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Marcus Aurelius Antoninus to Himself - College of Stoic Philosophers

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'. mind<br />

26 MARCUS ANTONINUS BOOK<br />

without fail the web <strong>of</strong> his own destiny ; action he<br />

makes high, convinced that destiny is good ; for<br />

his apportioned destiny sweeps man on with the<br />

vaster sweep <strong>of</strong> things.: He forgets not his bond<br />

<strong>of</strong> brotherhood with every rational creature ; nor<br />

that the law <strong>of</strong> man's nature implies concern for<br />

all men ; and that he must not hold by the<br />

opinion <strong>of</strong> the world, but <strong>of</strong> those only who live<br />

conformably <strong>to</strong> nature. He bears steadily in<br />

what manner <strong>of</strong> men they are who do not<br />

\ so live, and at home and abroad, by night and<br />

\ by day, what kind <strong>of</strong> company they keep ; nor<br />

\ can he take account <strong>of</strong> such men's praise, when<br />

they do not even please or satisfy themselves.<br />

*sr><br />

5 Let action be willing, disinterested, well-<br />

advised, ungrudging ; thought modest and un-<br />

pretentious. No overtalking and no overdoing.<br />

Give the god within the control <strong>of</strong> what you are<br />

a living man, full-aged, a citizen, a Roman, an<br />

Impera<strong>to</strong>r/ you have held the van ; you<br />

are as<br />

one who waits for the retreat from life <strong>to</strong> sound,<br />

ready for the march, needing not oath nor witness.<br />

Herein is the secret <strong>of</strong> brightness, <strong>of</strong> self-complete-<br />

ness without others' aid, and without the peace<br />

which is in others' gift Upright, not uprighted.

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