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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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vni TO HIMSELF 121<br />

philosopher will laugh at you, just as a carpenter<br />

or cobbler would laugh, if you began finding fault<br />

because you saw chips or parings lying about<br />

their shop. And yet they have a place for the<br />

rubbish ; but Nature has nothing outside herself.<br />

Herein is the marvel <strong>of</strong> her handiwork, that thus<br />

self-circumscribed she yet transmutes in<strong>to</strong> herself<br />

every content that seems corrupt and old and use-<br />

less, and from the same materials recreates afresh :<br />

so as <strong>to</strong> avoid the need <strong>of</strong> fresh substance from<br />

without, or <strong>of</strong> some place for her refuse. Her<br />

own space, her own material, and her own handi-<br />

work suffice.<br />

In action, not dila<strong>to</strong>ry ; in intercourse, not 51<br />

indiscriminate ; in impressions, not rambling ; your<br />

soul neither numb with constraint, nor fevered<br />

with transports ; your life, undriven.<br />

Say men kill you, quarter you, pursue you with<br />

execrations : what has that <strong>to</strong> do with your under-<br />

standing remaining pure, lucid, temperate, just?<br />

It is as though a man s<strong>to</strong>od beside some sweet<br />

transparent fountain, abusing it, and it ceased not<br />

<strong>to</strong> well forth draughts <strong>of</strong> pure water ; nay though<br />

he cast in mud and filth, it will speedily disperse<br />

them and wash them forth and take no stain.

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