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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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vi TO HIMSELF 81<br />

with it ; though there the producer is no longer<br />

by. But in nature's unities the power which<br />

produced<br />

is still within them and abides : so<br />

much the more then must you have respect <strong>to</strong> it,<br />

and believe that, if you handle and employ all<br />

according <strong>to</strong> its will, you have all <strong>to</strong> your mind.<br />

So is it with the universe, whose all is <strong>to</strong> its mind.<br />

If you assume anything that lies outside your 41<br />

own control <strong>to</strong> be a good for you or an evil,<br />

then the incidence <strong>of</strong> such evil or the depriva-<br />

tion <strong>of</strong> such good drives you in<strong>to</strong> finding fault<br />

with the gods, and hating the men who bring<br />

about, or as you suspect will bring about, such<br />

deprivation or incidence : and <strong>of</strong>tentimes we sin,<br />

from being bent upon such things. But if we<br />

account only that which is in our own control as<br />

good or bad, there remains no reason either for<br />

arraigning god, or setting<br />

man.<br />

ourselves at feud with<br />

One and all we work <strong>to</strong>wards one consumma- 42<br />

tion, some knowingly and intelligently, others<br />

unconsciously. Just as Heraclitus, was it not,<br />

said <strong>of</strong> those who sleep, that they <strong>to</strong>o are at<br />

work, fellow-workers in the conduct <strong>of</strong> the universe.<br />

One works in one way, another in another ; and<br />

G

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