The Thoughts of Marcus Aurelius - College of Stoic Philosophers

vin MARCUS AURELIUS 159
if they were pleased, would that make them immortal ?
Was it not in the order of destiny that these persons too
should become old women and old men and then die ?
What then would those do after these were dead ? All
this is foul smell and blood in a bag.
38. If thou canst see sharp, look and judge wisely,f says
the philosopher.
39. In the constitution of the rational animal I see no
virtue which is
opposed to justice ; but I see a virtue
which is
opposed to love of pleasure, and that is
temperance.
40. If thou takest away thy opinion about that which
appears to give thee pain, thou thyself standest in perfect
security Who is this self? The reason But I am
not reason Be it so. Let then the reason itself not trouble
itself. But if
any other part of thee suffers, let it have its
own opinion about itself (vn, 16).
41. Hindrance to the perceptions of sense is an evil to
the animal nature. Hindrance to the movements [de
sires] is equally an evil to the animal nature. And some
thing else also is equally an impediment and an evil to the
So then that which is a hindrance
constitution of plants.
to the intelligence is an evil to the intelligent nature.
Apply all these things then to thyself. Does pain or
sensuous pleasure affect thee ? The senses will look to
that. Has any obstacle opposed thee in thy efforts
towards an object ? if indeed thou wast making this
effort absolutely [unconditionally, or without any re
servation], certainly this obstacle is an evil to thee con
sidered as a rational animal. But if thou takest [into
consideration] the usual course of things, thou hast not
yet been injured nor even impeded. The things however
which are proper to the understanding no one is used to
impede, for neither fire, nor iron, nor tyrant, nor abuse,
touches it in any way. When it has been made a sphere,
it continues a sphere (xi, 12).