9781945186240

—Yes.
Well, why not use it? Isn’t that all you want—for it to do its job?
14. You have functioned as a part of something; you will vanish into
what produced you.
Or be restored, rather.
To the logos from which all things spring.
By being changed.
15. Many lumps of incense on the same altar. One crumbles now, one
later, but it makes no difference.
16. Now they see you as a beast, a monkey. But in a week they’ll think
you’re a god—if you rediscover your beliefs and honor the logos.
17. Not to live as if you had endless years ahead of you. Death
overshadows you. While you’re alive and able—be good.
18. The tranquillity that comes when you stop caring what they say. Or
think, or do. Only what you do. (Is this fair? Is this the right thing to do?)
< . . . > not to be distracted by their darkness. To run straight for the
finish line, unswerving.
19. People who are excited by posthumous fame forget that the people
who remember them will soon die too. And those after them in turn. Until
their memory, passed from one to another like a candle flame, gutters and
goes out.
But suppose that those who remembered you were immortal and your
memory undying. What good would it do you? And I don’t just mean when
you’re dead, but in your own lifetime. What use is praise, except to make
your lifestyle a little more comfortable?
“ You’re out of step—neglecting the gifts of nature to hand on
someone’s words in the future. “
20. Beautiful things of any kind are beautiful in themselves and
sufficient to themselves. Praise is extraneous. The object of praise remains
what it was—no better and no worse. This applies, I think, even to
“beautiful” things in ordinary life—physical objects, artworks.