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Marcus Aurelius Antoninus to Himself - College of Stoic Philosophers

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42 MARCUS ANTONINUS BOOK<br />

his allotted portion in the universe, and content <strong>to</strong><br />

keep his action just, his ^disposition charitable.<br />

26 You have seen the other side <strong>of</strong> the picture ?<br />

Now look on this. Be tranquil : be simple. Does<br />

another do wrong ? The wrong is his own. Does<br />

aught befall you ? It is well a part <strong>of</strong> the destiny<br />

<strong>of</strong> the universe ordained for you from the beginning ;<br />

all that befalls was part <strong>of</strong> the great web. In fine,<br />

Life is short ; let us redeem the present by help<br />

<strong>of</strong> reasonableness and right. In relaxation, be<br />

sober.<br />

27 Either an ordered universe, or else a welter <strong>of</strong><br />

confusion. Assuredly<br />

then a world -order. Or<br />

think you that order subsisting within yourself is<br />

compatible<br />

<strong>to</strong>o when all things,<br />

with disorder in the All ? And that<br />

diffused, are affected sympathetically.<br />

however distributed and<br />

28 "A black heart" ay, a womanish, a perverse<br />

heart, a heart <strong>of</strong> brute beast or babe or cattle,<br />

stupid and false and hypocritical, a huckster's or a<br />

tyrant's.<br />

29 If he who does not recognise what is in the<br />

universe is a stranger <strong>to</strong> the universe, none the<br />

less is he who does not recognise what is passing<br />

there. He is an exile, expatriated from the com-

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