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Marcus Aurelius Antoninus to Himself - College of Stoic Philosophers

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viii TO HIMSELF 109<br />

their participation in time, being, cause, action,<br />

and circumstance. Only do not look for exact<br />

equality in every<br />

case between individual and<br />

individual, but in comparing the sum <strong>to</strong>tals <strong>of</strong><br />

collective wholes.<br />

Know everything 1<br />

you cannot ; but check 8<br />

arrogance you can, rise superior <strong>to</strong> pleasures or<br />

pains you can, spurn reputation you can, keep<br />

your temper with the stupid and the ingrate, yea<br />

even care for them, you can.<br />

For the future let none hear you reviling court- 9<br />

life, nor you 2<br />

yourself.<br />

Repentance is self-reproach at having let slip<br />

something <strong>of</strong> use. Now all good must be <strong>of</strong> use,<br />

and the good man's object in life ; but no good<br />

man would ever repent <strong>of</strong> having let a pleasure<br />

slip ; pleasure therefore is neither <strong>of</strong> use, nor good.<br />

Of any particular thing ask, What is it in 11<br />

itself, and by<br />

its constitution ? what in substance<br />

1 A slight and plausible correction for the MS. 'read.' See<br />

Appendix.<br />

2 Some manuscripts omit 'you' and read merely 'your own,'<br />

but perhaps in order <strong>to</strong> save the grammar. The variation is<br />

<strong>of</strong> some importance, as with '<br />

you '<br />

retained the antithesis is not<br />

between Court -life and his own, but between grumbling before<br />

others, and grumbling <strong>to</strong> himself. With '<br />

you '<br />

Court must be contrasted with the Camp.<br />

omitted, the<br />

10

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