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law, which governs what happens to each of us. To feel grief or anger or
fear is to become a fugitive—a fugitive from justice.
26. He deposits his sperm and leaves. And then a force not his takes it
and goes to work, and creates a child.
This . . . from that?
Or:
He pours food down his throat. And then a force not his takes it and
creates sensations, desires, daily life, physical strength and so much else
besides.
To look at these things going on silently and see the force that drives
them. As we see the force that pushes things and pulls them. Not with our
eyes, but just as clearly.
27. To bear in mind constantly that all of this has happened before. And
will happen again—the same plot from beginning to end, the identical
staging. Produce them in your mind, as you know them from experience or
from history: the court of Hadrian, of Antoninus. The courts of Philip,
Alexander, Croesus. All just the same. Only the people different.
28. People who feel hurt and resentment: picture them as the pig at the
sacrifice, kicking and squealing all the way.
Like the man alone in his bed, silently weeping over the chains that bind
us.
That everything has to submit. But only rational beings can do so
voluntarily.
29. Stop whatever you’re doing for a moment and ask yourself: Am I
afraid of death because I won’t be able to do this anymore?
30. When faced with people’s bad behavior, turn around and ask when
you have acted like that. When you saw money as a good, or pleasure, or
social position. Your anger will subside as soon as you recognize that they
acted under compulsion (what else could they do?).
Or remove the compulsion, if you can.
31. When you look at Satyron, see Socraticus, or Eutyches, or Hymen.
When you look at Euphrates, see Eutychion or Silvanus.