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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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BOOK VIII<br />

AEQUANIMITAS. <strong>An<strong>to</strong>ninus</strong><br />

1 ONE good corrective <strong>to</strong> vainglory<br />

is <strong>to</strong> remember<br />

that you cannot claim <strong>to</strong> have lived your entire<br />

life, nor even from youth up, as a philosopher.<br />

To many another it is no secret, and no secret<br />

<strong>to</strong> yourself, how far you fall short <strong>of</strong> philosophy.<br />

Having <strong>to</strong>uched pitch, it is hard for you<br />

still <strong>to</strong><br />

win the title <strong>of</strong> philosopher : and your position<br />

militates against it. Now that your eyes are<br />

really open <strong>to</strong> what the facts are, never mind<br />

what others think <strong>of</strong> you ; be self-content, if only<br />

for life's remainder, just so long as nature wills<br />

you <strong>to</strong> live on. You have but <strong>to</strong> apprehend<br />

that will, and let nothing else distract you :<br />

you have tried much, and in misguided ways,<br />

and nowhere have you found the happy life ;<br />

not in systems, nor wealth, nor fame, nor self-

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