Marcus Aurelius Antoninus to Himself - College of Stoic Philosophers
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus to Himself - College of Stoic Philosophers Marcus Aurelius Antoninus to Himself - College of Stoic Philosophers
60 MARCUS ANTONINUS BOOK 13 I consist of two elements, the causal and the material ; neither of which can perish or cease to exist, any more than they came into being from previous non-existence. It follows then that every part of me will be co-ordinated by change into some other part of the world-order, and that again into some new part, and so on ad infinitum. My existence is but a stage in the succession, and so too that of my parents, and so backwards once more ad infinitum. There is no objection to this view, even supposing the world is ordered in finite cosmic cycles. 14 Reason and the reasoning process are in themselves and their action self-sufficing faculties. They derive their impulse from their own begin- end. Hence ning ; they march to their appointed the term rectitude l applied to conduct, signifying that it never swerves from the right path. 15 Nothing strictly appertains to man, which is not appointed for man, as man. Such things are not among man's requirements, they have no warranty in man's nature, and they do not perfect or complete that nature. Neither therefore does 1 The etymological correspondence between KaT6p6u
v TO HIMSELF 61 man's true end lie in them, nor that which con- summates the end, to wit the good. Were any of these things appointed for man, contempt and mutiny against them could not be appointed like- wise ; nor could self- detachment from them be laudable ; nor, if they were truly goods, could going short of them minister to goodness. Whereas, the more a man deprives himself of such things, or acquiesces in such deprivation, the better he becomes. Repeat impressions, and your understanding 16 will assimilate itself to them ; for the soul takes the dye of its impressions. Steep it then con- stantly in such sequences as these : where life is possible, so too is right life ; you live at court, then at court too live aright. Or again for whatsoever purpose each thing is constituted, thereto it tends ; and whereto it tends, there lies its end ; and where its end is, there too is each thing's gain and good. It follows that the good of the reasoning creature lies in social action ; for it has been long since shown, that we are made for social action. Is it not palpable, that the lower forms exist for the higher, and the higher for one another ? And things with breath of life
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60 MARCUS ANTONINUS BOOK<br />
13 I consist <strong>of</strong> two elements, the causal and the<br />
material ; neither <strong>of</strong> which can perish or cease <strong>to</strong><br />
exist, any more than they came in<strong>to</strong> being from<br />
previous non-existence. It follows then that<br />
every part <strong>of</strong> me will be co-ordinated by change<br />
in<strong>to</strong> some other part <strong>of</strong> the world-order, and that<br />
again in<strong>to</strong> some new part, and so on ad infinitum.<br />
My existence is but a stage in the succession, and<br />
so <strong>to</strong>o that <strong>of</strong> my parents,<br />
and so backwards once<br />
more ad infinitum. There is no objection <strong>to</strong> this<br />
view, even supposing the world is ordered in<br />
finite cosmic cycles.<br />
14 Reason and the reasoning process<br />
are in<br />
themselves and their action self-sufficing faculties.<br />
They derive their impulse from their own begin-<br />
end. Hence<br />
ning ; they march <strong>to</strong> their appointed<br />
the term rectitude l<br />
applied <strong>to</strong> conduct, signifying<br />
that it never swerves from the right path.<br />
15 Nothing strictly appertains <strong>to</strong> man, which is<br />
not appointed for man, as man. Such things are<br />
not among man's requirements, they<br />
have no<br />
warranty in man's nature, and they do not perfect<br />
or complete that nature. Neither therefore does<br />
1 The etymological correspondence between KaT6p6u
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