Ifthoudidsteverseeahandcutoff,orafoot,orahead,lyinganywhereapartfromtherestofthebody,suchdoesamanmakehimself,asfarashecan,whoisnotcontentwithwhathappens,andseparateshimselffromothers,ordoesanythingunsocial.Supposethatthouhastdetachedthyselffromthenaturalunity-forthouwastmadebynatureapart,butnowthouhastcutthyselfoff-yetherethereisthisbeautifulprovision,thatitisinthypoweragaintounitethyself.Godhasallowedthistonootherpart,afterithasbeenseparatedandcutasunder,tocometogetheragain.Butconsiderthekindnessbywhichhehasdistinguishedman,forhehasputitinhispowernottobeseparatedatallfromtheuniversal;andwhenhehasbeenseparated,hehasallowedhimtoreturnandtobeunitedandtoresumehisplaceasapart.

    Asthenatureoftheuniversalhasgiventoeveryrationalbeingalltheotherpowersthatithas,sowehavereceivedfromitthispoweralso.Forastheuniversalnatureconvertsandfixesinitspredestinedplaceeverythingwhichstandsinthewayandopposesit,andmakessuchthingsapartofitself,soalsotherationalanimalisabletomakeeveryhindranceitsownmaterial,andtouseitforsuchpurposesasitmayhavedesigned.

    Donotdisturbthyselfbythinkingofthewholeofthylife.Letnotthythoughtsatonceembraceallthevarioustroubleswhichthoumayestexpecttobefallthee:butoneveryoccasionaskthyself,Whatisthereinthiswhichisintolerableandpastbearing?Forthouwiltbeashamedtoconfess.Inthenextplacerememberthatneitherthefuturenorthepastpainsthee,butonlythepresent.Butthisisreducedtoaverylittle,ifthouonlycircumscribestit,andchidestthymind,ifitisunabletoholdoutagainsteventhis.

    DoesPantheaorPergamusnowsitbythetombofVerus?DoesChauriasorDiotimussitbythetombofHadrian?Thatwouldberidiculous.Well,supposetheydidsitthere,wouldthedeadbeconsciousofit?Andifthedeadwereconscious,wouldtheybepleased?Andiftheywerepleased,wouldthatmakethemimmortal?Wasitnotintheorderofdestinythatthesepersonstooshouldfirstbecomeoldwomenandoldmenandthendie?Whatthenwouldthosedoaftertheseweredead?Allthisisfoulsmellandbloodinabag.

    Ifthoucanstseesharp,lookandjudgewisely,saysthephilosopher.

    IntheconstitutionoftherationalanimalIseenovirtuewhichisopposedtojustice;butIseeavirtuewhichisopposedtoloveofpleasure,andthatistemperance.

    Ifthoutakestawaythyopinionaboutthatwhichappearstogivetheepain,thouthyselfstandestinperfectsecurity-Whoisthisself?-Thereason-ButIamnotreason-Beitso.Letthenthereasonitselfnottroubleitself.Butifanyotherpartoftheesuffers,letithaveitsownopinionaboutitself.

    Hindrancetotheperceptionsofsenseisaneviltotheanimalnature.Hindrancetothemovements(desires)isequallyaneviltotheanimalnature.Andsomethingelsealsoisequallyanimpedimentandaneviltotheconstitutionofplants.Sothenthatwhichisahindrancetotheintelligenceisaneviltotheintelligentnature.Applyallthesethingsthentothyself.Doespainorsensuouspleasureaffectthee?Thesenseswilllooktothat-Hasanyobstacleopposedtheeinthyeffortstowardsanobject?ifindeedthouwastmakingthiseffortabsolutely(unconditionally,orwithoutanyreservation),certainlythisobstacleisaneviltotheeconsideredasarationalanimal.Butifthoutakestintoconsiderationtheusualcourseofthings,thouhastnotyetbeeninjurednorevenimpeded.Thethingshoweverwhicharepropertotheunderstandingnoothermanisusedtoimpede,forneitherfire,noriron,nortyrant,norabuse,touchesitinanyway.Whenithasbeenmadeasphere,itcontinuesasphere.

    ItisnotfitthatIshouldgivemyselfpain,forIhaveneverintentionallygivenpaineventoanother.

    Differentthingsdelightdifferentpeople.Butitismydelighttokeeptherulingfacultysoundwithoutturningawayeitherfromanymanorfromanyofthethingswhichhappentomen,butlookingatandreceivingallwithwelcomeeyesandusingeverythingaccordingtoitsvalue.

    Seethatthousecurethispresenttimetothyself:forthosewhoratherpursueposthumousfamedoconsiderthatthemenofaftertimewillbeexactlysuchasthesewhomtheycannotbearnow;andbotharemortal.Andwhatisitinanywaytotheeifthesemenofaftertimeutterthisorthatsound,orhavethisorthatopinionaboutthee?

    Takemeandcastmewherethouwilt;forthereIshallkeepmydivineparttranquil,thatis,content,ifitcanfeelandactconformablytoitsproperconstitution.Isthischangeofplacesufficientreasonwhymysoulshouldbeunhappyandworsethanitwas,depressed,expanded,shrinking,affrighted?Andwhatwiltthoufindwhichissufficientreasonforthis?

    Nothingcanhappentoanymanwhichisnotahumanaccident,nortoanoxwhichisnotaccordingtothenatureofanox,nortoavinewhichisnotaccordingtothenatureofavine,nortoastonewhichisnotpropertoastone.Ifthentherehappenstoeachthingbothwhatisusualandnatural,whyshouldstthoucomplain?Forthecommonnaturebringsnothingwhichmaynotbebornebythee.

    Ifthouartpainedbyanyexternalthing,itisnotthisthingthatdisturbsthee,butthyownjudgementaboutit.Anditisinthypowertowipeoutthisjudgementnow.Butifanythinginthyowndispositiongivestheepain,whohinderstheefromcorrectingthyopinion?Andevenifthouartpainedbecausethouartnotdoingsomeparticularthingwhichseemstotheetoberight,whydostthounotratheractthancomplain?-Butsomeinsuperableobstacleisintheway?-Donotbegrievedthen,forthecauseofitsnotbeingdonedependsnotonthee-Butitisnotworthwhiletoliveifthiscannotbedone-Takethydeparturethenfromlifecontentedly,justashedieswhoisinfullactivity,andwellpleasedtoowiththethingswhichareobstacles.

    Rememberthattherulingfacultyisinvincible,whenself-collecteditissatisfiedwithitself,ifitdoesnothingwhichitdoesnotchoosetodo,evenifitresistfrommereobstinacy.Whatthenwillitbewhenitformsajudgementaboutanythingaidedbyreasonanddeliberately?Thereforethemindwhichisfreefrompassionsisacitadel,formanhasnothingmoresecuretowhichhecanflyfor,refugeandforthefuturebeinexpugnable.Hethenwhohasnotseenthisisanignorantman;buthewhohasseenitanddoesnotflytothisrefugeisunhappy.

    Saynothingmoretothyselfthanwhatthefirstappearancesreport.Supposethatithasbeenreportedtotheethatacertainpersonspeaksillofthee.Thishasbeenreported;butthatthouhastbeeninjured,thathasnotbeenreported.Iseethatmychildissick.Idosee;butthatheisindanger,Idonotsee.Thusthenalwaysabidebythefirstappearances,andaddnothingthyselffromwithin,andthennothinghappenstothee.Orratheraddsomething,likeamanwhoknowseverythingthathappensintheworld.

    Acucumberisbitter-Throwitaway-Therearebriarsintheroad-Turnasidefromthem-Thisisenough.Donotadd,Andwhyweresuchthingsmadeintheworld?Forthouwiltberidiculedbyamanwhoisacquaintedwithnature,asthouwouldstberidiculedbyacarpenterandshoemakerifthoudidstfindfaultbecausethouseestintheirworkshopshavingsandcuttingsfromthethingswhichtheymake.Andyettheyhaveplacesintowhichtheycanthrowtheseshavingsandcuttings,andtheuniversalnaturehasnoexternalspace;butthewondrouspartofherartisthatthoughshehascircumscribedherself,everythingwithinherwhichappearstodecayandtogrowoldandtobeuselessshechangesintoherself,andagainmakesothernewthingsfromtheseverysame,sothatsherequiresneithersubstancefromwithoutnorwantsaplaceintowhichshemaycastthatwhichdecays.Sheiscontentthenwithherownspace,andherownmatterandherownart.

    Neitherinthyactionsbesluggishnorinthyconversationwithoutmethod,norwanderinginthythoughts,norlettherebeinthysoulinwardcontentionnorexternaleffusion,norinlifebesobusyastohavenoleisure.

    Supposethatmenkillthee,cuttheeinpieces,cursethee.Whatthencanthesethingsdotopreventthymindfromremainingpure,wise,sober,just?Forinstance,ifamanshouldstandbyalimpidpurespring,andcurseit,thespringneverceasessendinguppotablewater;andifheshouldcastclayintoitorfilth,itwillspeedilydispersethemandwashthemout,andwillnotbeatallpolluted.Howthenshaltthoupossessaperpetualfountainandnotamerewell?Byformingthyselfhourlytofreedomconjoinedwithcontentment,simplicityandmodesty.

    Hewhodoesnotknowwhattheworldis,doesnotknowwhereheis.Andhewhodoesnotknowforwhatpurposetheworldexists,doesnotknowwhoheis,norwhattheworldis.Buthewhohasfailedinanyoneofthesethingscouldnotevensayforwhatpurposeheexistshimself.Whatthendostthouthinkofhimwhoavoidsorseeksthepraiseofthosewhoapplaud,ofmenwhoknownoteitherwheretheyareorwhotheyare?

    Dostthouwishtobepraisedbyamanwhocurseshimselfthriceeveryhour?Wouldstthouwishtopleaseamanwhodoesnotpleasehimself?Doesamanpleasehimselfwhorepentsofnearlyeverythingthathedoes?

    Nolongerletthybreathingonlyactinconcertwiththeairwhichsurroundsthee,butletthyintelligencealsonowbeinharmonywiththeintelligencewhichembracesallthings.Fortheintelligentpowerisnolessdiffusedinallpartsandpervadesallthingsforhimwhoiswillingtodrawittohimthantheaerialpowerforhimwhoisabletorespireit.

    Generally,wickednessdoesnoharmatalltotheuniverse;andparticularly,thewickednessofonemandoesnoharmtoanother.Itisonlyharmfultohimwhohasitinhispowertobereleasedfromit,assoonasheshallchoose.

    Tomyownfreewillthefreewillofmyneighbourisjustasindifferentashispoorbreathandflesh.Forthoughwearemadeespeciallyforthesakeofoneanother,stilltherulingpowerofeachofushasitsownoffice,forotherwisemyneighbour-swickednesswouldbemyharm,whichGodhasnotwilledinorderthatmyunhappinessmaynotdependonanother.

    Thesunappearstobepoureddown,andinalldirectionsindeeditisdiffused,yetitisnoteffused.Forthisdiffusionisextension:AccordinglyitsraysarecalledExtensions[aktines]becausetheyareextended[apotouekteinesthai].Butonemayjudgewhatkindofathingarayis,ifhelooksatthesun-slightpassingthroughanarrowopeningintoadarkenedroom,foritisextendedinarightline,andasitwereisdividedwhenitmeetswithanysolidbodywhichstandsinthewayandinterceptstheairbeyond;buttherethelightremainsfixedanddoesnotglideorfalloff.Suchthenoughttobetheout-pouringanddiffusionoftheunderstanding,anditshouldinnowaybeaneffusion,butanextension,anditshouldmakenoviolentorimpetuouscollisionwiththeobstacleswhichareinitsway;noryetfalldown,butbefixedandenlightenthatwhichreceivesit.Forabodywilldepriveitselfoftheillumination,ifitdoesnotadmitit.

    Hewhofearsdeatheitherfearsthelossofsensationoradifferentkindofsensation.Butifthoushalthavenosensation,neitherwiltthoufeelanyharm;andifthoushaltacquireanotherkindofsensation,thouwiltbeadifferentkindoflivingbeingandthouwiltnotceasetolive.

    Menexistforthesakeofoneanother.Teachthemthenorbearwiththem.

    Inonewayanarrowmoves,inanotherwaythemind.Themindindeed,bothwhenitexercisescautionandwhenitisemployedaboutinquiry,movesstraightonwardnottheless,andtoitsobject.

    Enterintoeveryman-srulingfaculty;andalsoleteveryothermanenterintothine.

    BookNine

    Hehoactsunjustlyactsimpiously.Forsincetheuniversalnaturehasmaderationalanimalsforthesakeofoneanothertohelponeanotheraccordingtotheirdeserts,butinnowaytoinjureoneanother,hewhotransgressesherwill,isclearlyguiltyofimpietytowardsthehighestdivinity.Andhetoowholiesisguiltyofimpietytothesamedivinity;fortheuniversalnatureisthenatureofthingsthatare;andthingsthatarehavearelationtoallthingsthatcomeintoexistence.Andfurther,thisuniversalnatureisnamedtruth,andistheprimecauseofallthingsthataretrue.Hethenwholiesintentionallyisguiltyofimpietyinasmuchasheactsunjustlybydeceiving;andhealsowholiesunintentionally,inasmuchasheisatvariancewiththeuniversalnature,andinasmuchashedisturbstheorderbyfightingagainstthenatureoftheworld;forhefightsagainstit,whoismovedofhimselftothatwhichiscontrarytotruth,forhehadreceivedpowersfromnaturethroughtheneglectofwhichheisnotablenowtodistinguishfalsehoodfromtruth.Andindeedhewhopursuespleasureasgood,andavoidspainasevil,isguiltyofimpiety.Forofnecessitysuchamanmustoftenfindfaultwiththeuniversalnature,allegingthatitassignsthingstothebadandthegoodcontrarytotheirdeserts,becausefrequentlythebadareintheenjoymentofpleasureandpossessthethingswhichprocurepleasure,butthegoodhavepainfortheirshareandthethingswhichcausepain.Andfurther,hewhoisafraidofpainwillsometimesalsobeafraidofsomeofthethingswhichwillhappenintheworld,andeventhisisimpiety.Andhewhopursuespleasurewillnotabstainfrominjustice,andthisisplainlyimpiety.Nowwithrespecttothethingstowardswhichtheuniversalnatureisequallyaffected-foritwouldnothavemadeboth,unlessitwasequallyaffectedtowardsboth-towardsthesetheywhowishtofollownatureshouldbeofthesamemindwithit,andequallyaffected.Withrespecttopain,then,andpleasure,ordeathandlife,orhonouranddishonour,whichtheuniversalnatureemploysequally,whoeverisnotequallyaffectedismanifestlyactingimpiously.AndIsaythattheuniversalnatureemploysthemequally,insteadofsayingthattheyhappenaliketothosewhoareproducedincontinuousseriesandtothosewhocomeafterthembyvirtueofacertainoriginalmovementofProvidence,accordingtowhichitmovedfromacertainbeginningtothisorderingofthings,havingconceivedcertainprinciplesofthethingswhichweretobe,andhavingdeterminedpowersproductiveofbeingsandofchangesandofsuchlikesuccessions.

    Itwouldbeaman-shappiestlottodepartfrommankindwithouthavinghadanytasteoflyingandhypocrisyandluxuryandpride.Howevertobreatheoutone-slifewhenamanhashadenoughofthesethingsisthenextbestvoyage,asthesayingis.Hastthoudeterminedtoabidewithvice,andhasnotexperienceyetinducedtheetoflyfromthispestilence?Forthedestructionoftheunderstandingisapestilence,muchmoreindeedthananysuchcorruptionandchangeofthisatmospherewhichsurroundsus.Forthiscorruptionisapestilenceofanimalssofarastheyareanimals;buttheotherisapestilenceofmensofarastheyaremen.

    Donotdespisedeath,butbewellcontentwithit,sincethistooisoneofthosethingswhichnaturewills.Forsuchasitistobeyoungandtogrowold,andtoincreaseandtoreachmaturity,andtohaveteethandbeardandgreyhairs,andtobeget,andtobepregnantandtobringforth,andalltheothernaturaloperationswhichtheseasonsofthylifebring,suchalsoisdissolution.This,then,isconsistentwiththecharacterofareflectingman,tobeneithercarelessnorimpatientnorcontemptuouswithrespecttodeath,buttowaitforitasoneoftheoperationsofnature.Asthounowwaitestforthetimewhenthechildshallcomeoutofthywife-swomb,sobereadyforthetimewhenthysoulshallfalloutofthisenvelope.Butifthourequirestalsoavulgarkindofcomfortwhichshallreachthyheart,thouwiltbemadebestreconciledtodeathbyobservingtheobjectsfromwhichthouartgoingtoberemoved,andthemoralsofthosewithwhomthysoulwillnolongerbemingled.Foritisnowayrighttobeoffendedwithmen,butitisthydutytocareforthemandtobearwiththemgently;andyettorememberthatthydeparturewillbenotfrommenwhohavethesameprinciplesasthyself.Forthisistheonlything,iftherebeany,whichcoulddrawusthecontrarywayandattachustolife,tobepermittedtolivewiththosewhohavethesameprinciplesasourselves.Butnowthouseesthowgreatisthetroublearisingfromthediscordanceofthosewholivetogether,sothatthoumayestsay,Comequick,Odeath,lestperchanceI,too,shouldforgetmyself.

    Hewhodoeswrongdoeswrongagainsthimself.Hewhoactsunjustlyactsunjustlytohimself,becausehemakeshimselfbad.

    Heoftenactsunjustlywhodoesnotdoacertainthing;notonlyhewhodoesacertainthing.

    Thypresentopinionfoundedonunderstanding,andthypresentconductdirectedtosocialgood,andthypresentdispositionofcontentmentwitheverythingwhichhappens-thatisenough.

    Wipeoutimagination:checkdesire:extinguishappetite:keeptherulingfacultyinitsownpower.

    Amongtheanimalswhichhavenotreasononelifeisdistributed;butamongreasonableanimalsoneintelligentsoulisdistributed:justasthereisoneearthofallthingswhichareofanearthynature,andweseebyonelight,andbreatheoneair,allofusthathavethefacultyofvisionandallthathavelife.

    Allthingswhichparticipateinanythingwhichiscommontothemallmovetowardsthatwhichisofthesamekindwiththemselves.Everythingwhichisearthyturnstowardstheearth,everythingwhichisliquidflowstogether,andeverythingwhichisofanaerialkinddoesthesame,sothattheyrequiresomethingtokeepthemasunder,andtheapplicationofforce.Fireindeedmovesupwardsonaccountoftheelementalfire,butitissoreadytobekindledtogetherwithallthefirewhichishere,thateveneverysubstancewhichissomewhatdry,iseasilyignited,becausethereislessmingledwithitofthatwhichisahindrancetoignition.Accordinglytheneverythingalsowhichparticipatesinthecommonintelligentnaturemovesinlikemannertowardsthatwhichisofthesamekindwithitself,ormovesevenmore.Forsomuchasitissuperiorincomparisonwithallotherthings,inthesamedegreealsoisitmorereadytominglewithandtobefusedwiththatwhichisakintoit.Accordinglyamonganimalsdevoidofreasonwefindswarmsofbees,andherdsofcattle,andthenurtureofyoungbirds,andinamanner,loves;foreveninanimalstherearesouls,andthatpowerwhichbringsthemtogetherisseentoexertitselfinthesuperiordegree,andinsuchawayasneverhasbeenobservedinplantsnorinstonesnorintrees.Butinrationalanimalstherearepoliticalcommunitiesandfriendships,andfamiliesandmeetingsofpeople;andinwars,treatiesandarmistices.Butinthethingswhicharestillsuperior,eventhoughtheyareseparatedfromoneanother,unityinamannerexists,asinthestars.Thustheascenttothehigherdegreeisabletoproduceasympathyeveninthingswhichareseparated.See,then,whatnowtakesplace.Foronlyintelligentanimalshavenowforgottenthismutualdesireandinclination,andinthemalonethepropertyofflowingtogetherisnotseen.Butstillthoughmenstrivetoavoidthisunion,theyarecaughtandheldbyit,fortheirnatureistoostrongforthem;andthouwiltseewhatIsay,ifthouonlyobservest.Sooner,then,willonefindanythingearthywhichcomesincontactwithnoearthythingthanamanaltogetherseparatedfromothermen.

    BothmanandGodandtheuniverseproducefruit;attheproperseasonseachproducesit.Butifusagehasespeciallyfixedthesetermstothevineandlikethings,thisisnothing.Reasonproducesfruitbothforallandforitself,andthereareproducedfromitotherthingsofthesamekindasreasonitself.

    Ifthouartable,correctbyteachingthosewhodowrong;butifthoucanstnot,rememberthatindulgenceisgiventotheeforthispurpose.Andthegods,too,areindulgenttosuchpersons;andforsomepurposestheyevenhelpthemtogethealth,wealth,reputation;sokindtheyare.Anditisinthypoweralso;orsay,whohindersthee?

    Labournotasonewhoiswretched,noryetasonewhowouldbepitiedoradmired:butdirectthywilltoonethingonly,toputthyselfinmotionandtocheckthyself,asthesocialreasonrequires.

    To-dayIhavegotoutofalltrouble,orratherIhavecastoutalltrouble,foritwasnotoutside,butwithinandinmyopinions.

    Allthingsarethesame,familiarinexperience,andephemeralintime,andworthlessinthematter.Everythingnowisjustasitwasinthetimeofthosewhomwehaveburied.

    Thingsstandoutsideofus,themselvesbythemselves,neitherknowingaughtofthemselves,norexpressinganyjudgement.Whatisit,then,whichdoesjudgeaboutthem?Therulingfaculty.

    Notinpassivity,butinactivitylietheevilandthegoodoftherationalsocialanimal,justashisvirtueandhisvicelienotinpassivity,butinactivity.

    Forthestonewhichhasbeenthrownupitisnoeviltocomedown,norindeedanygoodtohavebeencarriedup.

    Penetrateinwardsintomen-sleadingprinciples,andthouwiltseewhatjudgesthouartafraidof,andwhatkindofjudgestheyareofthemselves.

    Allthingsarechanging:andthouthyselfartincontinuousmutationandinamannerincontinuousdestruction,andthewholeuniversetoo.

    Itisthydutytoleaveanotherman-swrongfulacttherewhereitis.

    Terminationofactivity,cessationfrommovementandopinion,andinasensetheirdeath,isnoevil.Turnthythoughtsnowtotheconsiderationofthylife,thylifeasachild,asayouth,thymanhood,thyoldage,forinthesealsoeverychangewasadeath.Isthisanythingtofear?Turnthythoughtsnowtothylifeunderthygrandfather,thentothylifeunderthymother,thentothylifeunderthyfather;andasthoufindestmanyotherdifferencesandchangesandterminations,askthyself,Isthisanythingtofear?Inlikemanner,then,neitheraretheterminationandcessationandchangeofthywholelifeathingtobeafraidof.

    Hastentoexaminethyownrulingfacultyandthatoftheuniverseandthatofthyneighbour:thyownthatthoumayestmakeitjust:andthatoftheuniverse,thatthoumayestrememberofwhatthouartapart;andthatofthyneighbour,thatthoumayestknowwhetherhehasactedignorantlyorwithknowledge,andthatthoumayestalsoconsiderthathisrulingfacultyisakintothine.

    Asthouthyselfartacomponentpartofasocialsystem,soleteveryactofthinebeacomponentpartofsociallife.Whateveractofthinethenhasnoreferenceeitherimmediatelyorremotelytoasocialend,thistearsasunderthylife,anddoesnotallowittobeone,anditisofthenatureofamutiny,justaswheninapopularassemblyamanactingbyhimselfstandsapartfromthegeneralagreement.

    Quarrelsoflittlechildrenandtheirsports,andpoorspiritscarryingaboutdeadbodies,suchiseverything;andsowhatisexhibitedintherepresentationofthemansionsofthedeadstrikesoureyesmoreclearly.

    Examineintothequalityoftheformofanobject,anddetachitaltogetherfromitsmaterialpart,andthencontemplateit;thendeterminethetime,thelongestwhichathingofthispeculiarformisnaturallymadetoendure.

    Thouhastenduredinfinitetroublesthroughnotbeingcontentedwiththyrulingfaculty,whenitdoesthethingswhichitisconstitutedbynaturetodo.Butenoughofthis.

    Whenanotherblamestheeorhatesthee,orwhenmensayabouttheeanythinginjurious,approachtheirpoorsouls,penetratewithin,andseewhatkindofmentheyare.Thouwiltdiscoverthatthereisnoreasontotakeanytroublethatthesemenmayhavethisorthatopinionaboutthee.Howeverthoumustbewelldisposedtowardsthem,forbynaturetheyarefriends.Andthegodstooaidtheminallways,bydreams,bysigns,towardstheattainmentofthosethingsonwhichtheysetavalue.

    Theperiodicmovementsoftheuniversearethesame,upanddownfromagetoage.Andeithertheuniversalintelligenceputsitselfinmotionforeveryseparateeffect,andifthisisso,bethoucontentwiththatwhichistheresultofitsactivity;oritputsitselfinmotiononce,andeverythingelsecomesbywayofsequenceinamanner;orindivisibleelementsaretheoriginofallthings-Inaword,ifthereisagod,alliswell;andifchancerules,donotthoualsobegovernedbyit.

    Soonwilltheearthcoverusall:thentheearth,too,willchange,andthethingsalsowhichresultfromchangewillcontinuetochangeforever,andtheseagainforever.Forifamanreflectsonthechangesandtransformationswhichfollowoneanotherlikewaveafterwaveandtheirrapidity,hewilldespiseeverythingwhichisperishable.

    Theuniversalcauseislikeawintertorrent:itcarrieseverythingalongwithit.Buthowworthlessareallthesepoorpeoplewhoareengagedinmatterspolitical,and,astheysuppose,areplayingthephilosopher!Alldrivellers.Wellthen,man:dowhatnaturenowrequires.Setthyselfinmotion,ifitisinthypower,anddonotlookabouttheetoseeifanyonewillobserveit;noryetexpectPlato-sRepublic:butbecontentifthesmallestthinggoesonwell,andconsidersuchaneventtobenosmallmatter.Forwhocanchangemen-sopinions?Andwithoutachangeofopinionswhatelseistherethantheslaveryofmenwhogroanwhiletheypretendtoobey?ComenowandtellmeofAlexanderandPhilipandDemetriusofPhalerum.Theythemselvesshalljudgewhethertheydiscoveredwhatthecommonnaturerequired,andtrainedthemselvesaccordingly.Butiftheyactedliketragedyheroes,noonehascondemnedmetoimitatethem.Simpleandmodestistheworkofphilosophy.Drawmenotasidetoindolenceandpride.

    Lookdownfromaboveonthecountlessherdsofmenandtheircountlesssolemnities,andtheinfinitelyvariedvoyagingsinstormsandcalms,andthedifferencesamongthosewhoareborn,wholivetogether,anddie.Andconsider,too,thelifelivedbyothersinoldentime,andthelifeofthosewhowillliveafterthee,andthelifenowlivedamongbarbarousnations,andhowmanyknownoteventhyname,andhowmanywillsoonforgetit,andhowtheywhoperhapsnowarepraisingtheewillverysoonblamethee,andthatneitheraposthumousnameisofanyvalue,norreputation,noranythingelse.

    Lettherebefreedomfromperturbationswithrespecttothethingswhichcomefromtheexternalcause;andlettherebejusticeinthethingsdonebyvirtueoftheinternalcause,thatis,lettherebemovementandactionterminatinginthis,insocialacts,forthisisaccordingtothynature.

    Thoucanstremoveoutofthewaymanyuselessthingsamongthosewhichdisturbthee,fortheylieentirelyinthyopinion;andthouwiltthengainforthyselfamplespacebycomprehendingthewholeuniverseinthymind,andbycontemplatingtheeternityoftime,andobservingtherapidchangeofeveryseveralthing,howshortisthetimefrombirthtodissolution,andtheillimitabletimebeforebirthaswellastheequallyboundlesstimeafterdissolution.

    Allthatthouseestwillquicklyperish,andthosewhohavebeenspectatorsofitsdissolutionwillverysoonperishtoo.Andhewhodiesattheextremestoldagewillbebroughtintothesameconditionwithhimwhodiedprematurely.

    Whatarethesemen-sleadingprinciples,andaboutwhatkindofthingsaretheybusy,andforwhatkindofreasonsdotheyloveandhonour?Imaginethatthouseesttheirpoorsoulslaidbare.Whentheythinkthattheydoharmbytheirblameorgoodbytheirpraise,whatanidea!

    Lossisnothingelsethanchange.Buttheuniversalnaturedelightsinchange,andinobediencetoherallthingsarenowdonewell,andfrometernityhavebeendoneinlikeform,andwillbesuchtotimewithoutend.What,then,dostthousay?Thatallthingshavebeenandallthingsalwayswillbebad,andthatnopowerhaseverbeenfoundinsomanygodstorectifythesethings,buttheworldhasbeencondemnedtobefoundinneverceasingevil?

    Therottennessofthematterwhichisthefoundationofeverything!Water,dust,bones,filth:oragain,marblerocks,thecallositiesoftheearth;andgoldandsilver,thesediments;andgarments,onlybitsofhair;andpurpledye,blood;andeverythingelseisofthesamekind.Andthatwhichisofthenatureofbreathisalsoanotherthingofthesamekind,changingfromthistothat.

    Enoughofthiswretchedlifeandmurmuringandapishtricks.Whyartthoudisturbed?Whatistherenewinthis?Whatunsettlesthee?Isittheformofthething?Lookatit.Orisitthematter?Lookatit.Butbesidesthesethereisnothing.Towardsthegods,then,nowbecomeatlastmoresimpleandbetter.Itisthesamewhetherweexaminethesethingsforahundredyearsorthree.

    Ifanymanhasdonewrong,theharmishisown.Butperhapshehasnotdonewrong.

    Eitherallthingsproceedfromoneintelligentsourceandcometogetherasinonebody,andthepartoughtnottofindfaultwithwhatisdoneforthebenefitofthewhole;orthereareonlyatoms,andnothingelsethanmixtureanddispersion.Why,then,artthoudisturbed?Saytotherulingfaculty,Artthoudead,artthoucorrupted,artthouplayingthehypocrite,artthoubecomeabeast,dostthouherdandfeedwiththerest?

    Eitherthegodshavenopowerortheyhavepower.If,then,theyhavenopower,whydostthoupraytothem?Butiftheyhavepower,whydostthounotprayforthemtogivetheethefacultyofnotfearinganyofthethingswhichthoufearest,orofnotdesiringanyofthethingswhichthoudesirest,ornotbeingpainedatanything,ratherthanpraythatanyofthesethingsshouldnothappenorhappen?forcertainlyiftheycanco-operatewithmen,theycanco-operateforthesepurposes.Butperhapsthouwiltsay,thegodshaveplacedtheminthypower.Well,then,isitnotbettertousewhatisinthypowerlikeafreemanthantodesireinaslavishandabjectwaywhatisnotinthypower?Andwhohastoldtheethatthegodsdonotaiduseveninthethingswhichareinourpower?Begin,then,toprayforsuchthings,andthouwiltsee.Onemanpraysthus:HowshallIbeabletoliewiththatwoman?Dothoupraythus:HowshallInotdesiretoliewithher?Anotherpraysthus:HowshallIbereleasedfromthis?Anotherprays:HowshallInotdesiretobereleased?Anotherthus:HowshallInotlosemylittleson?Thouthus:HowshallInotbeafraidtolosehim?Infine,turnthyprayersthisway,andseewhatcomes.

    Epicurussays,Inmysicknessmyconversationwasnotaboutmybodilysufferings,nor,sayshe,didItalkonsuchsubjectstothosewhovisitedme;butIcontinuedtodiscourseonthenatureofthingsasbefore,keepingtothismainpoint,howthemind,whileparticipatinginsuchmovementsasgooninthepoorflesh,shallbefreefromperturbationsandmaintainitspropergood.NordidI,hesays,givethephysiciansanopportunityofputtingonsolemnlooks,asiftheyweredoingsomethinggreat,butmylifewentonwellandhappily.Do,then,thesamethathedidbothinsickness,ifthouartsick,andinanyothercircumstances;fornevertodesertphilosophyinanyeventsthatmaybefallus,nortoholdtriflingtalkeitherwithanignorantmanorwithoneunacquaintedwithnature,isaprincipleofallschoolsofphilosophy;buttobeintentonlyonthatwhichthouartnowdoingandontheinstrumentbywhichthoudoestit.

    Whenthouartoffendedwithanyman-sshamelessconduct,immediatelyaskthyself,Isitpossible,then,thatshamelessmenshouldnotbeintheworld?Itisnotpossible.Donot,then,requirewhatisimpossible.Forthismanalsoisoneofthoseshamelessmenwhomustofnecessitybeintheworld.Letthesameconsiderationsbepresenttothymindinthecaseoftheknave,andthefaithlessman,andofeverymanwhodoeswronginanyway.Foratthesametimethatthoudostremindthyselfthatitisimpossiblethatsuchkindofmenshouldnotexist,thouwiltbecomemorekindlydisposedtowardseveryoneindividually.Itisusefultoperceivethis,too,immediatelywhentheoccasionarises,whatvirtuenaturehasgiventomantoopposetoeverywrongfulact.Forshehasgiventoman,asanantidoteagainstthestupidman,mildness,andagainstanotherkindofmansomeotherpower.Andinallcasesitispossiblefortheetocorrectbyteachingthemanwhoisgoneastray;foreverymanwhoerrsmisseshisobjectandisgoneastray.Besideswhereinhastthoubeeninjured?Forthouwiltfindthatnooneamongthoseagainstwhomthouartirritatedhasdoneanythingbywhichthymindcouldbemadeworse;butthatwhichiseviltotheeandharmfulhasitsfoundationonlyinthemind.Andwhatharmisdoneorwhatistherestrange,ifthemanwhohasnotbeeninstructeddoestheactsofanuninstructedman?Considerwhetherthoushouldstnotratherblamethyself,becausethoudidstnotexpectsuchamantoerrinsuchaway.Forthouhadstmeansgiventheebythyreasontosupposethatitwaslikelythathewouldcommitthiserror,andyetthouhastforgottenandartamazedthathehaserred.Butmostofallwhenthoublamestamanasfaithlessorungrateful,turntothyself.Forthefaultismanifestlythyown,whetherthoudidsttrustthatamanwhohadsuchadispositionwouldkeephispromise,orwhenconferringthykindnessthoudidstnotconferitabsolutely,noryetinsuchwayastohavereceivedfromthyveryactalltheprofit.Forwhatmoredostthouwantwhenthouhastdoneamanaservice?Artthounotcontentthatthouhastdonesomethingconformabletothynature,anddostthouseektobepaidforit?Justasiftheeyedemandedarecompenseforseeing,orthefeetforwalking.Forasthesemembersareformedforaparticularpurpose,andbyworkingaccordingtotheirseveralconstitutionsobtainwhatistheirown;soalsoasmanisformedbynaturetoactsofbenevolence,whenhehasdoneanythingbenevolentorinanyotherwayconducivetothecommoninterest,hehasactedconformablytohisconstitution,andhegetswhatishisown.

    BookTen

    Wiltthou,then,mysoul,neverbegoodandsimpleandoneandnaked,moremanifestthanthebodywhichsurroundsthee?Wiltthouneverenjoyanaffectionateandcontenteddisposition?Wiltthouneverbefullandwithoutawantofanykind,longingfornothingmore,nordesiringanything,eitheranimateorinanimate,fortheenjoymentofpleasures?Noryetdesiringtimewhereinthoushalthavelongerenjoyment,orplace,orpleasantclimate,orsocietyofmenwithwhomthoumayestliveinharmony?Butwiltthoubesatisfiedwiththypresentcondition,andpleasedwithallthatisaboutthee,andwiltthouconvincethyselfthatthouhasteverythingandthatitcomesfromthegods,thateverythingiswellforthee,andwillbewellwhatevershallpleasethem,andwhatevertheyshallgivefortheconservationoftheperfectlivingbeing,thegoodandjustandbeautiful,whichgeneratesandholdstogetherallthings,andcontainsandembracesallthingswhicharedissolvedfortheproductionofotherlikethings?Wiltthouneverbesuchthatthoushaltsodwellincommunitywithgodsandmenasneithertofindfaultwiththematall,nortobecondemnedbythem?

    Observewhatthynaturerequires,sofarasthouartgovernedbynatureonly:thendoitandacceptit,ifthynature,sofarasthouartalivingbeing,shallnotbemadeworsebyit.

    Andnextthoumustobservewhatthynaturerequiressofarasthouartalivingbeing.Andallthisthoumayestallowthyself,ifthynature,sofarasthouartarationalanimal,shallnotbemadeworsebyit.Buttherationalanimalisconsequentlyalsoapolitical(social)animal.Usetheserules,then,andtroublethyselfaboutnothingelse.

    Everythingwhichhappenseitherhappensinsuchwiseasthouartformedbynaturetobearit,orasthouartnotformedbynaturetobearit.If,then,ithappenstotheeinsuchwayasthouartformedbynaturetobearit,donotcomplain,butbearitasthouartformedbynaturetobearit.Butifithappensinsuchwiseasthouartnotformedbynaturetobearit,donotcomplain,foritwillperishafterithasconsumedthee.Remember,however,thatthouartformedbynaturetobeareverything,withrespecttowhichitdependsonthyownopiniontomakeitendurableandtolerable,bythinkingthatitiseitherthyinterestorthydutytodothis.

    Ifamanismistaken,instructhimkindlyandshowhimhiserror.Butifthouartnotable,blamethyself,orblamenoteventhyself.

    Whatevermayhappentothee,itwaspreparedfortheefromalleternity;andtheimplicationofcauseswasfrometernityspinningthethreadofthybeing,andofthatwhichisincidenttoit.

    Whethertheuniverseisaconcourseofatoms,ornatureisasystem,letthisfirstbeestablished,thatIamapartofthewholewhichisgovernedbynature;next,Iaminamannerintimatelyrelatedtothepartswhichareofthesamekindwithmyself.Forrememberingthis,inasmuchasIamapart,Ishallbediscontentedwithnoneofthethingswhichareassignedtomeoutofthewhole;fornothingisinjurioustothepart,ifitisfortheadvantageofthewhole.Forthewholecontainsnothingwhichisnotforitsadvantage;andallnaturesindeedhavethiscommonprinciple,butthenatureoftheuniversehasthisprinciplebesides,thatitcannotbecompelledevenbyanyexternalcausetogenerateanythingharmfultoitself.Byremembering,then,thatIamapartofsuchawhole,Ishallbecontentwitheverythingthathappens.AndinasmuchasIaminamannerintimatelyrelatedtothepartswhichareofthesamekindwithmyself,Ishalldonothingunsocial,butIshallratherdirectmyselftothethingswhichareofthesamekindwithmyself,andIshallturnanmyeffortstothecommoninterest,anddivertthemfromthecontrary.Now,ifthesethingsaredoneso,lifemustflowonhappily,justasthoumayestobservethatthelifeofacitizenishappy,whocontinuesacourseofactionwhichisadvantageoustohisfellow-citizens,andiscontentwithwhateverthestatemayassigntohim.

    Thepartsofthewhole,everything,Imean,whichisnaturallycomprehendedintheuniverse,mustofnecessityperish;butletthisbeunderstoodinthissense,thattheymustundergochange.Butifthisisnaturallybothanevilandanecessityfortheparts,thewholewouldnotcontinuetoexistinagoodcondition,thepartsbeingsubjecttochangeandconstitutedsoastoperishinvariousways.Forwhetherdidnatureherselfdesigntodoeviltothethingswhicharepartsofherself,andtomakethemsubjecttoevilandofnecessityfallintoevil,orhavesuchresultshappenedwithoutherknowingit?Boththesesuppositions,indeed,areincredible.ButifamanshouldevendropthetermNature(asanefficientpower),andshouldspeakofthesethingsasnatural,eventhenitwouldberidiculoustoaffirmatthesametimethatthepartsofthewholeareintheirnaturesubjecttochange,andatthesametimetobesurprisedorvexedasifsomethingwerehappeningcontrarytonature,particularlyasthedissolutionofthingsisintothosethingsofwhicheachthingiscomposed.Forthereiseitheradispersionoftheelementsoutofwhicheverythinghasbeencompounded,orachangefromthesolidtotheearthyandfromtheairytotheaerial,sothatthesepartsaretakenbackintotheuniversalreason,whetherthisatcertainperiodsisconsumedbyfireorrenewedbyeternalchanges.Anddonotimaginethatthesolidandtheairypartbelongtotheefromthetimeofgeneration.Forallthisreceiveditsaccretiononlyyesterdayandthedaybefore,asonemaysay,fromthefoodandtheairwhichisinspired.This,then,whichhasreceivedtheaccretion,changes,notthatwhichthymotherbroughtforth.Butsupposethatthiswhichthymotherbroughtforthimplicatestheeverymuchwiththatotherpart,whichhasthepeculiarqualityofchange,thisisnothinginfactinthewayofobjectiontowhatissaid.

    Whenthouhastassumedthesenames,good,modest,true,rational,amanofequanimity,andmagnanimous,takecarethatthoudostnotchangethesenames;andifthoushouldstlosethem,quicklyreturntothem.AndrememberthatthetermRationalwasintendedtosignifyadiscriminatingattentiontoeveryseveralthingandfreedomfromnegligence;andthatEquanimityisthevoluntaryacceptanceofthethingswhichareassignedtotheebythecommonnature;andthatMagnanimityistheelevationoftheintelligentpartabovethepleasurableorpainfulsensationsoftheflesh,andabovethatpoorthingcalledfame,anddeath,andallsuchthings.If,then,thoumaintainestthyselfinthepossessionofthesenames,withoutdesiringtobecalledbythesenamesbyothers,thouwiltbeanotherpersonandwiltenteronanotherlife.Fortocontinuetobesuchasthouhasthithertobeen,andtobetominpiecesanddefiledinsuchalife,isthecharacterofaverystupidmanandoneoverfondofhislife,andlikethosehalf-devouredfighterswithwildbeasts,whothoughcoveredwithwoundsandgore,stillintreattobekepttothefollowingday,thoughtheywillbeexposedinthesamestatetothesameclawsandbites.Thereforefixthyselfinthepossessionofthesefewnames:andifthouartabletoabideinthem,abideasifthouwastremovedtocertainislandsoftheHappy.Butifthoushaltperceivethatthoufallestoutofthemanddostnotmaintainthyhold,gocourageouslyintosomenookwherethoushaltmaintainthem,orevendepartatoncefromlife,notinpassion,butwithsimplicityandfreedomandmodesty,afterdoingthisonelaudablethingatleastinthylife,tohavegoneoutofitthus.Inorder,however,totheremembranceofthesenames,itwillgreatlyhelpthee,ifthourememberestthegods,andthattheywishnottobeflattered,butwishallreasonablebeingstobemadelikethemselves;andifthourememberestthatwhatdoestheworkofafig-treeisafig-tree,andthatwhatdoestheworkofadogisadog,andthatwhatdoestheworkofabeeisabee,andthatwhatdoestheworkofamanisaman.

    Mimi,war,astonishment,torpor,slavery,willdailywipeoutthoseholyprinciplesofthine.Howmanythingswithoutstudyingnaturedostthouimagine,andhowmanydostthouneglect?Butitisthydutysotolookonandsotodoeverything,thatatthesametimethepowerofdealingwithcircumstancesisperfected,andthecontemplativefacultyisexercised,andtheconfidencewhichcomesfromtheknowledgeofeachseveralthingismaintainedwithoutshowingit,butyetnotconcealed.Forwhenwiltthouenjoysimplicity,whengravity,andwhentheknowledgeofeveryseveralthing,bothwhatitisinsubstance,andwhatplaceithasintheuniverse,andhowlongitisformedtoexistandofwhatthingsitiscompounded,andtowhomitcanbelong,andwhoareablebothtogiveitandtakeitaway?

    Aspiderisproudwhenithascaughtafly,andanotherwhenhehascaughtapoorhare,andanotherwhenhehastakenalittlefishinanet,andanotherwhenhehastakenwildboars,andanotherwhenhehastakenbears,andanotherwhenhehastakenSarmatians.Arenottheserobbers,ifthouexaminesttheiropinions?

    Acquirethecontemplativewayofseeinghowallthingschangeintooneanother,andconstantlyattendtoit,andexercisethyselfaboutthispartofphilosophy.Fornothingissomuchadaptedtoproducemagnanimity.Suchamanhasputoffthebody,andasheseesthathemust,nooneknowshowsoon,goawayfromamongmenandleaveeverythinghere,hegiveshimselfupentirelytojustdoinginallhisactions,andineverythingelsethathappensheresignshimselftotheuniversalnature.Butastowhatanymanshallsayorthinkabouthimordoagainsthim,henevereventhinksofit,beinghimselfcontentedwiththesetwothings,withactingjustlyinwhathenowdoes,andbeingsatisfiedwithwhatisnowassignedtohim;andhelaysasidealldistractingandbusypursuits,anddesiresnothingelsethantoaccomplishthestraightcoursethroughthelaw,andbyaccomplishingthestraightcoursetofollowGod.

    Whatneedisthereofsuspiciousfear,sinceitisinthypowertoinquirewhatoughttobedone?Andifthouseestclear,gobythiswaycontent,withoutturningback:butifthoudostnotseeclear,stopandtakethebestadvisers.Butifanyotherthingsopposethee,goonaccordingtothypowerswithdueconsideration,keepingtothatwhichappearstobejust.Foritisbesttoreachthisobject,andifthoudostfail,letthyfailurebeinattemptingthis.Hewhofollowsreasoninallthingsisbothtranquilandactiveatthesametime,andalsocheerfulandcollected.

    Inquireofthyselfassoonasthouwakestfromsleep,whetheritwillmakeanydifferencetothee,ifanotherdoeswhatisjustandright.Itwillmakenodifference.

    Thouhastnotforgotten,Isuppose,thatthosewhoassumearrogantairsinbestowingtheirpraiseorblameonothers,aresuchastheyareatbedandatboard,andthouhastnotforgottenwhattheydo,andwhattheyavoidandwhattheypursue,andhowtheystealandhowtheyrob,notwithhandsandfeet,butwiththeirmostvaluablepart,bymeansofwhichthereisproduced,whenamanchooses,fidelity,modesty,truth,law,agooddaemon(happiness)?

    Toherwhogivesandtakesbackall,tonature,themanwhoisinstructedandmodestsays,Givewhatthouwilt;takebackwhatthouwilt.Andhesaysthisnotproudly,butobedientlyandwellpleasedwithher.

    Shortisthelittlewhichremainstotheeoflife.Liveasonamountain.Foritmakesnodifferencewhetheramanlivesthereorhere,ifheliveseverywhereintheworldasinastate(politicalcommunity).Letmensee,letthemknowarealmanwholivesaccordingtonature.Iftheycannotendurehim,letthemkillhim.Forthatisbetterthantolivethusasmendo.

    Nolongertalkatallaboutthekindofmanthatagoodmanoughttobe,butbesuch.

    Constantlycontemplatethewholeoftimeandthewholeofsubstance,andconsiderthatallindividualthingsastosubstanceareagrainofafig,andastotime,theturningofagimlet.

    Lookateverythingthatexists,andobservethatitisalreadyindissolutionandinchange,andasitwereputrefactionordispersion,orthateverythingissoconstitutedbynatureastodie.

    Considerwhatmenarewhentheyareeating,sleeping,generating,easingthemselvesandsoforth.Thenwhatkindofmentheyarewhentheyareimperiousandarrogant,orangryandscoldingfromtheirelevatedplace.Butashorttimeagotohowmanytheywereslavesandforwhatthings;andafteralittletimeconsiderinwhataconditiontheywillbe.

    Thatisforthegoodofeachthing,whichtheuniversalnaturebringstoeach.Anditisforitsgoodatthetimewhennaturebringsit.

    "Theearthlovestheshower";and"thesolemnaetherloves":andtheuniverselovestomakewhateverisabouttobe.Isaythentotheuniverse,thatIloveasthoulovest.Andisnotthistoosaid,that"thisorthatloves(iswont)tobeproduced"?

    Eitherthoulivesthereandhastalreadyaccustomedthyselftoit,orthouartgoingaway,andthiswasthyownwill;orthouartdyingandhastdischargedthyduty.Butbesidesthesethingsthereisnothing.Beofgoodcheer,then.

    Letthisalwaysbeplaintothee,thatthispieceoflandislikeanyother;andthatallthingsherearethesamewiththingsontopofamountain,oronthesea-shore,orwhereverthouchoosesttobe.ForthouwiltfindjustwhatPlatosays,Dwellingwithinthewallsofacityasinashepherd-sfoldonamountain.

    Whatismyrulingfacultynowtome?AndofwhatnatureamInowmakingit?AndforwhatpurposeamInowusingit?Isitvoidofunderstanding?Isitloosedandrentasunderfromsociallife?Isitmeltedintoandmixedwiththepoorfleshsoastomovetogetherwithit?

    Hewhofliesfromhismasterisarunaway;butthelawismaster,andhewhobreaksthelawisarunaway.Andhealsowhoisgrievedorangryorafraid,isdissatisfiedbecausesomethinghasbeenorisorshallbeofthethingswhichareappointedbyhimwhorulesallthings,andheisLaw,andassignstoeverymanwhatisfit.Hethenwhofearsorisgrievedorisangryisarunaway.

    Amandepositsseedinawombandgoesaway,andthenanothercausetakesit,andlaboursonitandmakesachild.Whatathingfromsuchamaterial!Again,thechildpassesfooddownthroughthethroat,andthenanothercausetakesitandmakesperceptionandmotion,andinfinelifeandstrengthandotherthings;howmanyandhowstrangeIObservethenthethingswhichareproducedinsuchahiddenway,andseethepowerjustasweseethepowerwhichcarriesthingsdownwardsandupwards,notwiththeeyes,butstillnolessplainly.

    Constantlyconsiderhowallthingssuchastheynoware,intimepastalsowere;andconsiderthattheywillbethesameagain.Andplacebeforethyeyesentiredramasandstagesofthesameform,whateverthouhastlearnedfromthyexperienceorfromolderhistory;forexample,thewholecourtofHadrian,andthewholecourtofAntoninus,andthewholecourtofPhilip,Alexander,Croesus;forallthoseweresuchdramasasweseenow,onlywithdifferentactors.

    Imagineeverymanwhoisgrievedatanythingordiscontentedtobelikeapigwhichissacrificedandkicksandscreams.

    Likethispigalsoishewhoonhisbedinsilencelamentsthebondsinwhichweareheld.Andconsiderthatonlytotherationalanimalisitgiventofollowvoluntarilywhathappens;butsimplytofollowisanecessityimposedonall.

    Severallyontheoccasionofeverythingthatthoudoest,pauseandaskthyself,ifdeathisadreadfulthingbecauseitdeprivestheeofthis.

    Whenthouartoffendedatanyman-sfault,forthwithturntothyselfandreflectinwhatlikemannerthoudosterrthyself;forexample,inthinkingthatmoneyisagoodthing,orpleasure,orabitofreputation,andthelike.Forbyattendingtothisthouwiltquicklyforgetthyanger,ifthisconsiderationalsoisadded,thatthemaniscompelled:forwhatelsecouldhedo?or,ifthouartable,takeawayfromhimthecompulsion.

    WhenthouhastseenSatyrontheSocratic,thinkofeitherEutychesorHymen,andwhenthouhastseenEuphrates,thinkofEutychionorSilvanus,andwhenthouhastseenAlciphronthinkofTropaeophorus,andwhenthouhastseenXenophonthinkofCritoorSeverus,andwhenthouhastlookedonthyself,thinkofanyotherCaesar,andinthecaseofeveryonedoinlikemanner.Thenletthisthoughtbeinthymind,Wherethenarethosemen?Nowhere,ornobodyknowswhere.Forthuscontinuouslythouwiltlookathumanthingsassmokeandnothingatall;especiallyifthoureflectestatthesametimethatwhathasoncechangedwillneverexistagainintheinfinitedurationoftime.Butthou,inwhatabriefspaceoftimeisthyexistence?Andwhyartthounotcontenttopassthroughthisshorttimeinanorderlyway?Whatmatterandopportunityforthyactivityartthouavoiding?Forwhatelseareallthesethings,exceptexercisesforthereason,whenithasviewedcarefullyandbyexaminationintotheirnaturethethingswhichhappeninlife?Perseverethenuntilthoushalthavemadethesethingsthyown,asthestomachwhichisstrengthenedmakesallthingsitsown,astheblazingfiremakesflameandbrightnessoutofeverythingthatisthrownintoit.

    Letitnotbeinanyman-spowertosaytrulyoftheethatthouartnotsimpleorthatthouarenotgood;butlethimbealiarwhoevershallthinkanythingofthiskindaboutthee;andthisisaltogetherinthypower.Forwhoishethatshallhindertheefrombeinggoodandsimple?Dothouonlydeterminetolivenolonger,unlessthoushaltbesuch.Forneitherdoesreasonallowtheetolive,ifthouartnotsuch.

    Whatisthatwhichastothismaterial(ourlife)canbedoneorsaidinthewaymostconformabletoreason.Forwhateverthismaybe,itisinthypowertodoitortosayit,anddonotmakeexcusesthatthouarthindered.Thouwiltnotceasetolamenttillthymindisinsuchaconditionthat,whatluxuryistothosewhoenjoypleasure,suchshallbetothee,inthematterwhichissubjectedandpresentedtothee,thedoingofthethingswhichareconformabletoman-sconstitution;foramanoughttoconsiderasanenjoymenteverythingwhichitisinhispowertodoaccordingtohisownnature.Anditisinhispowereverywhere.Now,itisnotgiventoacylindertomoveeverywherebyitsownmotion,noryettowaternortofire,nortoanythingelsewhichisgovernedbynatureoranirrationalsoul,forthethingswhichcheckthemandstandinthewayaremany.Butintelligenceandreasonareabletogothrougheverythingthatopposesthem,andinsuchmannerastheyareformedbynatureandastheychoose.Placebeforethyeyesthisfacilitywithwhichthereasonwillbecarriedthroughallthings,asfireupwards,asastonedownwards,asacylinderdownaninclinedsurface,andseekfornothingfurther.Forallotherobstacleseitheraffectthebodyonlywhichisadeadthing;or,exceptthroughopinionandtheyieldingofthereasonitself,theydonotcrushnordoanyharmofanykind;foriftheydid,hewhofeltitwouldimmediatelybecomebad.Now,inthecaseofallthingswhichhaveacertainconstitution,whateverharmmayhappentoanyofthem,thatwhichissoaffectedbecomesconsequentlyworse;butinthelikecase,amanbecomesbothbetter,ifonemaysayso,andmoreworthyofpraisebymakingarightuseoftheseaccidents.Andfinallyrememberthatnothingharmshimwhoisreallyacitizen,whichdoesnotharmthestate;noryetdoesanythingharmthestate,whichdoesnotharmlaw(order);andofthesethingswhicharecalledmisfortunesnotoneharmslaw.Whatthendoesnotharmlawdoesnotharmeitherstateorcitizen.

    Tohimwhoispenetratedbytrueprincipleseventhebriefestpreceptissufficient,andanycommonprecept,toremindhimthatheshouldbefreefromgriefandfear.Forexample-

    Leaves,somethewindscattersontheground-

    Soistheraceofmen.Leaves,also,arethychildren;andleaves,too,aretheywhocryoutasiftheywereworthyofcreditandbestowtheirpraise,oronthecontrarycurse,orsecretlyblameandsneer;andleaves,inlikemanner,arethosewhoshallreceiveandtransmitaman-sfametoaftertimes.Forallsuchthingsasthese"areproducedintheseasonofspring,"asthepoetsays;thenthewindcaststhemdown;thentheforestproducesotherleavesintheirplaces.Butabriefexistenceiscommontoallthings,andyetthouavoidestandpursuestallthingsasiftheywouldbeeternal.Alittletime,andthoushaltclosethyeyes;andhimwhohasattendedtheetothygraveanothersoonwilllament.

    Thehealthyeyeoughttoseeallvisiblethingsandnottosay,Iwishforgreenthings;forthisistheconditionofadiseasedeye.Andthehealthyhearingandsmellingoughttobereadytoperceiveallthatcanbeheardandsmelled.Andthehealthystomachoughttobewithrespecttoallfoodjustasthemillwithrespecttoallthingswhichitisformedtogrind.Andaccordinglythehealthyunderstandingoughttobepreparedforeverythingwhichhappens;butthatwhichsays,Letmydearchildrenlive,andletallmenpraisewhateverImaydo,isaneyewhichseeksforgreenthings,orteethwhichseekforsoftthings.

    Thereisnomansofortunatethatthereshallnotbebyhimwhenheisdyingsomewhoarepleasedwithwhatisgoingtohappen.Supposethathewasagoodandwiseman,willtherenotbeatlastsomeonetosaytohimself,Letusatlastbreathefreelybeingrelievedfromthisschoolmaster?Itistruethathewasharshtononeofus,butIperceivedthathetacitlycondemnsus-Thisiswhatissaidofagoodman.Butinourowncasehowmanyotherthingsarethereforwhichtherearemanywhowishtogetridofus.Thouwiltconsiderthisthenwhenthouartdying,andthouwiltdepartmorecontentedlybyreflectingthus:Iamgoingawayfromsuchalife,inwhichevenmyassociatesinbehalfofwhomIhavestrivensomuch,prayed,andcared,themselveswishmetodepart,hopingperchancetogetsomelittleadvantagebyit.Whythenshouldamanclingtoalongerstayhere?Donothoweverforthisreasongoawaylesskindlydisposedtothem,butpreservingthyowncharacter,andfriendlyandbenevolentandmild,andontheotherhandnotasifthouwasttornaway;butaswhenamandiesaquietdeath,thepoorsouliseasilyseparatedfromthebody,suchalsooughtthydeparturefrommentobe,fornatureunitedtheetothemandassociatedthee.Butdoesshenowdissolvetheunion?Well,Iamseparatedasfromkinsmen,nothoweverdraggedresisting,butwithoutcompulsion;forthistooisoneofthethingsaccordingtonature.

    Accustomthyselfasmuchaspossibleontheoccasionofanythingbeingdonebyanypersontoinquirewiththyself,Forwhatobjectisthismandoingthis?Butbeginwiththyself,andexaminethyselffirst.

    Rememberthatthiswhichpullsthestringsisthethingwhichishiddenwithin:thisisthepowerofpersuasion,thisislife,this,ifonemaysosay,isman.Incontemplatingthyselfneverincludethevesselwhichsurroundstheeandtheseinstrumentswhichareattachedaboutit.Fortheyareliketoanaxe,differingonlyinthisthattheygrowtothebody.Forindeedthereisnomoreuseinthesepartswithoutthecausewhichmovesandchecksthemthanintheweaver-sshuttle,andthewriter-spenandthedriver-swhip.

    BookEleven

    Thesearethepropertiesoftherationalsoul:itseesitself,analysesitself,andmakesitselfsuchasitchooses;thefruitwhichitbearsitselfenjoys-forthefruitsofplantsandthatinanimalswhichcorrespondstofruitsothersenjoy-itobtainsitsownend,whereverthelimitoflifemaybefixed.Notasinadanceandinaplayandinsuchlikethings,wherethewholeactionisincomplete,ifanythingcutsitshort;butineverypartandwhereveritmaybestopped,itmakeswhathasbeensetbeforeitfullandcomplete,sothatitcansay,Ihavewhatismyown.Andfurtherittraversesthewholeuniverse,andthesurroundingvacuum,andsurveysitsform,anditextendsitselfintotheinfinityoftime,andembracesandcomprehendstheperiodicalrenovationofallthings,anditcomprehendsthatthosewhocomeafteruswillseenothingnew,norhavethosebeforeusseenanythingmore,butinamannerhewhoisfortyyearsold,ifhehasanyunderstandingatall,hasseenbyvirtueoftheuniformitythatprevailsallthingswhichhavebeenandallthatwillbe.Thistooisapropertyoftherationalsoul,loveofone-sneighbour,andtruthandmodesty,andtovaluenothingmoremorethanitself,whichisalsothepropertyofLaw.Thusthenrightreasondiffersnotatallfromthereasonofjustice.

    Thouwiltsetlittlevalueonpleasingsonganddancingandthepancratium,ifthouwiltdistributethemelodyofthevoiceintoitsseveralsounds,andaskthyselfastoeach,ifthouartmasteredbythis;forthouwiltbepreventedbyshamefromconfessingit:andinthematterofdancing,ifateachmovementandattitudethouwiltdothesame;andthelikealsointhematterofthepancratium.Inallthings,then,exceptvirtueandtheactsofvirtue,remembertoapplythyselftotheirseveralparts,andbythisdivisiontocometovaluethemlittle:andapplythisrulealsotothywholelife.

    Whatasoulthatiswhichisready,ifatanymomentitmustbeseparatedfromthebody,andreadyeithertobeextinguishedordispersedorcontinuetoexist;butsothatthisreadinesscomesfromaman-sownjudgement,notfrommereobstinacy,aswiththeChristians,butconsideratelyandwithdignityandinawaytopersuadeanother,withouttragicshow.

    HaveIdonesomethingforthegeneralinterest?WellthenIhavehadmyreward.Letthisalwaysbepresenttothymind,andneverstopdoingsuchgood.

    Whatisthyart?Tobegood.Andhowisthisaccomplishedwellexceptbygeneralprinciples,someaboutthenatureoftheuniverse,andothersabouttheproperconstitutionofman?

    Atfirsttragedieswerebroughtonthestageasmeansofremindingmenofthethingswhichhappentothem,andthatitisaccordingtonatureforthingstohappenso,andthat,ifyouaredelightedwithwhatisshownonthestage,youshouldnotbetroubledwiththatwhichtakesplaceonthelargerstage.Foryouseethatthesethingsmustbeaccomplishedthus,andthateventheybearthemwhocryout"OCithaeron."And,indeed,somethingsaresaidwellbythedramaticwriters,ofwhichkindisthefollowingespecially:-

    Meandmychildrenifthegodsneglect,

    Thishasitsreasontoo.Andagain-

    Wemustnotchaleandfretatthatwhichhappens.And

    Life-sharvestreaplikethewheat-sfruitfulear.Andotherthingsofthesamekind.

    Aftertragedytheoldcomedywasintroduced,whichhadamagisterialfreedomofspeech,andbyitsveryplainnessofspeakingwasusefulinremindingmentobewareofinsolence;andforthispurposetooDiogenesusedtotakefromthesewriters.

    Butastothemiddlecomedywhichcamenext,observewhatitwas,andagain,forwhatobjectthenewcomedywasintroduced,whichgraduallysunkdownintoameremimicartifice.Thatsomegoodthingsaresaidevenbythesewriters,everybodyknows:butthewholeplanofsuchpoetryanddramaturgy,towhatenddoesitlook!

    Howplaindoesitappearthatthereisnotanotherconditionoflifesowellsuitedforphilosophisingasthisinwhichthounowhappenesttobe.

    Abranchcutofffromtheadjacentbranchmustofnecessitybecutofffromthewholetreealso.Sotooamanwhenheisseparatedfromanothermanhasfallenofffromthewholesocialcommunity.Nowastoabranch,anothercutsitoff,butamanbyhisownactseparateshimselffromhisneighbourwhenhehateshimandturnsawayfromhim,andhedoesnotknowthathehasatthesametimecuthimselfofffromthewholesocialsystem.YethehasthisprivilegecertainlyfromZeuswhoframedsociety,foritisinourpowertogrowagaintothatwhichisneartous,andbetocomeapartwhichhelpstomakeupthewhole.However,ifitoftenhappens,thiskindofseparation,itmakesitdifficultforthatwhichdetachesitselftobebroughttounityandtoberestoredtoitsformercondition.Finally,thebranch,whichfromthefirstgrewtogetherwiththetree,andhascontinuedtohaveonelifewithit,isnotlikethatwhichafterbeingcutoffistheningrafted,forthisissomethinglikewhatthegardenersmeanwhentheysaythatitgrowswiththerestofthetree,butthatithasnotthesamemindwithit.

    Asthosewhotrytostandinthywaywhenthouartproceedingaccordingtorightreason,willnotbeabletoturntheeasidefromthyproperaction,soneitherletthemdrivetheefromthybenevolentfeelingstowardsthem,butbeonthyguardequallyinbothmatters,notonlyinthematterofsteadyjudgementandaction,butalsointhematterofgentlenesstowardsthosewhotrytohinderorotherwisetroublethee.Forthisalsoisaweakness,tobevexedatthem,aswellastobedivertedfromthycourseofactionandtogivewaythroughfear;forbothareequallydesertersfromtheirpost,themanwhodoesitthroughfear,andthemanwhoisalienatedfromhimwhoisbynatureakinsmanandafriend.

    Thereisnonaturewhichisinferiortoart,fortheartsimitatethenatureofthings.Butifthisisso,thatnaturewhichisthemostperfectandthemostcomprehensiveofallnatures,cannotfallshortoftheskillofart.Nowallartsdotheinferiorthingsforthesakeofthesuperior;thereforetheuniversalnaturedoessotoo.And,indeed,henceistheoriginofjustice,andinjusticetheothervirtueshavetheirfoundation:forjusticewillnotbeobserved,ifweeithercareformiddlethings(thingsindifferent),orareeasilydeceivedandcarelessandchangeable.

    Ifthethingsdonotcometothee,thepursuitsandavoidancesofwhichdisturbthee,stillinamannerthougoesttothem.Letthenthyjudgementaboutthembeatrest,andtheywillremainquiet,andthouwiltnotbeseeneitherpursuingoravoiding.

    Thesphericalformofthesoulmaintainsitsfigure,whenitisneitherextendedtowardsanyobject,norcontractedinwards,nordispersednorsinksdown,butisilluminatedbylight,bywhichitseesthetruth,thetruthofallthingsandthetruththatisinitself.

    Supposeanymanshalldespiseme.Lethimlooktothathimself.ButIwilllooktothis,thatIbenotdiscovereddoingorsayinganythingdeservingofcontempt.Shallanymanhateme?Lethimlooktoit.ButIwillbemildandbenevolenttowardseveryman,andreadytoshowevenhimhismistake,notreproachfully,noryetasmakingadisplayofmyendurance,butnoblyandhonestly,likethegreatPhocion,unlessindeedheonlyassumedit.Fortheinteriorpartsoughttobesuch,andamanoughttobeseenbythegodsneitherdissatisfiedwithanythingnorcomplaining.Forwhatevilisittothee,ifthouartnowdoingwhatisagreeabletothyownnature,andartsatisfiedwiththatwhichatthismomentissuitabletothenatureoftheuniverse,sincethouartahumanbeingplacedatthypostinorderthatwhatisforthecommonadvantagemaybedoneinsomeway?

    Mendespiseoneanotherandflatteroneanother;andmenwishtoraisethemselvesaboveoneanother,andcrouchbeforeoneanother.

    Howunsoundandinsincereishewhosays,Ihavedeterminedtodealwiththeeinafairway-Whatartthoudoing,man?Thereisnooccasiontogivethisnotice.Itwillsoonshowitselfbyacts.Thevoiceoughttobeplainlywrittenontheforehead.Suchasaman-scharacteris,heimmediatelyshowsitinhiseyes,justashewhoisbelovedforthwithreadseverythingintheeyesoflovers.Themanwhoishonestandgoodoughttobeexactlylikeamanwhosmellsstrong,sothatthebystanderassoonashecomesnearhimmustsmellwhetherhechooseornot.Buttheaffectationofsimplicityislikeacrookedstick.Nothingismoredisgracefulthanawolfishfriendship(falsefriendship).Avoidthismostofall.Thegoodandsimpleandbenevolentshowallthesethingsintheeyes,andthereisnomistaking.

    Astolivinginthebestway,thispowerisinthesoul,ifitbeindifferenttothingswhichareindifferent.Anditwillbeindifferent,ifitlooksoneachofthesethingsseparatelyandalltogether,andifitremembersthatnotoneofthemproducesinusanopinionaboutitself,norcomestous;butthesethingsremainimmovable,anditisweourselveswhoproducethejudgementsaboutthem,and,aswemaysay,writetheminourselves,itbeinginourpowernottowritethem,anditbeinginourpower,ifperchancethesejudgementshaveimperceptiblygotadmissiontoourminds,towipethemout;andifwerememberalsothatsuchattentionwillonlybeforashorttime,andthenlifewillbeatanend.Besides,whattroubleisthereatallindoingthis?Forifthesethingsareaccordingtonature,rejoiceinthem,andtheywillbeeasytothee:butifcontrarytonature,seekwhatisconformabletothyownnature,andstrivetowardsthis,evenifitbringnoreputation;foreverymanisallowedtoseekhisowngood.

    Considerwhenceeachthingiscome,andofwhatitconsists,andintowhatitchanges,andwhatkindofathingitwillbewhenithaschanged,andthatitwillsustainnoharm.

    Ifanyhaveoffendedagainstthee,considerfirst:Whatismyrelationtomen,andthatwearemadeforoneanother;andinanotherrespect,Iwasmadetobesetoverthem,asaramovertheflockorabullovertheherd.Butexaminethematterfromfirstprinciples,fromthis:Ifallthingsarenotmereatoms,itisnaturewhichordersallthings:ifthisisso,theinferiorthingsexistforthesakeofthesuperior,andtheseforthesakeofoneanother.

    Second,considerwhatkindofmentheyareattable,inbed,andsoforth:andparticularly,underwhatcompulsionsinrespectofopinionstheyare;andastotheiracts,considerwithwhatpridetheydowhattheydo.

    Third,thatifmendorightlywhattheydo,weoughtnottobedispleased;butiftheydonotright,itisplainthattheydosoinvoluntarilyandinignorance.Foraseverysoulisunwillinglydeprivedofthetruth,soalsoisitunwillinglydeprivedofthepowerofbehavingtoeachmanaccordingtohisdeserts.Accordinglymenarepainedwhentheyarecalledunjust,ungrateful,andgreedy,andinawordwrong-doerstotheirneighbours.

    Fourth,considerthatthoualsodoestmanythingswrong,andthatthouartamanlikeothers;andevenifthoudostabstainfromcertainfaults,stillthouhastthedispositiontocommitthem,thougheitherthroughcowardice,orconcernaboutreputation,orsomesuchmeanmotive,thoudostabstainfromsuchfaults.

    Fifth,considerthatthoudostnotevenunderstandwhethermenaredoingwrongornot,formanythingsaredonewithacertainreferencetocircumstances.Andinshort,amanmustlearnagreatdealtoenablehimtopassacorrectjudgementonanotherman-sacts.

    Sixth,considerwhenthouartmuchvexedorgrieved,thatman-slifeisonlyamoment,andafterashorttimewearealllaidoutdead.

    Seventh,thatitisnotmen-sactswhichdisturbus,forthoseactshavetheirfoundationinmen-srulingprinciples,butitisourownopinionswhichdisturbus.Takeawaytheseopinionsthen,andresolvetodismissthyjudgementaboutanactasifitweresomethinggrievous,andthyangerisgone.HowthenshallItakeawaytheseopinions?Byreflectingthatnowrongfulactofanotherbringsshameonthee:forunlessthatwhichisshamefulisalonebad,thoualsomustofnecessitydomanythingswrong,andbecomearobberandeverythingelse.

    Eighth,considerhowmuchmorepainisbroughtonusbytheangerandvexationcausedbysuchactsthanbytheactsthemselves,atwhichweareangryandvexed.

    Ninth,considerthatagooddispositionisinvincible,ifitbegenuine,andnotanaffectedsmileandactingapart.Forwhatwillthemostviolentmandotothee,ifthoucontinuesttobeofakinddispositiontowardshim,andif,asopportunityoffers,thougentlyadmonishesthimandcalmlycorrectesthiserrorsattheverytimewhenheistryingtodotheeharm,saying,Notso,mychild:weareconstitutedbynatureforsomethingelse:Ishallcertainlynotbeinjured,butthouartinjuringthyself,mychild-Andshowhimwithgentletactandbygeneralprinciplesthatthisisso,andthatevenbeesdonotdoashedoes,noranyanimalswhichareformedbynaturetobegregarious.Andthoumustdothisneitherwithanydoublemeaningnorinthewayofreproach,butaffectionatelyandwithoutanyrancourinthysoul;andnotasifthouwertlecturinghim,noryetthatanybystandermayadmire,buteitherwhenheisalone,andifothersarepresent

    Remembertheseninerules,asifthouhadstreceivedthemasagiftfromtheMuses,andbeginatlasttobeamanwhilethoulivest.Butthoumustequallyavoidflatteringmenandbeingveiedatthem,forbothareunsocialandleadtoharm.Andletthistruthbepresenttotheeintheexcitementofanger,thattobemovedbypassionisnotmanly,butthatmildnessandgentleness,astheyaremoreagreeabletohumannature,soalsoaretheymoremanly;andhewhopossessesthesequalitiespossessesstrength,nervesandcourage,andnotthemanwhoissubjecttofitsofpassionanddiscontent.Forinthesamedegreeinwhichaman-smindisnearertofreedomfromallpassion,inthesamedegreealsoisitnearertostrength:andasthesenseofpainisacharacteristicofweakness,soalsoisanger.Forhewhoyieldstopainandhewhoyieldstoanger,botharewoundedandbothsubmit.

    Butifthouwilt,receivealsoatenthpresentfromtheleaderoftheMuses(Apollo),anditisthis-thattoexpectbadmennottodowrongismadness,forhewhoexpectsthisdesiresanimpossibility.Buttoallowmentobehavesotoothers,andtoexpectthemnottodotheeanywrong,isirrationalandtyrannical.

    Therearefourprincipalaberrationsofthesuperiorfacultyagainstwhichthoushouldstbeconstantlyonthyguard,andwhenthouhastdetectedthem,thoushouldstwipethemoutandsayoneachoccasionthus:thisthoughtisnotnecessary:thistendstodestroysocialunion:thiswhichthouartgoingtosaycomesnotfromtherealthoughts;forthoushouldstconsideritamongthemostabsurdofthingsforamannottospeakfromhisrealthoughts.Butthefourthiswhenthoushaltreproachthyselfforanything,forthisisanevidenceofthedivinerpartwithintheebeingoverpoweredandyieldingtothelesshonourableandtotheperishablepart,thebody,andtoitsgrosspleasures.

    Thyaerialpartandallthefierypartswhicharemingledinthee,thoughbynaturetheyhaveanupwardtendency,stillinobediencetothedispositionoftheuniversetheyareoverpoweredhereinthecompoundmass(thebody).Andalsothewholeoftheearthypartintheeandthewatery,thoughtheirtendencyisdownward,stillareraisedupandoccupyapositionwhichisnottheirnaturalone.Inthismannerthentheelementalpartsobeytheuniversal,forwhentheyhavebeenfixedinanyplaceperforcetheyremainthereuntilagaintheuniversalshallsoundthesignalfordissolution.Isitnotthenstrangethatthyintelligentpartonlyshouldbedisobedientanddiscontentedwithitsownplace?Andyetnoforceisimposedonit,butonlythosethingswhichareconformabletoitsnature:stillitdoesnotsubmit,butiscarriedintheoppositedirection.Forthemovementtowardsinjusticeandintemperanceandtoangerandgriefandfearisnothingelsethantheactofonewhodeviatesfromnature.Andalsowhentherulingfacultyisdiscontentedwithanythingthathappens,thentooitdesertsitspost:foritisconstitutedforpietyandreverencetowardsthegodsnolessthanforjustice.Forthesequalitiesalsoarecomprehendedunderthegenerictermofcontentmentwiththeconstitutionofthings,andindeedtheyarepriortoactsofjustice.

    Hewhohasnotoneandalwaysthesameobjectinlife,cannotbeoneandthesameallthroughhislife.ButwhatIhavesaidisnotenough,unlessthisalsoisadded,whatthisobjectoughttobe.Forasthereisnotthesameopinionaboutallthethingswhichinsomewayorotherareconsideredbythemajoritytobegood,butonlyaboutsomecertainthings,thatis,thingswhichconcernthecommoninterest;soalsooughtwetoproposetoourselvesanobjectwhichshallbeofacommonkind(social)andpolitical.Forhewhodirectsallhisowneffortstothisobject,willmakeallhisactsalike,andthuswillalwaysbethesame.

    Thinkofthecountrymouseandofthetownmouse,andofthealarmandtrepidationofthetownmouse.

    SocratesusedtocalltheopinionsofthemanybythenameofLamiae,bugbearstofrightenchildren.

    TheLacedaemoniansattheirpublicspectaclesusedtosetseatsintheshadeforstrangers,butthemselvessatdownanywhere.

    SocratesexcusedhimselftoPerdiccasfornotgoingtohim,saying,ItisbecauseIwouldnotperishbytheworstofallends,thatis,Iwouldnotreceiveafavourandthenbeunabletoreturnit.

    InthewritingsoftheEphesianstherewasthisprecept,constantlytothinkofsomeoneofthemenofformertimeswhopractisedvirtue.

    ThePythagoreansbidusinthemorninglooktotheheavensthatwemayberemindedofthosebodieswhichcontinuallydothesamethingsandinthesamemannerperformtheirwork,andalsoberemindedoftheirpurityandnudity.Forthereisnoveiloverastar.

    ConsiderwhatamanSocrateswaswhenhedressedhimselfinaskin,afterXanthippehadtakenhiscloakandgoneout,andwhatSocratessaidtohisfriendswhowereashamedofhimanddrewbackfromhimwhentheysawhimdressedthus.

    Neitherinwritingnorinreadingwiltthoubeabletolaydownrulesforothersbeforethoushalthavefirstlearnedtoobeyrulesthyself.Muchmoreisthissoinlife.

    Aslavethouart:freespeechisnotforthee.

    Andmyheartlaughedwithin.

    Andvirtuetheywillcurse,speakingharshwords.

    Tolookforthefiginwinterisamadman-sact:suchishewholooksforhischildwhenitisnolongerallowed.

    Whenamankisseshischild,saidEpictetus,heshouldwhispertohimself,"To-morrowperchancethouwiltdie."-Butthosearewordsofbadomen-"Nowordisawordofbadomen,"saidEpictetus,"whichexpressesanyworkofnature;orifitisso,itisalsoawordofbadomentospeakoftheearsofcornbeingreaped."

    Theunripegrape,theripebunch,thedriedgrape,allarechanges,notintonothing,butintosomethingwhichexistsnotyet.

    Nomancanrobusofourfreewill.

    Epictetusalsosaid,Amanmustdiscoveranart(orrules)withrespecttogivinghisassent;andinrespecttohismovementshemustbecarefulthattheybemadewithregardtocircumstances,thattheybeconsistentwithsocialinterests,thattheyhaveregardtothevalueoftheobject;andastosensualdesire,heshouldaltogetherkeepawayfromit;andastoavoidance(aversion)heshouldnotshowitwithrespecttoanyofthethingswhicharenotinourpower.

    Thedisputethen,hesaid,isnotaboutanycommonmatter,butaboutbeingmadornot.

    Socratesusedtosay,Whatdoyouwant?Soulsofrationalmenorirrational?-Soulsofrationalmen-Ofwhatrationalmen?Soundorunsound?-Sound-Whythendoyounotseekforthem?-Becausewehavethem-Whythendoyoufightandquarrel?

    BookTwelve

    Allthosethingsatwhichthouwishesttoarrivebyacircuitousroad,thoucansthavenow,ifthoudostnotrefusethemtothyself.Andthismeans,ifthouwilttakenonoticeofallthepast,andtrustthefuturetoprovidence,anddirectthepresentonlyconformablytopietyandjustice.Conformablytopiety,thatthoumayestbecontentwiththelotwhichisassignedtothee,fornaturedesigneditfortheeandtheeforit.Conformablytojustice,thatthoumayestalwaysspeakthetruthfreelyandwithoutdisguise,anddothethingswhichareagreeabletolawandaccordingtotheworthofeach.Andletneitheranotherman-swickednesshinderthee,noropinionnorvoice,noryetthesensationsofthepoorfleshwhichhasgrownaboutthee;forthepassivepartwilllooktothis.Ifthen,whateverthetimemaybewhenthoushaltbeneartothydeparture,neglectingeverythingelsethoushaltrespectonlythyrulingfacultyandthedivinitywithinthee,andifthoushaltbeafraidnotbecausethoumustsometimeceasetolive,butifthoushaltfearnevertohavebeguntoliveaccordingtonature-thenthouwiltbeamanworthyoftheuniversewhichhasproducedthee,andthouwiltceasetobeastrangerinthynativeland,andtowonderatthingswhichhappendailyasiftheyweresomethingunexpected,andtobedependentonthisorthat.

    Godseestheminds(rulingprinciples)ofallmenbaredofthematerialvestureandrindandimpurities.Forwithhisintellectualpartalonehetouchestheintelligenceonlywhichhasflowedandbeenderivedfromhimselfintothesebodies.Andifthoualsousestthyselftodothis,thouwiltridthyselfofthymuchtrouble.Forhewhoregardsnotthepoorfleshwhichenvelopshim,surelywillnottroublehimselfbylookingafterraimentanddwellingandfameandsuchlikeexternalsandshow.

    Thethingsarethreeofwhichthouartcomposed,alittlebody,alittlebreath(life),intelligence.Ofthesethefirsttwoarethine,sofarasitisthydutytotakecareofthem;butthethirdaloneisproperlythine.Thereforeifthoushaltseparatefromthyself,thatis,fromthyunderstanding,whateverothersdoorsay,andwhateverthouhastdoneorsaidthyself,andwhateverfuturethingstroubletheebecausetheymayhappen,andwhateverinthebodywhichenvelopstheeorinthebreath(life),whichisbynatureassociatedwiththebody,isattachedtotheeindependentofthywill,andwhatevertheexternalcircumfluentvortexwhirlsround,sothattheintellectualpowerexemptfromthethingsoffatecanlivepureandfreebyitself,doingwhatisjustandacceptingwhathappensandsayingthetruth:ifthouwiltseparate,Isay,fromthisrulingfacultythethingswhichareattachedtoitbytheimpressionsofsense,andthethingsoftimetocomeandoftimethatispast,andwiltmakethyselflikeEmpedocles-sphere,

    Allround,andinitsjoyousrestreposing;andifthoushaltstrivetoliveonlywhatisreallythylife,thatis,thepresent-thenthouwiltbeabletopassthatportionoflifewhichremainsfortheeuptothetimeofthydeath,freefromperturbations,nobly,andobedienttothyowndaemon(tothegodthatiswithinthee).

    Ihaveoftenwonderedhowitisthateverymanloveshimselfmorethanalltherestofmen,butyetsetslessvalueonhisownopinionofhimselfthanontheopinionofothers.Ifthenagodorawiseteachershouldpresenthimselftoamanandbidhimtothinkofnothingandtodesignnothingwhichhewouldnotexpressassoonasheconceivedit,hecouldnotendureitevenforasingleday.Somuchmorerespecthavewetowhatourneighboursshallthinkofusthantowhatweshallthinkofourselves.

    Howcanitbethatthegodsafterhavingarrangedallthingswellandbenevolentlyformankind,haveoverlookedthisalone,thatsomemenandverygoodmen,andmenwho,aswemaysay,havehadmostcommunionwiththedivinity,andthroughpiousactsandreligiousobservanceshavebeenmostintimatewiththedivinity,whentheyhaveoncediedshouldneverexistagain,butshouldbecompletelyextinguished?

    Butifthisisso,beassuredthatifitoughttohavebeenotherwise,thegodswouldhavedoneit.Forifitwerejust,itwouldalsobepossible;andifitwereaccordingtonature,naturewouldhavehaditso.Butbecauseitisnotso,ifinfactitisnotso,bethouconvincedthatitoughtnottohavebeenso:-forthouseestevenofthyselfthatinthisinquirythouartdisputingwiththediety;andweshouldnotthusdisputewiththegods,unlesstheyweremostexcellentandmostjust;-butifthisisso,theywouldnothaveallowedanythingintheorderingoftheuniversetobeneglectedunjustlyandirrationally.

    Practisethyselfeveninthethingswhichthoudespairestofaccomplishing.Foreventhelefthand,whichisineffectualforallotherthingsforwantofpractice,holdsthebridlemorevigorouslythantherighthand;forithasbeenpractisedinthis.

    Considerinwhatconditionbothinbodyandsoulamanshouldbewhenheisovertakenbydeath;andconsidertheshortnessoflife,theboundlessabyssoftimepastandfuture,thefeeblenessofallmatter.

    Contemplatetheformativeprinciples(forms)ofthingsbareoftheircoverings;thepurposesofactions;considerwhatpainis,whatpleasureis,anddeath,andfame;whoistohimselfthecauseofhisuneasiness;hownomanishinderedbyanother;thateverythingisopinion.

    Intheapplicationofthyprinciplesthoumustbelikethepancratiast,notlikethegladiator;forthegladiatorletsfalltheswordwhichheusesandiskilled;buttheotheralwayshashishand,andneedstodonothingelsethanuseit.

    Seewhatthingsareinthemselves,dividingthemintomatter,formandpurpose.

    WhatapowermanhastodonothingexceptwhatGodwillapprove,andtoacceptallthatGodmaygivehim.

    Withrespecttothatwhichhappensconformablytonature,weoughttoblameneithergods,fortheydonothingwrongeithervoluntarilyorinvoluntarily,normen,fortheydonothingwrongexceptinvoluntarily.Consequentlyweshouldblamenobody.

    Howridiculousandwhatastrangerheiswhoissurprisedatanythingwhichhappensinlife.

    Eitherthereisafatalnecessityandinvincibleorder,orakindProvidence,oraconfusionwithoutapurposeandwithoutadirector(BookIV).Ifthenthereisaninvinciblenecessity,whydostthouresist?ButifthereisaProvidencewhichallowsitselftobepropitiated,makethyselfworthyofthehelpofthedivinity.Butifthereisaconfusionwithoutgovernor,becontentthatinsuchatempestthouhastinthyselfacertainrulingintelligence.Andevenifthetempestcarrytheeaway,letitcarryawaythepoorflesh,thepoorbreath,everythingelse;fortheintelligenceatleastitwillnotcarryaway.

    Doesthelightofthelampshinewithoutlosingitssplendouruntilitisextinguished;andshallthetruthwhichisintheeandjusticeandtemperancebeextinguishedbeforethydeath?

    Whenamanhaspresentedtheappearanceofhavingdonewrong,say,HowthendoIknowifthisisawrongfulact?Andevenifhehasdonewrong,howdoIknowthathehasnotcondemnedhimself?andsothisisliketearinghisownface.Considerthathe,whowouldnothavethebadmandowrong,islikethemanwhowouldnothavethefig-treetobearjuiceinthefigsandinfantstocryandthehorsetoneigh,andwhateverelsemustofnecessitybe.Forwhatmustamandowhohassuchacharacter?Ifthenthouartirritable,curethisman-sdisposition.

    Ifitisnotright,donotdoit:ifitisnottrue,donotsayit.Forletthyeffortsbe-

    Ineverythingalwaysobservewhatthethingiswhichproducesfortheeanappearance,andresolveitbydividingitintotheformal,thematerial,thepurpose,andthetimewithinwhichitmustend.

    Perceiveatlastthatthouhastintheesomethingbetterandmoredivinethanthethingswhichcausethevariousaffects,andasitwerepulltheebythestrings.Whatistherenowinmymind?Isitfear,orsuspicion,ordesire,oranythingofthekind?

    First,donothinginconsiderately,norwithoutapurpose.Second,makethyactsrefertonothingelsethantoasocialend.

    Considerthatbeforelongthouwiltbenobodyandnowhere,norwillanyofthethingsexistwhichthounowseest,noranyofthosewhoarenowliving.Forallthingsareformedbynaturetochangeandbeturnedandtoperishinorderthatotherthingsincontinuoussuccessionmayexist.

    Considerthateverythingisopinion,andopinionisinthypower.Takeawaythen,whenthouchoosest,thyopinion,andlikeamariner,whohasdoubledthepromontory,thouwiltfindcalm,everythingstable,andawavelessbay.

    Anyoneactivitywhateveritmaybe,whenithasceasedatitspropertime,suffersnoevilbecauseithasceased;norhewhohasdonethisact,doeshesufferanyevilforthisreasonthattheacthasceased.Inlikemannerthenthewholewhichconsistsofalltheacts,whichisourlife,ifitceaseatitspropertime,suffersnoevilforthisreasonthatithasceased;norhewhohasterminatedthisseriesatthepropertime,hashebeenilldealtwith.Butthepropertimeandthelimitnaturefixes,sometimesasinoldagethepeculiarnatureofman,butalwaystheuniversalnature,bythechangeofwhosepartsthewholeuniversecontinueseveryoungandperfect.Andeverythingwhichisusefultotheuniversalisalwaysgoodandinseason.Thereforetheterminationoflifeforeverymanisnoevil,becauseneitherisitshameful,sinceitisbothindependentofthewillandnotopposedtothegeneralinterest,butitisgood,sinceitisseasonableandprofitabletoandcongruentwiththeuniversal.Forthustooheismovedbythedeitywhoismovedinthesamemannerwiththedeityandmovedtowardsthesamethingsinhismind.

    Thesethreeprinciplesthoumusthaveinreadiness.Inthethingswhichthoudoestdonothingeitherinconsideratelyorotherwisethanasjusticeherselfwouldact;butwithrespecttowhatmayhappentotheefromwithout,considerthatithappenseitherbychanceoraccordingtoProvidence,andthoumustneitherblamechancenoraccuseProvidence.Second,considerwhateverybeingisfromtheseedtothetimeofitsreceivingasoul,andfromthereceptionofasoultothegivingbackofthesame,andofwhatthingseverybeingiscompoundedandintowhatthingsitisresolved.Third,ifthoushouldstsuddenlyberaisedupabovetheearth,andshouldstlookdownonhumanthings,andobservethevarietyofthemhowgreatitis,andatthesametimealsoshouldstseeataglancehowgreatisthenumberofbeingswhodwellaroundintheairandtheaether,considerthatasoftenasthoushouldstberaisedup,thouwouldstseethesamethings,samenessofformandshortnessofduration.Arethesethingstobeproudof?

    Castawayopinion:thouartsaved.Whothenhinderstheefromcastingitaway?

    Whenthouarttroubledaboutanything,thouhastforgottenthis,thatallthingshappenaccordingtotheuniversalnature;andforgottenthis,thataman-swrongfulactisnothingtothee;andfurtherthouhastforgottenthis,thateverythingwhichhappens,alwayshappenedsoandwillhappenso,andnowhappenssoeverywhere;forgottenthistoo,howcloseisthekinshipbetweenamanandthewholehumanrace,foritisacommunity,notofalittlebloodorseed,butofintelligence.Andthouhastforgottenthistoo,thateveryman-sintelligenceisagod,andisaneffluxofthedeity;andforgottenthis,thatnothingisaman-sown,butthathischildandhisbodyandhisverysoulcamefromthedeity;forgottenthis,thateverythingisopinion;andlastlythouhastforgottenthateverymanlivesthepresenttimeonly,andlosesonlythis.

    Constantlybringtothyrecollectionthosewhohavecomplainedgreatlyaboutanything,thosewhohavebeenmostconspicuousbythegreatestfameormisfortunesorenmitiesorfortunesofanykind:thenthinkwherearetheyallnow?Smokeandashandatale,ornotevenatale.Andlettherebepresenttothymindalsoeverythingofthissort,howFabiusCatullinuslivedinthecountry,andLuciusLupusinhisgardens,andStertiniusatBaiae,andTiberiusatCapreaeandVeliusRufus(orRufusatVelia);andinfinethinkoftheeagerpursuitofanythingconjoinedwithpride;andhowworthlesseverythingisafterwhichmenviolentlystrain;andhowmuchmorephilosophicalitisforamanintheopportunitiespresentedtohimtoshow

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