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Marcus Aurelius Antoninus to Himself - College of Stoic Philosophers

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ii6 MARCUS ANTONINUS BOOK<br />

it once more, and coalesce, and resume his con-<br />

tribu<strong>to</strong>ry place.<br />

35 Each rational being shares (speaking generally)<br />

the attributes <strong>of</strong> rational nature at large, among<br />

others the following : as rational nature continually<br />

modifies each form <strong>of</strong> obstruction or resistance,<br />

subordinates it <strong>to</strong> the scheme <strong>of</strong> destiny, and so<br />

incorporates it with itself, so <strong>to</strong>o can the rational<br />

being<br />

convert each hindrance in<strong>to</strong> material for<br />

himself, and use it <strong>to</strong> further his endeavour.<br />

36 Do not let the impression <strong>of</strong> life as a whole<br />

confound you. Do not focus in one all the<br />

train <strong>of</strong> possible and painful consequences ;<br />

but as<br />

each trouble comes, say <strong>to</strong> yourself What is<br />

there here <strong>to</strong>o hard <strong>to</strong> bear or <strong>to</strong> endure? and<br />

you will be ashamed <strong>to</strong> avow it so. And yet<br />

again remember, that you have not <strong>to</strong> bear up<br />

against the future or the past, but always against<br />

the present only. And even that you minimise,<br />

when you strictly circumscribe it <strong>to</strong> itself, and<br />

repudiate moral inability <strong>to</strong> hold out merely<br />

against that.<br />

37 Does Pantheia or does Pergamus still sit<br />

beside the bier <strong>of</strong> Verus ? Chabrias or Diotimos<br />

by Hadrian's ? Folly ! And<br />

suppose they did,

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