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Marcus Aurelius Antoninus to Himself - College of Stoic Philosophers

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82 MARCUS ANTONINUS BOOK<br />

not least, he who finds fault and who tries <strong>to</strong><br />

resist and undo what ts done. Even <strong>of</strong> such the<br />

world has need. It remains then <strong>to</strong> make sure,<br />

in which ranks you range yourself ; he who<br />

disposes all things will in any case make good<br />

use <strong>of</strong> you, and will receive you in<strong>to</strong> the number<br />

<strong>of</strong> his fellow -workers and auxiliaries. Only do<br />

not you play foil <strong>to</strong> the rest like the coarse jest<br />

in the Comedy, <strong>to</strong> use the figure <strong>of</strong> Chrysippus. 1<br />

43 Does the sun claim the rain's work ? or<br />

^Esculapius that <strong>of</strong> Ceres ? or again, each single<br />

star are not all different, yet all co-operating <strong>to</strong><br />

the same end ?<br />

44 If the gods <strong>to</strong>ok counsel about me and what<br />

ought <strong>to</strong> befall me, doubtless they counselled<br />

well : a god <strong>of</strong> ill counsel one can scarce imagine.<br />

And what should impel them <strong>to</strong> seek my hurt ?<br />

What advantage were it either <strong>to</strong> them or <strong>to</strong><br />

the universe, which is the first object <strong>of</strong> their<br />

<strong>to</strong>ok no counsel about<br />

providence ? If they<br />

me in particular, for the universe at all events<br />

1 Plutarch, De Comm. Not. xiv., elucidates the reference.<br />

'Just as comedies introduce jests which are vulgar enough in<br />

themselves, yet improve the piece as a whole ; so <strong>to</strong>o you may<br />

criticise evil regarded by itself, yet allow that taken with all else it<br />

has its use.'

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