Marcus Aurelius Antoninus to Himself - College of Stoic Philosophers

vi TO HIMSELF 71
not break tune or rhythm more than you must ;
by thus habitually falling back on self, you will be
more master of the harmony.
Had you a stepmother and a mother too, you 12
would be courteous to the former, but for com-
panionship would turn continually to your mother.
For you the court is one, philosophy the other.
To her then turn and turn again, and find your
refreshment ; for she makes even court life seem
bearable to you, and you
in it.
In regarding meats or eatables, you say, So 13
and so is the carcase of a fish, or fowl, or pig ; or
again, Falernian is so much extract of grape juice ;
the purple robe sheep's wool dyed with juices of
the shell-fish ; copulation, a mere physical process.
Regards of this kind explore
and search the
actual facts, opening your eyes to what things
really are. So should you
deal with life as a
whole, and where regards are over-credulous, strip
the facts bare, see through their worthlessness, and
so get rid of their vaunted embellishments. Pride
is the arch sophist ; and when you flatter yourself
you are most engrossed in virtuous ends, then are
you most befooled. Remember what Crates says
of Xenocrates himself.