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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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120 MARCUS ANTONINUS BOOK<br />

48 Remember that your Inner Self is inexpugn-<br />

able, when once it rallies <strong>to</strong> itself and consistently<br />

declines <strong>to</strong> act against its will, even though the<br />

defiance may<br />

be irrational. How much more<br />

then, when its judgment is rational and made with<br />

circumspection<br />

passions is a citadel ;<br />

? Therefore the mind free from<br />

man has no stronger fortress<br />

<strong>to</strong> which he can fly for refuge and remain impreg-<br />

nable. Ignorant is he, who has not seen this ;<br />

unhappy he, who, having seen, yet<br />

refuge.<br />

flies not <strong>to</strong> the<br />

49 Do not draw inferences in excess <strong>of</strong> that<br />

which the primary impressions announce. They<br />

announce, '<br />

'<br />

So and so is ill speaking <strong>of</strong> you<br />

; yes,<br />

but they do not add that you are thereby injured :<br />

or, *<br />

I see my<br />

child is sick1 '<br />

; yes,<br />

but that there is<br />

danger, I do not see. Always keep strictly <strong>to</strong> the<br />

first impressions, without adding comments <strong>of</strong><br />

your own, and you are unaffected. Or rather,<br />

add from within the recognition that all is part <strong>of</strong><br />

the world-order.<br />

50 The gourd is bitter : drop it then ! There are<br />

brambles in the path : then turn aside ! It is<br />

enough.<br />

Do not go on <strong>to</strong> argue, Why pray have<br />

these things a place in the world ? The natural

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