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Marcus Aurelius Antoninus to Himself - College of Stoic Philosophers

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus to Himself - College of Stoic Philosophers

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iv TO HIMSELF 45<br />

fame ? Just emptiness. What then remains,<br />

worthy <strong>of</strong> devotion ? One thing only ; the under-<br />

standing just, action unselfish, speech<br />

that abhors<br />

a lie, and the disposition that welcomes all that<br />

befalls, as inevitable, as familiar, and as flowing<br />

from a like origin and source.<br />

Freely resign yourself <strong>to</strong> Clotho, helping<br />

<strong>to</strong> spin her thread <strong>of</strong> what stuff she will.<br />

her 34<br />

Everything is but for a day, remembrancer alike 35<br />

and the remembered.<br />

Watch how all things continually change, and 36<br />

accus<strong>to</strong>m yourself <strong>to</strong> realise that Nature's prime<br />

delight is in changing things that are, and making<br />

new things in their likeness. All that is, is as it<br />

were the seed <strong>of</strong> that which shall issue from it.<br />

You must not limit your idea <strong>of</strong> seed <strong>to</strong> seeds<br />

planted<br />

in the earth or in the womb which is<br />

most unphilosophical.<br />

Death is at hand but not yet are you simple, 37<br />

or unperturbed, or incredulous <strong>of</strong> possible injury<br />

from without, or serene <strong>to</strong>wards all, or convinced<br />

that in just dealing alone is wisdom.<br />

Descry men's Inner Selves, and see what the 38<br />

wise shun or seek.<br />

Evil for you lies not in any self external <strong>to</strong> 39

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