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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 9<br />

There was no perversity about him, no black looks<br />

or fits : he never forced things, as one says, '<br />

sweating point '<br />

past<br />

; but was invariably rational and<br />

discriminating giving judgments leisurely, calm,<br />

systematic, vigorous, and consistent. One might<br />

fairly apply <strong>to</strong> him what was claimed for Socrates,<br />

that he could either enjoy or leave things which<br />

most people find themselves <strong>to</strong>o weak <strong>to</strong> abstain<br />

from, and <strong>to</strong>o self-indulgent <strong>to</strong> enjoy. Strength,<br />

and with strength endurance, and sobriety in both,<br />

attest the perfected inviolable soul, as the illness<br />

<strong>of</strong> Maximus showed.<br />

From the gods good grandsires, good parents, 17<br />

a good sister, good teachers ; good associates,<br />

kinsmen, friends, good almost every one : and<br />

that I did not hastily take <strong>of</strong>fence with any one<br />

<strong>of</strong> them, though my natural disposition might<br />

easily enough have betrayed me in<strong>to</strong> it ; but by<br />

the goodness <strong>of</strong> the gods circumstances never<br />

conspired <strong>to</strong> put me <strong>to</strong> the test. Thanks <strong>to</strong> the<br />

gods that I was removed when I was, from the<br />

side <strong>of</strong> my grandfather's mistress ; that I kept<br />

the flower <strong>of</strong> my youth ; that I did not force my<br />

virility, but patiently bided my time. That in my<br />

imperial father I found a chief, who eradicated

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