Chapter 7 volume six

1. The substance of the universe is faithful and obedient, and the reason which governs it has no reason of its own to do evil, because it has no malice, nor does it do evil to anything, nor does it harm anything.And all things are created and perfected according to this reason. 2. If you are doing your duty, let it make no difference to you whether you are starved or fed, lethargic or refreshed, reproached or praised, dying or doing anything else.Because this is one of the activities in life through which we go to die, it is enough to do what we have to do in this activity. 3. Look back at yourself and let no particular quality or value escape you.

4. All existing things will soon be changed, and they will either return to gas, if the whole substance is indeed one; or they will be dissolved. 5. The governing reason knows how it disposes itself, what it does and with what materials it works. 6. The best way to take personal revenge is not to become like the perpetrator. 7. In the process of passing from one social activity to another, find happiness and peace in only one thing - thinking of God. 8. The governing principle is that which produces and transforms itself, and when it makes itself what it is and what it will be, it also makes what happens appear to it as it wishes.

9. Every single thing is accomplished according to the universal nature of the universe, for indeed each thing is not according to any other nature—that is, according to a nature that perceives it from without, or a nature that comprehends it within it. Its nature, or a nature external and independent of it - to accomplish. 10. The universe is either a kind of chaos, a kind of intertwining and scattering of many things; or it is unity, order and providence.If the former is true, why would I want to remain in such an accidental combination of things and such an disorder?Why should I care about anything other than how I end up in the dust?Why should I bother myself with the fact that no matter what I do my elements end up decomposing?And if the latter is true, I adore and firmly trust the Sovereign.

11. When you are in some way troubled by circumstances, turn quickly to yourself, and do not continue to be troubled once the pressure is gone, for you will achieve greater harmony by continually returning to yourself. 12. If you have both a stepmother and a biological mother, you have to be responsible to the stepmother, but you still have to keep returning to your biological mother.Now let court and philosophy be your stepmother and mother, and return often to philosophy, and find peace in it, through which what you meet at court will seem bearable to you, and you will be in Patience was shown at court.

13. When food such as meat is placed before us, we get the impression that this is the dead body of a fish, that this is the dead body of a bird and a pig, and that this drink is just a little grape juice, that this A fuchsia robe is some wool stained red with the blood of shellfish, and so are these impressions, they reach the thing itself, run through it, so we see what they are.In precisely the same way we should do all things in life, and we should strip those things which seem most deserving of our approval, to be naked, to notice their worthlessness, and to strip them of all verbal garments which exalt them.For appearance is a wonderful perverter of reason, and it deceives you most when you believe you are doing something worth your effort.Consider again what Kratis himself said to Xenocrates.

14. Many of the things praised by the masses are of the most general kind, things held together by cohesion or natural organization, such as stones, timbers, fig trees, vines, and olive trees.And those things that are praised by more rational people can be attributed to things that are united by one principle of life, such as flocks and herds.The things that are celebrated by those who are more educated are those that are united by a rational soul, but not yet a universal soul, but only insofar as it has been trained in some art or otherwise. Rational, or just rational in so far as it has some slaves.And the man who highly esteems a rational soul, a soul fit for political life in general, values ​​nothing but that: that he is above all things, that his soul remains in the same order of reason and social life. In these states and activities, he cooperates with those like himself to achieve this end.

15. Some things come into existence quickly, while others leave existence quickly, and a part of the things that enter into existence has died.Movement and change constantly renew the world, just as the uninterrupted course of time always renews the continuous epoch.In this ever-changing torrent, what is there that can be highly valued by the things that fly by?Just as a man should fall in love with a passing bird and immediately lose sight of it, such is the case with every human life, such as evaporating blood and breathing air.For that is the way it is, as we do every moment, when our breathing power takes air in and breathes it out again, and whatever you were given at birth also becomes that element again.

16. Evaporation from the leaves of plants is not something worthy of respect, neither is the respiration of domestic animals and wild animals, obtained through the phenomena of things, driven by desire like puppets, gathering herds, and getting nourishment from food, is not a thing worthy of respect because it is like cutting and separating the useless parts of our food.So what is worthy of respect?Is it the things that everyone praises?No, we must never honor that tongue-in-cheek praise, and this praise from the majority is a tongue-in-cheek praise.So suppose you give up this worthless so-called reputation, what is there to respect?My opinion is, push yourself according to your proper structure, limit yourself to the goal that all professions and crafts are directed towards.To which every art is directed, the created thing should adapt itself to the work for which it was made; the vine-grower, the trainer of horses, the trainer of dogs all pursue this end.And the education and training of young people also has this purpose, so the value of education and training is here.If this purpose is good, you will not seek anything else.Do you still value many other things?Then you will not be free, content with your own happiness, free from passion.For then you must be jealous, miserly, suspicious of those who can take these things away, plotting against those who have these things you value.A man who desires such things must be in a state of complete anguish, and besides, he must often complain of the gods.And honoring and praising your own soul will keep you content with yourself, in harmony with society, and with the gods, that is, praising all that they give and command.

17. Up and down, front and back, left and right are the movements of elements.But the movement of virtue is not so: it is something holier, moved merrily on its own way by something almost invisible. 18. How strange is the behavior of people: instead of praising those who are their contemporaries and living with them, they make themselves praised by posterity, by those they have never seen or will never see. Praise counts.And it's as ludicrous as it is that you should be sad because the people who lived before you didn't praise you. 19. If there is one thing that is difficult for you to accomplish, don't think it is impossible for people, but if something is possible for people and is in line with his nature, then it is also possible for you to achieve.

20. Suppose a man scratches your skin with his fingernails at a sporting event, or injures you when he bumps your head, well, we won't be neurotic enough to think he wants to Kill us, and we won't suspect him as a treacherous partner; although we still guard against him, but in any case, not as an enemy, without suspicion, but calmly get out of the way.You do the same in all other areas of your life, let's not get too attached to people who are like rivals in the stadium.For, as I say, it is within my power to step aside without suspicion or hatred. 21. If someone can convince me to show me that I am not thinking and acting rightly, I will change myself happily; for I seek the truth, and no one can be harmed by the truth.And he who retains error and ignorance will be hurt by it.

22. I fulfill my duty, and other things do not trouble me, because they are either inanimate objects, or things without reason, or beings that go astray or do not know the way. 23. As for animals without reason, and things and objects in general, because you have reason and they do not, treat them with a spirit of generosity and generosity.As for people, because they are rational, you have to treat them with a spirit of friendship.Pray to the Spirit on all occasions, and do not be embarrassed about how long you will spend doing it, for even three hours will be enough. 24. Alexander of Macedon and his groom were brought to the same place by death, because they were either received into the same generative principle of the universe, or likewise dissipated into atoms. 25. Consider how many things that concern body and soul happen to each of us during an indivisible period of time, and you will not be surprised that there are many more or even all things that are there in the same period of time. Both one and all, arise and exist in what we call the universe. 26. If someone asked you this question, how would the name "Anthony" be written?Will you say every letter impatiently?And if they become angry, are you also angry with them?Don't you keep calm and go on saying each letter one by one?So it is in life, too, to remember that every obligation is made of certain parts.It is your duty to follow them, not to fret and get angry with those who are angry with you, and to keep on going your way and finish the work that lies ahead of you. 27. How cruel it is not to allow people to strive to pursue those things that are suitable to their nature and beneficial to them!But when you're bothered by their evil doings, somehow don't allow them to do it.It is true that they are driven to do these things because they assume that they are in their nature and in their interest, which is not the case.So educate them and calmly show them their mistakes. 28. Death is the cessation of sensory impressions, the interruption of the series of desires, the cessation of the loose movement of thoughts, and the end of service to the body. 29. It is a shame that your soul decays in life before your body decays. 30. Note that you are not meant to be made a Caesar, you are not dyed with this dye for this to happen.Keep yourself then simple, good, pure, serious, unaffected, loving justice, worshiping gods, kind, gentle, committed to all proper actions.Constantly strive to become the person the philosophy wants you to be.Respect the gods and help others.Life is short, and this earthly life has but one fruit: a devout spirit and kind deeds.Do everything like a disciple of Anthony.Remember his steadfastness in every action that was in conformity with reason, his magnanimity in all things, his piety, the serenity of his countenance, his tenderness, his contempt for vanity, his effort to understand ; how he approached everything with careful examination and clear understanding; how he endured those who blamed him unjustly without blaming them in return; Very delicate examiner of manners and conduct, not yielding to an angry mob, not cowardly, not suspicious, not sophistrying; in lodgings, beds, clothes, food, and servants, little can satisfy him; Live how he was able to sustain himself through the night on his frugal meal, even requiring no rest but at the usual times to relax himself, remembering his firmness and consistency in friendship, how he tolerated opposition to him The liberty of speech of a man of opinion, his pleasure when better things are shown to him, his religious temperament without any superstition.To imitate all these virtues, that you may have, when your last hour comes, a conscience as good as his. 31. Go back to your waking sense, call yourself back; when you wake up from sleep, you know that it is only dreams that trouble you, and now look at these (about you) in your waking hours as you I used to look at those (dreams) like that. 32. I am made of a small body and a soul.All things are indifferent to this little body, because it cannot feel the difference.But to the intellect only those things which are not the result of its own activity are indifferent.And everything that is the result of its own activity is within its power.Of these things, however, only those that are now doing are within its power, for even these are indifferent to the future and past operations of the mind. 33. As long as the feet do the work of the feet, and the hands do the work of the hands, the labor of the hands and feet will never violate the nature.Therefore, for a person, as long as what he is doing is a person's work, his work will never violate his nature.And if the work is not contrary to his nature, it is by no means a bad thing to the man. 34. How much happiness is enjoyed by robbers, patricides and tyrants. 35. Do you not see how artisans adapt themselves in a way to those who do not know their craft, and yet hold fast to the reason (principle) of their craft and cannot bear to depart from it?Would it not be strange if the architect and the physician would respect the reason (principle) of their own art more than man respects his own reason (which is common to him and the gods)? 36. Asia and Europa are a corner of the universe: all oceans are a drop of the universe.Mount Athos is a small piece of the universe, and all existing time is a point in eternity.All things are small, changing, and perishable.All things come from there, either directly or as successors from the ruling power of the universe.So the open jaws of the lion, poisonous substances, all harmful things, like thorns, mud, are by-products of things that are brilliant and beautiful.Think then not that they are of another nature than that which you venerate, but form a right view of the source of all things. 37. The person who sees the present also sees everything, including everything that happened from eternity and everything that will continue without end, because everything belongs to the same system and the same form 38. Always consider the connection of all things in the universe and their interrelationships.Because all things are related in some way to each other, all things are in this case intimate, because one thing follows another in succession by active movement and mutual co-operation and unity of substance. caused by sex. 39. Adapt yourself to the things with which fate has fated you, and to those with whom you are fated to live, to love them, to do so truly and faithfully. 40. Every utensil, tool, and utensil is good if it achieves the purpose for which it was made, but the person who made it is not there.And in things assembled for nature, the power that made them exists and remains; so it is better to respect this power and think that if you really live and act according to its will, then everything in you will All are reasonable.And those things in the universe that belong to it are also so rational. 41. If you suppose that that which is not within your power is good or bad for you, it must be so: if such a bad thing befalls you or you lose a good thing, you will condemn the gods , and hate those who have caused this misfortune or loss, or who are suspected of being its cause; and we do many unrighteous things, because we make a distinction between good and bad among these things.But if we judge as good or bad only that which is within our power, there is no reason either to find fault with the gods or to be hostile to men. 42. We are all working together towards a goal, some have knowledge and plans, while others don't know what they are doing, like sleepers.That's what Heraclitus said, I think, when he said they were laborers and cooperators in what happened in the universe.But people are more or less cooperative, and even those who cooperate fully, they will be dissatisfied with what happened and those who tried to oppose and prevent cooperation, because the universe needs even such people.Then it remains for you to know what kind of worker you place yourself, for the Lord of all things will surely use you rightly, and he will send you as the user and those whose working tendencies one for one purpose.But don't let yourself play this part, as Knesipas said, a poor and ridiculous part in the drama. 43. Has the sun done the work of the rain, or Esculepu the work of the fruit tree (earth)?And what about each star, they are different, but don't they all work together for the same purpose? 44. If the gods have decided about me, about what must happen to me, then their decision is proper, because it is not easy even to imagine a god without foresight.As for hurting me, why would they plan to do that?For what good would that do them, or the whole which is the object of their special favor?But if they did not decide on me individually, they must at least decide on the whole, and I should accept and be content with what happened in sequence in this general arrangement.But if they don't decide at all - it's a criminal thing to believe this, and if we really believe this, let us not sacrifice, nor pray, nor swear to them, nor do anything else as if the gods were present and what we do when we live with us—but if the gods have not determined anything that concerns us, I can determine myself, and can examine what is useful; And socially, as far as I am Antony, my city and country are Rome; but as far as I am a man, my country is the world.So what works for these cities, works for me. 45. Whatever happens to everyone, it is for the good of the universe: that may be enough.But you take it a step further to take this as a universal truth, and if you do that, what works for anyone will work for everyone else.But here let the word "useful" mean what is usually said of something neutral, that is to say neither good nor bad. 46. ​​Just as it happens in amphitheatres, and the like, to be continually looking at the same thing and the same performance, so is life in general, for all that is above and below is the same , from the same place, so how long do we have to wait? 47. Keep thinking, all kinds of people, all kinds of pursuits and all countries disappear, so that your thoughts even go back to Felixson, Phoebes, Origenian.Now turn your thoughts to other kinds of men, to where you must return, where there are so many rhetoricians; so many noble philosophers: Heraclitus, Pythagoras, Socrates; so So many heroes of previous ages, so many generals who followed them, and tyrants; besides, Eudochus, Hipparchus, Archimedes, and others of great genius and great mind , labor-loving, versatile and self-confident people, even those who make fun of the short and perishable life of man, like Menipas and his like.When thinking about all of these consider that they have all turned to dust.So what harm does it do them, what harm does it do to those whose names have been completely forgotten?Only one thing is of high value here: to live your life with sincerity and integrity, with a kindness even to the liar and the injustice. 48. When you intend to devote yourself to happiness, think of the virtues of those with whom you live, such as one's, another's humility, a third's generosity, a fourth's some other good quality .For nothing is more pleasing than examples of virtue when they are manifested in those with whom we live, and present themselves as fully as they are possible.We must therefore keep these examples before us. 49. I guess you are not dissatisfied that you only weigh so many liters instead of 300 liters.Do not be dissatisfied, then, that you must live only these years and not more, for just as you are content with the weight of your body allotted to you, so you are content with the length of time allotted to you. 50. Let's try to convince them (people).When the principles of justice point this way, follow it, even if it is against their will.But if someone stands in your way with force, then bring yourself into contentment and serenity, and at the same time use these obstacles to train other virtues, remembering that your intentions are reserved and that you do not wish to do the impossible .So what do you desire? - Some kind of effort like this. - And if the thing you were pushed toward is done, you have achieved your purpose. 51. A person who loves fame regards another person's actions as beneficial to himself; the person who loves happiness also regards another person's actions as beneficial to his own senses; but a rational person regards his own actions as beneficial to himself. 52. It is within our power not to express any opinion on a matter, so that our souls will not be disturbed, because things themselves have no natural power to form our judgments. 53. Make you used to listen carefully to what others say, and enter the speaker's mind as much as possible. 54. What is bad for the hive is not good for the bees. 55. If the sailor insults the helmsman, or the patient the doctor, will they listen to anyone else, or can the helmsman ensure the safety of those on board, and the doctor the health of those he treats? 56. How many people who entered this world with me have passed away. 57. To jaundice, honey tastes bitter; to rabies, water causes fear; to children, balls are a good thing.So why am I angry?Don't you think a false opinion is as powerful as the bile in a jaundiced man or the poison in a rabid man? 58. No one can prevent you from living according to your own rational nature; nothing happens to you that violates the rational nature of the universe. 59. So what kind of person do people want to please?For what purpose and through what behavior to please them?How quickly time covers everything, and how much it has covered!