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Marcus Aurelius Antoninus to Himself - College of Stoic Philosophers

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cxxxii INTRODUCTION SECT.<br />

and even sombre, resignation which enwraps the Thoughts.<br />

'<br />

The part loses its life '<br />

in a continuous act <strong>of</strong> cosmic<br />

participation and surrender, enforcing no claim and cher-<br />

ishing no hope upon its own individual behalf. Things<br />

without will not '<br />

dazzle or daunt ' 1<br />

;<br />

'<br />

it will neither seek<br />

nor shun ' 2 the appointments <strong>of</strong> destiny ;<br />

*<br />

for me nothing<br />

is early and nothing late that is in season for thee, great<br />

Universe.' 3<br />

Unmurmuring it accepts pain, sickness,<br />

failure, or bereavement; 'pain, if past bearing, ceases<br />

<strong>to</strong> be borne.' It foregoes its right not only <strong>to</strong> realise<br />

itself, but even <strong>to</strong> exist : it accepts the decree that the<br />

holiest and noblest should be utterly extinguished and<br />

cease <strong>to</strong> be : the part is but for the perfection <strong>of</strong> the<br />

f whole; accepting its apportionment,<br />

it refuses under<br />

any provocation '<strong>to</strong> find fault with god.' 4 Such selfsubmission<br />

contrasting strangely with the proud self-<br />

sufficiencies <strong>of</strong> infant S<strong>to</strong>icism sounding the last depths<br />

<strong>of</strong> self-effacement, silencing but not satisfying the<br />

authentic instincts <strong>of</strong> finite personality, can only be<br />

maintained by suppressing fac<strong>to</strong>rs in consciousness,<br />

whose claims are indefeasible.<br />

The S<strong>to</strong>ic doctrine <strong>of</strong> Apathy, instead <strong>of</strong> perceiving<br />

in Reason and Will a directive self-adjustment <strong>of</strong> the<br />

emotions in<strong>to</strong> true harmony with their surroundings,<br />

summons them <strong>to</strong> refuse and expunge and override<br />

the motions and affections which are conscious <strong>of</strong> the<br />

outer stimulus. The kingdom <strong>of</strong> the Ego<br />

1 xii. i, 13 ; cf. i. 15.<br />

is divided<br />

2<br />

iii. 7, 12 ; vii. 34 ; viii. 52 ; ix. i ; x. 13, 34 xi. ; II.<br />

3 iv. 23.<br />

4 vi. 16, 41 ; viii. 17 ; ix. I, 39 ; x. I ; xii. 12, 24.

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