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.

xii TO HIMSELF 179<br />

or mind, he could not endure it for a single day.<br />

So much more deference do we pay <strong>to</strong> what<br />

our neighbours think <strong>of</strong> us, than <strong>to</strong> our own<br />

selves.<br />

How is it that the gods, who ordered all things 5<br />

well and lovingly, overlooked this one thing ;<br />

that<br />

some men, elect in virtue, having kept close covenant<br />

with the divine, and enjoyed intimate communion<br />

therewith by holy acts and sacred ministries,<br />

should not, when once dead, renew their being,<br />

but be utterly extinguished ? If it indeed be so,<br />

be sure, had it been better otherwise, the gods<br />

would have so planned it. Were it right, it would<br />

be likewise possible ; were it according <strong>to</strong> nature,<br />

nature would have brought it <strong>to</strong> pass. From its<br />

not being so, if as a fact it is not so, be assured it<br />

ought not so <strong>to</strong> be. Do you<br />

not see that in<br />

hazarding such questions you arraign the justice<br />

<strong>of</strong> god ? nay we could not thus reason with the<br />

gods, but for their perfectness and justice. And<br />

from this it follows that they would never have<br />

allowed any unjust or unreasonable neglect <strong>of</strong><br />

parts <strong>of</strong> the great order.<br />

Practise even where you despair <strong>of</strong> success. 6<br />

Want <strong>of</strong> practice makes the left hand helpless in

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

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!