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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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ix TO HIMSELF 135<br />

politics, these sage doctrinaires in statecraft !<br />

Drivellers every one. Well, man, what then ?<br />

This and this only : do what nature here and now<br />

demands. Endeavour the best you may ; do not<br />

look round for your cue <strong>to</strong> some one else. Do not<br />

hope for U<strong>to</strong>pia ; suffice it, if the smallest thing<br />

makes head : <strong>to</strong> compass that one issue, believe,<br />

is no small feat. Which <strong>of</strong> them all changes one<br />

moral principle? And without change <strong>of</strong> prin-<br />

ciples, what hope for them but bondage and<br />

growling and lip-pr<strong>of</strong>ession ? Go <strong>to</strong>, with your<br />

Alexander and Philip and Demetrius <strong>of</strong> Phalerum ;<br />

whether they saw the will <strong>of</strong> Nature, and schooled<br />

themselves accordingly, is their affair ; but because<br />

they strutted their parts,<br />

no one has condemned<br />

me <strong>to</strong> follow suit. Simplicity and modesty are<br />

the work <strong>of</strong> philosophy ;<br />

self-conceit<br />

do not lead me away in<strong>to</strong><br />

" As from some eminence survey the countless 30<br />

herds" <strong>of</strong> men their thronging festivals, their<br />

voyages <strong>of</strong> s<strong>to</strong>rm and voyages <strong>of</strong> calm, the<br />

chequered phases <strong>of</strong> their appearance, action,<br />

disappearance ; or imagine again the life <strong>of</strong> ages<br />

past, the life <strong>of</strong> generations <strong>to</strong> come, the life now<br />

living among savage tribes ; how<br />

many have never

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