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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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38 MARCUS ANTONINUS BOOK<br />

suggests for the help <strong>of</strong> men, and, secondly, be<br />

ready <strong>to</strong> change your coarse, should some one after<br />

all correct and convert you out <strong>of</strong> your conceit.<br />

Only<br />

the conversion must be due <strong>to</strong> some con-<br />

vincing consideration, such as justice or public<br />

gain, and the appeal must be <strong>of</strong> that order only,<br />

not apparent pleasure or popularity.<br />

13 Have you reason ? I have. Then why not use<br />

it ? Let reason do its work, and what more would<br />

you<br />

have ?<br />

14 You exist but as a part inherent in a greater<br />

whole. You will vanish in<strong>to</strong> that which gave you<br />

being ; or rather, you<br />

the seminal and universal reason.<br />

will be retransmuted in<strong>to</strong><br />

15 Many grains <strong>of</strong> frankincense on the same altar ;<br />

one drops sooner, another later it makes no<br />

difference.<br />

16 In ten days, instead <strong>of</strong> a monkey or a beast,<br />

you can become in the gods' eyes as a god, if you<br />

do but revert <strong>to</strong> the principles <strong>of</strong> your creed and<br />

<strong>to</strong> reverence for reason.<br />

17 Do not live as though you had a thousand<br />

years before you. The common due impends ;<br />

while you live, and while you may, be good.<br />

18 How much valuable time may be gained by

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