Marcus Aurelius Antoninus to Himself - College of Stoic Philosophers

4 MARCUS ANTONINUS BOOK
showing a perfect combination of unimpassioned yet
affectionate concern. In his commendation there
was no loudness, and about his learning no parade.
10 From Alexander the grammarian, to be un-
censorious ; not to be carping and severe upon
lapses of grammar or idiom or phrase,
but dexter-
ously to supply the proper expression, by way of
rejoinder or corroboration, or discussion of the
matter rather than the language, or some other
graceful
reminder or hint
11 From Fronto, to understand that malice and
doubleness and insincerity are characteristic of
the tyrant, and that Patricians, as we call them,
only
too often fail in natural affection.
12 From Alexander the Platonist, seldom and
only when driven to it, to say or write, *
time '
;
I have no
and not to indulge the tendency to cry off
from duties arising out of our natural relations with
those about us, on the pretext of press of business.
13 From Catulus, never to slight a friend's
remonstrances, even though they happen to be
unreasonable, but to try and restore him to good
humour ; to be hearty in praise of my teachers,
as in the memoirs of Domitius and Athenodotus ;
and genuinely fond of my children.