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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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148 MARCUS ANTONINUS BOOK<br />

9 A stage-play, a fight, a scramble, a stupor, or<br />

a bondage such is life ! and each day will help<br />

<strong>to</strong> efface the sacred principles, which you divest <strong>of</strong><br />

philosophic regard or allegiance. It is your duty<br />

<strong>to</strong> keep sight and action so alert, as <strong>to</strong> satisfy each<br />

call, <strong>to</strong> effectualise each perception, and <strong>to</strong> main-<br />

tain the full courage <strong>of</strong> conviction in reserve, but<br />

unsuppressed. Ah !<br />

simple-heartedness? in dignity?<br />

when<br />

will you find fruition in<br />

in that understand-<br />

ing which apprehends each thing's true being, its<br />

position in the world, its term <strong>of</strong> existence, and<br />

its composition, and which can say <strong>to</strong> whom it <strong>of</strong><br />

right belongs, and who can either give<br />

away ?<br />

it or take<br />

10 The spider is proud <strong>of</strong> catching a fly so is<br />

11<br />

one man <strong>of</strong> catching a hare, another <strong>of</strong> netting<br />

a sprat, another boars, or bears, or Sarmatians.<br />

Tested by philosophic principles, are they not<br />

brigands, every one?<br />

Habituate yourself <strong>to</strong> the perception <strong>of</strong> all-per-<br />

vading change ; dwell on it continually, and order<br />

your thoughts accordingly ; nothing more elevates<br />

the mind, and emancipates it from the body. He<br />

who realises that at any moment he may be called<br />

on <strong>to</strong> leave the world and <strong>to</strong> depart from among

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