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Marcus Aurelius Antoninus to Himself - College of Stoic Philosophers

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus to Himself - College of Stoic Philosophers

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i TO HIMSELF 5<br />

From my brother Verus, love <strong>of</strong> belongings, 14<br />

love <strong>of</strong> truth, and love <strong>of</strong> justice ; my<br />

knowledge<br />

<strong>of</strong> Thrasea, Helvidius, Ca<strong>to</strong>, Dion, and Brutus,<br />

and the conception <strong>of</strong> an equal commonwealth<br />

based on equality <strong>of</strong> right and equality <strong>of</strong> speech,<br />

and <strong>of</strong> imperial rule respecting first and foremost<br />

the liberty <strong>of</strong> the subject. From him <strong>to</strong>o I<br />

learned harmonious well-attuned devotion <strong>to</strong> philo-<br />

: sophy freehanded zeal for the good <strong>of</strong> others ;<br />

hopefulness, and belief in friends' affection ; not<br />

<strong>to</strong> withhold the expression <strong>of</strong> disapproval, and<br />

not <strong>to</strong> leave friends <strong>to</strong> conjecture what one wanted<br />

or did not want, but <strong>to</strong> be plain with them.<br />

From Maximus, self-mastery and concentra- 15<br />

tion <strong>of</strong> aim ; cheerfulness under sickness or other<br />

visitations ; a pleasant blending <strong>of</strong> affability and<br />

dignity ;<br />

with unruffled alacrity in the performance<br />

<strong>of</strong> appointed tasks. He inspired every one with<br />

the belief that whatever he said he thought, and<br />

that whatever he did was done from pure motives.<br />

Nothing could dazzle, and nothing daunt him ;<br />

there was no pressing forward, no hanging back,<br />

no hesitation ; no ogling and fawning on one<br />

hand, or frets and frowns on the other. Kind,<br />

generous, and genuine, he gave one the impression

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