9781945186240

which the logos is carried through all things, as fire is drawn upward or a
stone falls to earth, as a cylinder rolls down an inclined plane.
That’s all you need. All other obstacles either affect the lifeless body, or
have no power to shake or harm anything unless misperception takes over
or the logos surrenders voluntarily. Otherwise those they obstruct would be
degraded by them immediately. In all other entities, when anything bad
happens to them, it affects them for the worse. Whereas here a person is
improved by it (if I can put it like that)—and we admire him for reacting as
a person should.
And keep in mind that nothing can harm one of nature’s citizens except
what harms the city he belongs to. And nothing harms that city except what
harms its law. And there is no so-called misfortune that can do that. So long
as the law is safe, so is the city—and the citizen.
34. If you’ve immersed yourself in the principles of truth, the briefest,
most random reminder is enough to dispel all fear and pain:
. . . leaves that the wind
Drives earthward; such are the generations of men.
Your children, leaves.
Leaves applauding loyally and heaping praise upon you, or turning
around and calling down curses, sneering and mocking from a safe distance.
A glorious reputation handed down by leaves.
All of these “spring up in springtime”—and the wind blows them all
away. And the tree puts forth others to replace them.
None of us have much time. And yet you act as if things were eternal—
the way you fear and long for them. . . .
Before long, darkness. And whoever buries you mourned in their turn.
35. A healthy pair of eyes should see everything that can be seen and
not say, “No! Too bright!” (which is a symptom of ophthalmia).
A healthy sense of hearing or smell should be prepared for any sound or
scent; a healthy stomach should have the same reaction to all foods, as a
mill to what it grinds.
So too a healthy mind should be prepared for anything. The one that
keeps saying, “Are my children all right?” or “Everyone must approve of