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need those things are bound to be a mess—and bound to take out their
frustrations on the gods. Whereas to respect your own mind—to prize it—
will leave you satisfied with your own self, well integrated into your
community and in tune with the gods as well—embracing what they allot
you, and what they ordain.
17. The elements move upward, downward, in all directions. The
motion of virtue is different—deeper. It moves at a steady pace on a road
hard to discern, and always forward.
18. The way people behave. They refuse to admire their contemporaries,
the people whose lives they share. No, but to be admired by Posterity—
people they’ve never met and never will—that’s what they set their hearts
on. You might as well be upset at not being a hero to your great-grandfather.
19. Not to assume it’s impossible because you find it hard. But to
recognize that if it’s humanly possible, you can do it too.
20. In the ring, our opponents can gouge us with their nails or butt us
with their heads and leave a bruise, but we don’t denounce them for it or get
upset with them or regard them from then on as violent types. We just keep
an eye on them after that. Not out of hatred or suspicion. Just keeping a
friendly distance.
We need to do that in other areas. We need to excuse what our sparring
partners do, and just keep our distance—without suspicion or hatred.
21. If anyone can refute me—show me I’m making a mistake or looking
at things from the wrong perspective—I’ll gladly change. It’s the truth I’m
after, and the truth never harmed anyone. What harms us is to persist in
self-deceit and ignorance.
22. I do what is mine to do; the rest doesn’t disturb me. The rest is
inanimate, or has no logos, or it wanders at random and has lost the road.
23. When you deal with irrational animals, with things and
circumstances, be generous and straightforward. You are rational; they are
not. When you deal with fellow human beings, behave as one. They share
in the logos. And invoke the gods regardless.