05.04.2013 Views

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus to Himself - College of Stoic Philosophers

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus to Himself - College of Stoic Philosophers

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus to Himself - College of Stoic Philosophers

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

vni TO HIMSELF 121<br />

philosopher will laugh at you, just as a carpenter<br />

or cobbler would laugh, if you began finding fault<br />

because you saw chips or parings lying about<br />

their shop. And yet they have a place for the<br />

rubbish ; but Nature has nothing outside herself.<br />

Herein is the marvel <strong>of</strong> her handiwork, that thus<br />

self-circumscribed she yet transmutes in<strong>to</strong> herself<br />

every content that seems corrupt and old and use-<br />

less, and from the same materials recreates afresh :<br />

so as <strong>to</strong> avoid the need <strong>of</strong> fresh substance from<br />

without, or <strong>of</strong> some place for her refuse. Her<br />

own space, her own material, and her own handi-<br />

work suffice.<br />

In action, not dila<strong>to</strong>ry ; in intercourse, not 51<br />

indiscriminate ; in impressions, not rambling ; your<br />

soul neither numb with constraint, nor fevered<br />

with transports ; your life, undriven.<br />

Say men kill you, quarter you, pursue you with<br />

execrations : what has that <strong>to</strong> do with your under-<br />

standing remaining pure, lucid, temperate, just?<br />

It is as though a man s<strong>to</strong>od beside some sweet<br />

transparent fountain, abusing it, and it ceased not<br />

<strong>to</strong> well forth draughts <strong>of</strong> pure water ; nay though<br />

he cast in mud and filth, it will speedily disperse<br />

them and wash them forth and take no stain.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!