Chapter 9 volume eight

1. This reflection also helps to dispel the desire for fame, that living your whole life like a philosopher, or at least living from your youth onwards, is no longer within your power ; you and many others are well aware that you are far from philosophy.Then you fall into chaos, so that it is no longer easy for you to gain a reputation as a philosopher, and your life plan does not conform to it.So if you really see what the problem is, drive that thought away.You don't care what other people think of you, as long as you're going to spend the rest of your life the way your nature wants you to be.Then watch what your nature desires, and let nothing else distract you, for you have had many wandering experiences and found happiness nowhere: not in the triads, not in riches, not in fame No, not in pleasure, no happiness is found anywhere.So where is the happiness?It lies in doing what human nature requires.So how would one do it?If he has the principles that are the source of his inclinations and actions.What principle?Those principles concerning good and evil: namely, the conviction that nothing is good for man—if it does not make him just, temperate, courageous, and free; quality.

2. Ask yourself every action you take, how does it relate to me?Will I regret doing this later?In a little time I am going to die, and everything is going to pass away.If what I am doing is the work of a reasonable man, a social man, and a man under the same law as God, what more can I ask for? 3. Who are Alexander, Gayes, and Pompey compared to Diogenes, Heraclitus, and Socrates?As they are acquainted with things, their cause (form), their matter, the governing principle of these men is the same.But in the eyes of the latter, how many things they must look after, how many things are their slaves!

4. Consider that people are going to do the same thing anyway, even if you're about to fly into a rage. 5. The main thing is: don't be disturbed, because all things are in accordance with the nature of the universe, and soon you will be nothing, nowhere to be found, like Hedrian, Augustus.Next give your full attention to your affairs, remembering that it is your duty to be a good man, and whatever human nature demands, do what is required without putting it off; say what seems to you most fitting, but only in a Good temperament, speak it with humility and without hypocrisy. 6. The nature of the universe has this work to do, to move things from one place to another, to change them, to bring them from here to there.All things change, but we need not be afraid of anything new.All things are familiar to us, and the distribution of these things remains the same.

7. Every nature is content with itself when it goes well in its own way, when a rational nature disagrees with anything wrong or uncertain in its thoughts; When activity is directed only to those which are useful to society; when it confines its desires and aversions to that which is within its power; when it is satisfied with all that the universal nature assigns to it, A rational nature goes well in its own way.For every particular nature is a part of this common nature, just as the nature of the leaf is a part of the nature of the plant, but in the plant the nature of the leaf is a part of a nature which is not susceptible to Obstruction, is sensible and just, because it gives time, substance, cause (form), activity, and event to all things equally, according to the value of each.But our investigation is not to find that any one thing is equal in all respects compared with any other particular thing, but to compare all the parts which unite one thing with all the parts which compose another thing. Compare.

8. You have no leisure or ability to read, but you have leisure or ability to guard against arrogance, you have leisure to go beyond pleasure and pain, you have leisure to go beyond love of fame, don't bother with stupid and ungrateful people, don't even bother with them. 9. Let no one hear your dissatisfaction with court life or with your own life again. 10. Regret is a kind of self-reproach for neglecting something useful, and that good thing must also be useful, and a perfect person should pursue it.But no perfect person regrets denying sensual pleasures.Such pleasure is neither good nor useful.

11. What is a thing in itself, and what is its structure?What is its substance and raw material?What is the nature (or form) of its cause?What is it doing in this world?How long will it continue to exist? 12. When you rise reluctantly from your sleep bed, remember that this is social activity according to your structure and human nature, and sleep is the same for irrational animals.But that which is according to the nature of each individual is also more specifically his own, is more suited to his nature, and indeed more pleasing. 13. Constantly apply, if possible, the principles of physics, ethics, and dialectics to every impression the soul receives.

14. No matter who you meet, say to yourself directly: What does this person think about good and evil?Because, if he holds such or such opinions on suffering and happiness and their causes, on honor and disgrace, life and death, then there is nothing strange or incomprehensible for him to do such and such behaviors, and I will keep them in my heart. He couldn't help it. 15. Remember: Just as it is a shame to make a fuss about the fig tree bearing figs, so is it a shame to make a fuss about the world producing what is its own product. It is a shame to them to make a fuss over a fever; or a helmsman to make a fuss about the wind not going his way.

16. Remember: To change your opinion, to follow someone who corrects your faults, is as consistent with liberty as is to persist in your mistakes.For it is your own activity, which is based on your own movement and judgment, and indeed your own understanding. 17. If something is within your power, why not do it?But if it's within another person's power, who do you blame?Blame atoms (accident) or gods?It is foolish to blame anyone.You should never blame anyone.For if you can, change the cause; but if you cannot, at least correct the thing itself; and if you cannot do even that, what is the use of your dissatisfaction?For nothing is made without some purpose.

18. That which dies does not fall out of the universe.If it lingers here, it changes here too, broken down into its proper parts - elements of the universe and elements of yourself.They are also changing without whining. 19. All things exist for a certain purpose, such as a horse and a vine.Then why are you surprised?Even the sun says, I exist for a purpose, and the rest of the gods say the same.So what purpose do you exist for?For pleasure?See if common sense allows it to be said. 20. Nature cares for everything at its end as much as it does at its beginning or in the middle, like a man who throws a ball up.So what does it do for the ball to be thrown?And what harm does it do it to start falling, or even to fall?For a bubble, what good is it being formed, and what is bad about its bursting?The same applies to a bolt of lightning.

21. Look deeply at the body, and see what kind of thing it is, what it becomes when it grows old, and what it becomes when it is sick. The life of the praiser and the praised, the rememberer and the remembered is short; all these activities take place in a small corner of a part of the world, and even here not all agree, no, no Everyone is with himself.The whole earth is also just a point. 22. Pay attention to what is in front of you, whether it is an opinion or an action or a word.You put up with it rightly because it would rather it be a good thing tomorrow than a good thing today. 23. What am I doing?I do things about the human good.is something happening to me?I accept it, ascribe it to the gods - the source of all things, from them all that happens.

24. When you take a bath you see such things - greasy, sweaty, dirty, filthy water, everything smells disgusting - every part and everything of life. 25. Lyusina saw Veles died, then Lyusina died; Sicunde saw Maximus died, then Sicunde died; Epitienchanus saw Diotimus died, then Epitinechanus died; Antony saw Faustina die, then Antony died.That's everything.Celer saw Hedrian die, and then Celer died.Where are the witty men, or prophets, or puffed-up men?Take, for example, these astute men: Charax, the Platonists, Demetrius, and Udmund and others like them.All people are living and dying, and have long since passed away.Some were indeed even instantly forgotten, others became legendary heroes, and still others even disappeared from legend.Remember this, then: you too, this little mixture, must either quarrel, or stop breathing, or be moved elsewhere. 26. It is satisfying for a person to do a job suitable for a person.The proper work for a man, then, is to be kind to his fellow beings, to despise the activities of the senses, to form a just judgment of plausible phenomena, to form a general view of the nature of the universe and of what happens in it. . 27. There are three relations between you and other things: one to the objects that surround you; one to the divine cause from which all things arise; one to those who live with you. people's connections. 28. Pain is either an evil to the body (let the body express its thoughts), or an evil to the soul; however, the soul insists on its own peace and tranquility, and does not think of pain as an evil. within its own power.For every judgment, activity, desire and aversion takes place within, and no evil can rise so high. 29. Clear your illusions by saying to yourself often: Let no evil, no desire, or disturbance enter my soul, it is within my power now, and by looking at all things I see their nature What is, I use everything according to its value. -Remember this power that comes from your nature. 30. Not only in the Senate, but also to everyone, speak properly, without affectation, and with concise words. 31. The court of Augustus, wives, daughters, descendants, ancestors, sisters, Egripe, relatives, confidants, friends, Arefus, Mycinas, physicians, and priests, all of the court died.Then look at others, not considering the death of a single person, but the death of the whole family, like Pompey's family, which is inscribed on the tomb - the last of his family.Then consider the distress of those who came before them to the offspring they might leave behind, and then someone must be the last.Here again consider the death of an entire family. 32. It is your duty to keep your life in good order in every activity. If every activity fulfills this duty as far as possible, then be content. No one can stop you and make you Every activity of the company fails to fulfill its obligations. - but something external might get in the way. - Nothing can stand in the way of just, sober, and deliberate activity. - but maybe some other positive force will be thwarted. - Well, but by tacitly hindering and by being content to divert your efforts to that which is permitted, another opportunity for action will be presented to you directly in place of the hindered activity, which is also an adaptation to what we have just said opportunities for action of that order. 33. Accept wealth and prosperity without showing off, and at the same time be ready to give it up at any time. 34. If you have ever seen a hand cut off, or a foot, or a head, if you have seen lying there without the rest of the body, then the person who is dissatisfied with what happened is doing as much as he can to make themselves that way, to detach themselves from others, or to do antisocial things.Supposing you have separated yourself from this natural unity—because you were made a part of it by nature, and are now cut off from it—there is still a good way to reunify in the same way. within your power.God did not promise to other animals the ability to reunite themselves after they have been separated and cut apart.But consider God's promotion of man's goodwill, which he puts within the sphere of man's power: that is, not quite separated from the universe; and when he is separated from him, God allows him to come back, reunite, and occupy him as a part. status. 35. Since the nature of the universe gives every rational being all the other powers it possesses, so we also have this power.For just as the nature of the universe transforms and arranges in its intended place everything that hinders and opposes it, and makes such things a part of itself, so the rational animal can make every obstacle his own matter, and use it to achieve his own goals. May have been designed for a purpose. 36. Don't bother you by thinking about your whole life.Do not allow your thoughts to dwell on all the miseries that you may expect to befall you, but ask yourself on each occasion, what is there on this occasion that is intolerable and cannot pass away?Because you will be ashamed to admit it.Next remember that neither the future nor the past will cause you pain, only the present will.And if you only limit it, this pain will be reduced to a little; and if even this cannot be resisted, blame your heart. 37. Is Panser or Pergamus still sitting beside the tomb of Veles?Does Jonaus or Diotimus still sit at the side of Hedri's tomb?That would be absurd.Well, if they were still sitting there, would the dead realize it?Would the dead be happy if they realized?If they are happy, does that keep them from ever dying?These people have to become old men and women first and then die. Isn't this the order of fate?So what do those who come after these dead do?All must walk this path. 38. The philosopher said that if you can observe sharply, you can investigate and judge wisely. 39. In the structure of rational animals, I do not see any virtue that is contrary to justice, but a virtue that is contrary to the love of pleasure, that is temperance. 40. If you banish your opinions about things that seem to give you pain, your ego will be fully secured. - Then what is this self? - is rational. - But I am not rational. - So be it, let reason itself not bother itself.But if the rest of you suffer, let it express its opinion of itself. 41. Sensory impairment is an evil to animal nature.Impediment to movement (desire) is likewise an evil to animal nature.Something else is likewise a hindrance and an evil to the structure of plants.Obstacles to the understanding, therefore, are also an evil to the nature of the intellect.Then apply all these principles to yourself.Does pain or sensual pleasure affect you?The senses are going to pay attention to it. - Is there anything holding you back when you are working on a goal?If you are indeed making this absolute effort (unconditional or unreserved effort), then surely this obstacle is an evil to you who are considered a rational animal.But if you consider the usual course of things, you are not hurt or even hindered.At any rate, that which is fit for the understanding cannot be hindered by any other, for neither fire nor iron nor tyrant nor insult can touch it.When it was made a sphere, it continued to be a sphere. 42. It is not appropriate to say that I have caused pain to myself, because I have not even intentionally caused pain to others. 43. Different things make different people happy, and my joy is to make the dominion sound while not detaching from anyone or anything that happens to people, but only seeing and accepting everything with a welcoming eye, using each according to its value. one thing. 44. Beware of this present moment which you promise yourself, for those who would rather seek fame after death do not think that later men will be as mortal as those now whom they do not remember.So what does it matter to you whether these people say this or that to you, have this or that opinion about you in the future? 45. Take me where you will go, for there I will keep the sacred part of my mind at peace, that is, it will be content if it feels and acts according to its proper structure.Why should my soul be unhappy, bad, depressed, conceited, cowering, and fearful than it was?Is there any good reason for this change?Can you find such a good reason for it? 46. ​​Nothing that is not human can happen to you from a man; nothing that is not in the nature of a bull can happen from a bull; nothing that is not in the nature of a vine can happen from a vine; nothing that is not in the nature of a vine What befits a stone happens from a stone.So if what happens from everything is normal and natural, why are you complaining?For there is nothing brought about by the common nature that was not born of you. 47. If you suffer from something external, it is not the thing that bothers you, but your own judgment about it.And it is within your power to clear that judgment now.But if something in your own disposition gives you pain, who prevents you from correcting your opinion?Even if you're miserable because you didn't do something that you just thought was right, why wouldn't you rather do it than complain? - But is there an insurmountable obstacle lying ahead? - Then don't be sad about it, because the reason for not doing it is independent of you. - But if you can't do this, is life worthless? —Give up your life contentedly, then, and rejoice in that which is an obstacle, just as the man who has lived fully dies. 48. Remember: Your dominant part is unconquerable, and if it does not do anything against its will, even if it resists out of sheer stubbornness, it is content when it is self-possessed. own.But what if it forms a judgment of things with the aid of reason and prudence?So the heart free from passion is a fortress, for there is nothing in which man is more secure.He who does not know this is an ignorant man, and he who knows this and does not fly to this refuge is an unfortunate man. 49. Say nothing to yourself other than what the initial phenomenon reports. Suppose you are reported that someone speaks ill of you. The news is reported, but you are not harmed, and there is no report of your being harmed.I see my child is sick, I see it, but I don't see him in danger.So always follow the first phenomenon, adding nothing to you from within, then nothing happens to you.Or rather add something like someone who knows everything going on in the world. 50. This cucumber is bitter. - Then throw it away. -There are thorns in the road. - Then avoid it.This is enough.Don't add anything, ask why there is such a thing in this world?For you will be laughed at by one who knows nature, just as if you were laughed at by the carpenter and the shoemaker if you found shavings and scraps in their shops.But they still have a place to throw these shavings and scraps, and the nature of the universe has no such outer space, but the most wonderful part of her art is that although she defines herself, re-created from these things. Same thing, so that she doesn't need any entity from outside, or a place where she can drop rotting stuff.I am afraid that she is satisfied with her own space, her own materials and her own art. 51. Let not your actions be sluggish, your conversation not orderly, your thoughts not disorderly, let not your soul have internal strife and outward outbursts, nor be so busy in life that there is no leisure. . Suppose people kill you, cut you to pieces, curse you.So how can any of these things keep your mind from being pure, wise, sober and just?For example, if a man stands beside a clear and pure spring and curses it, the spring will never cease to give forth drinkable water, and if the man should throw earth or rubbish into it, the spring will quickly disperse them, Wash them without getting dirty.So what about you who have an eternal spring and not just a well?To shape yourself moment by moment to the freedom that is one with contentment, simplicity and humility. 52. He who does not know what the world is does not know where he is.He who does not know what the world is for, does not know who he is, nor what the world is.And a man who knows nothing of these things cannot even say for what purpose he himself exists.So what do you think of those who avoid or seek applause and praise, what do you think of people who don't know where they are or who they are? 53. Would you like to be praised by a man who condemns himself three times an hour?Do you wish to please someone who is also displeased with himself?Can a man who regrets almost everything he has done please himself? 54. It is no longer just your breath that is in harmony with the air that surrounds you, but your reason is now also in harmony with that which includes all things.For the intellect is to him who will make use of it, as the atmosphere is to him who can breathe it, distributed in all parts and pervaded in all things. 55. Generally speaking, evil does not harm the universe at all. In particular, one person's evil does not harm another person.It harms only the man who, if he chooses, has the power to escape from evil. 56. My neighbor's free will is as indifferent to my own free will as his pleasant breath and body.For although we are specially made to cooperate with each other, each of us has his own room for domination, because otherwise my neighbor's evil would hurt me, and God does not intend that our Misfortunes can also affect each other. 57. The sun seems to be shining down. It is indeed distributed in all directions, but it is not overflowing.For this distribution is expansion: because of it the rays are called expansion, because they are expanded.If a man notices that sunlight enters a dark room through a narrow opening, he can tell what kind of thing a ray is, because it stretches straight, and when it meets any solid object that blocks its way and cuts off the air, it It can be said to be separated, but the light is still there and remains stable, not sliding or shrinking.The understanding, then, should be so irradiated and distributed, that it should not be an overflow, but an expansion, which should not make any violent impact on any obstacle in its way, and at the same time should not flinch, but steadily illuminate the receiving its something.Because if an object does not accept it, it cannot get light. 58. People who are afraid of death are either afraid of the loss of feeling, or afraid of a different feeling.But if you will have no feeling, you will also feel no damage; if you will gain another feeling, you will be a different creature and will not stop living. 59. People exist for each other, so teach them and tolerate them. 60. An arrow moves in this way, and the mind moves in another way.Indeed, when the mind acts cautiously or engages in inquiry, it moves in a straight line towards its object. 61. See everyone's dominion; let all others see your dominion.