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Marcus Aurelius Antoninus to Himself - College of Stoic Philosophers

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88 MARCUS ANTONINUS BOOK<br />

standing are nothing <strong>to</strong> my understanding. Grasp<br />

that, and you stand upright : you<br />

your life. See things once more as you<br />

and therein you have new life.<br />

before ;<br />

can ever renew<br />

saw them<br />

A mimic pageant, a stage spectacle, flocking<br />

sheep and herding cows, an armed brawl, a bone<br />

flung <strong>to</strong> curs, a crumb dropped in the fish-<br />

tanks, <strong>to</strong>iling <strong>of</strong> burdened ants, the scamper <strong>of</strong><br />

scurrying mice, puppets pulled with strings such<br />

is life. In such surroundings you must take your<br />

stand, considerate and undisdainful ; yet under-<br />

stand the while, that the measure <strong>of</strong> the man's<br />

worth is the worth <strong>of</strong> his aims.<br />

In talk we must intelligently understand what<br />

is said, and in endeavour what is done. In the<br />

latter, look straight at the aim <strong>to</strong> which it tends ;<br />

in the former, watch carefully the meaning<br />

conveyed.<br />

Have I understanding equal <strong>to</strong> the task, yes or<br />

no ? If yes, I use it for the work, as a <strong>to</strong>ol<br />

supplied by Nature : if no, either I step aside in<br />

favour <strong>of</strong> some one better able <strong>to</strong> accomplish the<br />

work, or, if duty for some reason forbids that,<br />

I act<br />

as best I can, securing the help <strong>of</strong> some one, who<br />

availing himself <strong>of</strong> my direction can carry out

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