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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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xi TO HIMSELF 167<br />

Goodness, simplicity and kindness, look out <strong>of</strong> the<br />

eyes, and there is no mistaking.<br />

The perfecting <strong>of</strong> life is a power residing in 16<br />

the soul, realised by indifference <strong>to</strong>wards things<br />

indifferent. The indifference will be attained by<br />

contemplating everything in its elements, and also<br />

as a whole, and by remembering that nothing can<br />

imbue us with a particular view about itself or<br />

enforce an entrance ; things are stationary, it is<br />

we who originate judgments regarding them, and<br />

as it were inscribe them upon our minds, when we<br />

need inscribe nothing, or can efface any inscription<br />

transcribed there unawares. The call upon self-<br />

discipline will not be long, only<br />

till life is done<br />

with. Why make a grievance and wish things<br />

otherwise ? If they are in accordance with nature,<br />

rejoice therein and find all easy ; if not, then seek<br />

what is in accord with your own nature, and press<br />

<strong>to</strong>wards it through good repute or ill. The quest<br />

after one's own good<br />

is its own excuse.<br />

Consider from whence each thing has come, <strong>of</strong> 17<br />

what materials it is composed, in<strong>to</strong> what it is<br />

changing, what it will be like when changed, and<br />

that no harm can come <strong>to</strong> it.

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