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Marcus Aurelius Antoninus to Himself - College of Stoic Philosophers

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iv TO HIMSELF 37<br />

result is inevitable ; he who would not have it so,<br />

would have the fig-tree yield no juice. Fret not.<br />

Remember <strong>to</strong>o that in a little you and he will both<br />

be dead ;<br />

get<br />

soon not even your names will survive.<br />

Get rid <strong>of</strong> the assumption, and therewith you 7<br />

rid <strong>of</strong> the sense '<br />

I am an injured man<br />

'<br />

; get<br />

rid <strong>of</strong> the sense <strong>of</strong> injury, you get rid <strong>of</strong> the injury<br />

itself.<br />

What does not make the man himself worse, 8<br />

does not make his life worse either, nor injure him,<br />

without or within.<br />

It is a necessity demanded by the general good. 9<br />

1<br />

All that happens, happens aright.' Watch 10<br />

narrowly, and you will find it so. Not merely in<br />

the order <strong>of</strong> events, but in just order <strong>of</strong> right, as<br />

though some power apportions all according <strong>to</strong><br />

worth. Watch on then, as you have begun ; in<br />

all that you do, let goodness go with the doing-<br />

goodness in the strict meaning<br />

every<br />

action make sure <strong>of</strong> this.<br />

<strong>of</strong> the word. In<br />

Do not take the views adopted by him who 11<br />

does the wrong, nor those he would have you<br />

adopt ; just look at facts, as they truly are.<br />

Two rules <strong>of</strong> readiness ; be ready, first, <strong>to</strong> do 12<br />

just that which reason, your king and lawgiver,

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