Marcus Aurelius Antoninus to Himself - College of Stoic Philosophers

i TO
HIMSELF 3
not to give hasty assent to chatterers. He intro-
duced me to the memoirs of Epictetus, presenting
me with a copy from his own stores.
From Apollonius, to keep free and to stake 8
nothing on the hazards of chance ; never,
for one
instant, to lose sight of reason ; to keep equable
in temper, under assaults of pain, or the loss of a
child, or in tedious illnesses. His example was
a living demonstration, that the utmost intensity
admits of occasional relaxation. He was a model
of patience in explanation ; and visibly one who
made the least of his own experience and profici-
he taught me how
ency in philosophic exposition ;
to receive factitious favours, without either sacrifice
of self-respect or churlish disregard.
From Sextus, kindliness ; and the model of a 9
well-ordered household ; the idea of life in con-
formity with nature ; dignity without affectation ;
sympathetic concern for friends ;
tolerance for the
simple and unlettered ; the universal cordiality,
which made his society more agreeable than any
flattery, while never for a moment failing to com-
mand respect ; his steady intuition for discerning
and methodising the principles essential to right
living, avoiding all display of anger or emotion, and