Stoicism - College of Stoic Philosophers

STOICISM ON THE THRONE. 211"If thou didst ever see a hand cut off, or a foot,or a head, lying anywhere apart from the rest of thebody, such does a man make himself, as far as hecan, who is not content with what happens, andseparates himself from others, or does anythingunsocial. Suppose that thou hast detached thyselffrom the natural unity— for thou wast made by naturea part, but now thou hast cut thyself off— yet herethere is this beautiful provision, that it is in thy poweragain to unite thyself. God has allowed this to noother part, after it has been separated and cutasunder, to come together again. But consider thekindness by which He has distinguished man, for Hehas putit in his power not to be separated at allfrom the universal ;and when he has been separatedHe has allowed him to return and to be united, andto resume his place as a part."^This leads him to what seems a new conception ofthe holiness which man may reach, something distinctfrom the self-conscious pride of heathen virtue,and more akin to saintlier ideals, as resting on a newmotive which ancient moralists had rarely urged." Reverence that which is best in the universe, andthis is that which makes use of all things and directsall things. And in like manner also reverence thatwhich is best in thyself, and this is of the same kindas that. "2Or, more "explicitly, There remains that which ispeculiar to the good man, to be pleased and contentwith what happens, and with the thread which is'"Thoughts," viii. 34.P 2^"Thoutrhts," v. 21.