m l ; SITY OF CALIFORNIA UBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIB SITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIB ERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA I | MillC^; d * 6~ ERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA L / SELECTIONS FROM THE THOUGHTS OF MARCUS AURELIUS FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR BY SARA CARR UPTON SELECTIONS FROM THE THOUGHTS OF MARCUS AURELIUS** FOR FAERY DAY IN THE YEAR RY SARA CAEK UPTON NEW-YORK PRINTED ON THE MERGENTHALER LINOTYPES 1888 U7 COPYRIGHT: 1888: By SARA CARR UPTON. Every line in this pamphler, was set up by THE MERGENTHAJLER LINOTYPE MACHINE. THOUGH T S OF THE EMPEROR MARCUS AURELIUS. JANUARY 1. Every moment thinlj steadily as a Roman and a man, to do what thou hast in hand with perfect and simple dignity, in aflection, in freedom and in jus- tice. BooU II, 5.* JANUARY 2. How few the things are which a man need lay hold of, to bo able to lead a life which flows in quiet and Is like the life of the Gods. II, 5. JANUARY 3. All that is from the Gods is full of Providence. II, 3. JANUARY 4. Do every act of this life as If it were the last, lay- ing asido all carelessness, aversion to the commands of reason, hypocrisy, solf-love, and discontent. II, 5. * The references are to the Book and the Section of " The Thoughts of the Emperor M. Aurelius Antoninus,'- trans- lated by George Long: London, George Bell & Sons, 1885, from which the -selections have been taken, with very slight changes. 4 THOUGHTS OF THE JANUARY 5. Does thy soul reverence itself, or does it place its felicity in the souls of others? II, 6. JANUARY 6. Do wrong to thyself, do wrong to thyself, my soul, but thou wilt have no longer the opportunity to honor thyself. II, 6. JANUARY 7. Do tho things external which fall upon thee, dis- tract then? II, 7. JANUARY 8. If a man loofes it, death as it is in Itself, and by reflecting resolves all the things which occur to tho imagination into their parts, he will consider it nothing but an operation of nature. II, 12. JANUARY 9. Every man's lifo is sufficient. II, 6. JANUARY 10. Reverence for the inner spirit of a man consists in keeping it pure from passion, from thoughtlessness and from dissatisfaction with whatever comes from Uods and men. II, 13. JANUARY 11. Things from men should be dear to us by reason of their kinship. II, 13. JANUARY 12. Things from the gods merit veneration for their excellence. II, 13. JANUARY 13. As men's ignorance of good and bad^ is no loss a defect than the deprivation of the power to distinguish blaclt from white, it should move us to pity. II, 13. EMPEROR MARCUS AURELUUS. JANUARY 14. The present is the only thing which a man can lose, for it is the only thing which he has. II, 14. JANUARY 15. Though thou shouldest, be going to live three thou- sand years, and as many times ten thousand years, still remember that no man loses any other life than that he now lives, nor lives any other life than this he now loses. II, 14. JANUARY 16. The soul of a man does violence to itself when it is vexed with anything, which is itself a separation from nature. When it turns away from any man or turns toward him with anger, when it is overpowered by pleasure or pain, when it plays a part, or says or does something insincere or untrue, when it allows any act to be .without an aim and thoughtless. II, 10. JANUARY 17. To keep the spirit, free and pure within, one must riot feel the need ol another man's doing or not doing. II, 17. JANUARY 18. To keep the spirit pure within, a man must do nothing without a purpose, nor yet falsely and with hypocrisy. II, 17. JANUARY 19. Of human life the time is a point, and the substance Is in a flux, the perception is dull, the whole body subject to putrefaction, and the soul a whirl, and fortune hard to divine, and fame a thing devoid of judgment. II, 17. I/ 6 THOUGHTS OF THE JANUARY 20. What Is able to conduct a man? One thing and only one, Philosophy. II, 17. JANUARY 21. Kortp t.ho spirit within thee superior to pains and pleasures. II, 17. JANUARY 22. Accept, all that is allotted, as coming from the same source as thyself, and wait for death with a cheerful mind. -II, 17. JANUARY 23. If a man should have a feeling, and a deeper insight with respect to the things produced in the Universe, there is hardly one of those which follow by way of consequence which will not seem to him disposed In such a manner as to give pleasure, the ears of corn bending down, the lion's eyebrows, the foam which (lows from the mouth of wild beasts all these are con- sequent, on the things that are formed by nature and help to adorn them and please the mind. Ill, -2. JANUARY 24. To die and depart from among men. if there are gods, is not a thing to be afraid of; for the gods will not Involve thee In evil. II, II. JANUARY 25. Since it is possible that thou mayest depart from life this very moment, regulate every act and thought accordingly. 11, 11. JANUARY 26. This thou must always bear in mind What Is the nature of the whole? and what is my nature? How EMPEROR MARCUS AUREIAUS. 7 is my nature related to the nature of the whole? and what kind of a part is It of what kind of a whole? II, 9. JANUARY 27. Give thyself time to learn something new and good, and cease to be whirled around. II, 7. JANUARY 28. Many things will present themselves as pleasing to the man who has become truly familiar with nature and her work, which other men will miss, he will see the real gaping jaws of wild beasts with no less pleasure than painters and sculptors feel, and he will see comeliness in an old woman and an old man. III. 2. JANUARY 29. Thou hast embarked thou hast made the voyage thou hast come to shore get out. If to another life, there is no want of gods there 4f to a state without sensation, thou will cease to be held by pains and pleasures and to be a slave to earth and corruption. -Ill, 3. JANUARY 30. /" Do not wibSt.e your life in thoughts about others /unless thy thoughts refer to some object of common j utility. Ill, 4. JANUARY 31. It Is the part of the intellectual faculty to observe who those are whose opinions and voices give reputa- tion. II, 12. FEBRUARY 1. A man should use himself to think of those things only, about which, If one should suddenly ask, "What hast r.hpu in thy thoughts ?" he could answer with per- fect openness, so that it would be plain that every- 8 THOUGHTS OF THE thing in him was simple and kind, without rivalry, envy, suspicion or anything for which he should blush. Ill, 4. FEBRUARY 2. A man who delays not to be among the best is like a priest and minister of the Gods using the deity planted within him, which makes him uncontaminated by pleasuie, unharmed by pain, untouched by Insult, a fighter in the noblest fight, not overpowered by any passion, deep-dyed with justice and accepting with his soul all that happens and is his portion. III. 4. FEBRUARY 3. A man should constantly think of that which is al lotted to him out of the sum total of things ; and that he must make his own acts fair and be persuaded that his own portion is good; for the lot assigned to each man is both carried along with him and carries him with It. Ill, 4. FEBRUARY 4. A man should remember that every rational crea- ture is his kino man, and that to care for all men is ac- cording to man's nature. Ill, 4. FEBRUARY 5. If a man bears in mind what kind of men those are who do not live according to nature, and looks ai what they are at home and abroad by night and day, and with what men they lead an Impure life, he cannot value their praise. They are not even satisfied with themselves. Ill, 4. FEBRUARY 6. Labor not unwillingly, nor without regard for the common interest, nor without due consideration, nor with distraction. Ill, "5. FEBRUARY 7. Be cheerful and seek not eternal help, nor the tran quillity which others give. Ill, 5. EMPEROR MARCUS AURELiUS. 9 FEBRUARY 8. A man must stand erect and nor, be kept erect by ' others. Ill, 5. FEBRUARY 9. Let not studied ornament set off thy thoughts, and be not either a man of many words nor busied about too many things III, 5. FEBRUARY 10. Let the deity within thee be the guardian of a living being, manly and of ripe age, engaged in matters po litical, a citizen and ruler who takes his post, like a man waiting for a signal. Ill, 5. FEBRUARY 11. If thou tindest in human life anything better than justice, truth, temperance, fortitude, turn to it and enjoy what thou hast found to be best, only take care to make the Inquiry by a sure method. Ill, 6. FEBRUARY 12. If nothing appears better to thee than the deity pianted within thee and which, as Socrates says, has detached itself from the persuasions of sense and has submitted Itself to the gods and cares for mankind, 11 thou findest everything else smaller and of less value, then give place to nothing else. Ill, 6. FEBRUARY 13. It is not right that such things as praise from the many, power, or enjoyment of pleasure should corny into competition with what is rationally and prac- tically good. Ill, 6. FEBRUARY 14. He who has preferred to everything else the spirit within him and the worship of its excellence, acts no tragic part, does not groan, will not need either soli- \ 10 THOUGHTS OF THE tude or company and will live without cither pursuing or flying from death. Ill, 7. FEBRUARY 15. Never value anything as profitable to thyself which shall compel thee to break thy promise, to lose thy self-respect, to hate, to suspect, to curse, to act the hypocrite or do anything which needs walls and cur- tains. Ill, 7. FEBRUARY 16. Simply and freely choose the better and hold to it. Ill, 6. FEBRUARY 17. A man must take care of this only all through life, that his thoughts turn not away from anything which belongs to an intelligent being and a member of a civil community. Then, if his soul is inclosed for a longer or for a shorter time in the body, he cares not at all. Ill, 7. FEBRUARY 18 Reverence the faculty which produces opinion. On this It depends whether thou shalt be ruled by opinion inconsistent with the nature of man and with the constitution of tha rational being. Ill, 9. FEBRUARY 19. The faculty which produces opinion promises free- dom from hasty judgments, friendship toward men and obedience to the gods. Ill, 9. FEBRUARY 20. Bear in mind that every man lives only this present time, which is an indivisible point, and that all tho rest of his life is either past or uncertain. Ill, 10. FEBRUARY 21. Throwing away many things, hold to fhese only which are few. ITT, 10. EMPEROR MARCUS AURELIUS. 11 FEBRUARY 22. Make for thyself a definition or description of the thing presented to thee, so as to see distinctly what kind of a thing it is in its substance, in its nudity, in its complete entirety ; and tell thyself its pioper name, and the names of the things of which it is compounded, and into which it will be resolved. Ill, 11. FEBRUARY 23. Nothing is so productive of elevation of mind as to be able to examine methodically and truly every ob- ject which is presented to thee in life, and to look at each thing so as to see what it is in itself, what kind of a use it performs in the world and whai value it has with reference to man. Ill, 11. FEBRUARY 24. How long is il the nature of this thing to endure, which now makes an impression on me, and what special virtue do I need with respect to it, such as gentleness, truth, fidelity, simplicity, contentment and the rest? Ill, 11. FEBRUARY 25. On every occasion a man should say " This thing comes from God this from the spinning of the thread of destiny and this from a kinsnaan of the same stock, who does not know, however, what is according to nature but I know and for this reason must behave toward him according to the natural law of fellowship, with benevolence and justice." Ill, 11. FEBRUARY 26. If thou workest at that which is before thee, fol- lowing right reason calmly, vigorously, allowing noth- ing to distract thee, but keeping thy divine part pure, although bound to, give it back immediately if thou 12 THOUGHTS OP THE boldest to this, expecting nothing, fearing nothing, and with heroic truth in every word and sound which thou utterest, thou wilt, live happy and there Is no man able to prevent this. Til, 12. FEBRUARY 27. Thou wilt never do anything well which pertains to man, without having reference both to things divine and to things human. Ill, 13. FEBRUARY 28. As physicians always have their instruments ready for cases which suddenly require their skill, so do thou have principles ready for understanding things divine and human, and for doing even the smallest Things with a recollection of the bond which unites the divine and human. Ill, 13. MARCH 1. No longer wonder at hazard. Ill, 14. MARCH 2. It takes another kind of vision than that of the eyes merely to know how many things are signified by the words stealing, sowing, buying, keeping quiet, and seeing what ought to be done. Ill, 15. MARCH 3. To the body belong sensations to the soul, appe- titesand to the intelligence, principles. Ill, 16. MARCH 4. To be pulled by the strings of desire, belongs in common to wild beasts and men, and to have intelli- gence for what appears merely suitable, belongs to those who believe not in the gods. Ill, 16. EMPEROR MARCUS AUREIilUB. 13 MARCH 5. Out of all the things common to humanity, it is peculiar to the good man to be content with the thread spun for him, and not to defile the divinity implanted in his breast; but to preserve it tranquil, not speak- ing contrary to truth, nor acting contrary to justice. Ill, 16. MARCH 6. A man should come to the end of his life, pure, tranquil and ready to depart. III. 16. MARCH 7. Man when ruled within according to nature makes material for himself out of that which opposes, as rire lays hold of what falls into it, consuming it and rais- ing higher by means of this very material. IV, 1. MARCH 8. Let no act be done without a purpose. IV, 2. MARCH 9. Men seek retreats in the country, sea-shores and mountains and thou too art wont to desire such things. But this is a mark of the most ordinary man, for it is In thy power, wherever thou art, to retire into thyself. IV, 3. MARCH 10. Nowhere can a man retire with more quiet and freedom from trouble than within his own soul. IV, 3. MARCH 11. With what art thou discontented? With the bad ness of men? Recall lo mind that rational beings exist for one another, and that to endure Is a part of justice, and that mw do wrong Involuntarily. IV. 3. 14 THOUGHTS OF THE MARCH 12. Art thou dissatisfied with what Is assigned thee out of the universe? Recall to thy recollection this al- ternativeeither there is providence, or a fortuitous concurrence of atoms. IV, 3. MARCH 13. Do corporeal things fasten upon thee? Consider that the mind mingles not with the breath, whether Hie breath moves gently or violently, when the mind has once drawn itself apart and discovered its own power. IV, 3. MARCH 14. The whole earth is a point, and how Small a nook is this thy dwelling, and what kind of pe)ple are they who praise thee. IV, 3. MARCH 15. This then remains remember to retire into this little territory of thy own. and above all. do not dis- tract or strain thyself, but be free look at things as a man as a human being, as a citizen, and as a mortal. -IV, 3. MARCH 16. Among the things readiest at hand turn to these two : one is that things do not touch the soul, for t.hey are external and remain immovable; the other is that all these tilings which thou seest, change shortly and will no longer be. IV. 3. MARCH 17. Bear in mind how many changes thou hast wit- nessed. The universe is transformation and life is opinion. IV, 3 MARCH 18. Ic is natural that such things should be done by such pel-sons it ie> a matter of necessity, and if a man EMPEROR MARCUS AUREL1US. 15 will not have It so, he will not allow the fig-tree to nave juice. IV. 6. MARCH 19. Take away thy opinion and there is taken away the complaint "1 am harmed." Take away the complaint, "I have been haimed" and the harm has been taken away. IV, 7. MARCH 20. Allow thyself a retreat into thyself, and renew thy- self. IV, 3. MARCH 21. That which does not make the man worse than ho was, does not make his life worse, nor does it carm him without or within. IV, 8. MARCH 22. If thou observest carefully thou wilt find that every- thing that happens, happens justly. IV, 10. MARCH 23. Do not have the opinion of tbfngs which he has, who has done you wrong, nor those which he wishes you to have but look at things as they are in truth. IV, 11. MARCH 24. A man should always have these two rules in readiness the one to do only what the ruling faculty may suggest for the use of men the other to change his opinion if there is any one to set him right. IV, 12. MARCH 25. A man's change of opinion must proceed from a persuasion of what Is just or of common advantage, and not because it appears pleasant or brings reputa- tion. IV, 12. 16 THOUGHTS OF THE MARCH 26. Hast thou reason?! have. Why then dost thou not use it? For if this does its own work what else dost thou wish? IV, 13. MARCH 27. Thou hast existed as a part. Shalt thou disappear into that which produced thee? Say rather, thou Shalt be received bach into its seminal principle by transmutation. IV, 14. MARCHES. Do not act as if thou wert to live ten thousand years. Death hangs over thee. While thou livest, and it is in thy power, be good. IV a 17. MARCH 29. Look not around at the depraved morals of others, but run straight along the line, and look that what rhou doest, is just and pure. IV, 16. MARCH 30. Everything which is in any way beautiful, is beauti- ful in itself, and terminates in itself, not having praise as part of itself. NVhat thing is beautiful because it is praised, or spoiled because it is not? IV, 20. MARCH 31. Is an emerald made worse if it is not praised, or gold, or ivory, or purple, or a lyre? IV, 20. APRIL, 1. Do not be whirled about, but in every movement have respect to Justice ; and on the occasion of every impression maintain the faculty of compreheneton. -IV, 22. APRIL 2. Everything harmonizes with nio which is harmoni- ous to thee, Oh Universe. Everything is fruit to me EMPEROR MARCUS AURELiUS. 17 which thy seasons bring. Ob Nature, from thee are all things, in thee are all things, to thee all things return. The poet says, " Dear city of Cccrops" ; and wilt thou not say, " Dear city of Zeus ?" IV, 23. APRIL, 3. A man should take away not only unnecessary acts, but unnecessary thoughts, so that superfluous acts will not follow after. IV, 24. APRIL 4. The greatest part of what we do and say being un- necessary, if a man takes this away, he will have more leisure and less uneasiness. IV, 24. APRIL 5. Make thyself all simplicity. IV. 26. APRIL 6. Does anyone do wrong ? It is 1,0 himself he does -wrong. Does anything happen to thee? Out of the Universe from the beginning, everything that happens has been apportioned and spun out to thee. IV, 26. APRIL 7. Either this is a well arranged universe or a chaos huddled together. But can a certain order subsist in thee and disorder in the All ? And this too when all things are so separated and diffused and sympathetic. -IV, 27. APRIL 8. He is a runaway who flies from social reason he is blind who shuts the eyes of the understanding he Is poor who has need of another, and lias not from him- self all things useful for life. IV, 29. \ IS THOUGHTS OF THE APRIL 9. Love the art, poor as it may be, which thou hast learned, and be content with it ; and pass through the rest of life like one who has intrusted to the gods with his whole soul all that ho has, making thyself neither the tyrant nor the slave of any man. IV, 31. APRIL 10. It is necessary to remember that the attention given to everything has its proper value and proportion. Thus thou wilt not be dissatisfied if thou applyest thy- self to smaller matters no further than is fit. IV, 32. APRIL ll. What is that about which we should employ our serious pains? This one thing thoughts just, and acts social, and words which never lie, and a disposi- tion gladly accepting all that happens. IV, 33. APRIL 12. Observe constantly that all things take place by change, and accustom thyself to consider that the nature of the universe loves nothing so much as to change the things which are, and make new things like them. IV, 36. APRIL 13. Everything which exists is In a manner the seed of that which will be. IV, 36. APRIL 14. Thou wilt soon die, and thou art not yet simple nor free from perturbations, nor without suspicion of be- ing hurt by external things, nor Mndly disposed to all, nor dost thou yet place wisdom only in acting justly. IV, 37. EMPEROR MARCUS AURELJUS. 19 APRIL 15. Examine men's ruling principles, even those of the wise what luncl of things they avoid, and what kind they pursue. IV, 38. APRIL 16. Constantly regard the Universe as one living being, having one substance and one soul and how all things are the co-operating causes of all things which exist. Observe too the continuous spinning of the thread and the contexture of the web. IV, 40. APRIL 17. It is no evil for things to undergo change. IV, 42. APRIL 18. Time is a river made up of the events which happen ; and is a violent stream. As soon as a thing is seen, it is carried away and another comes in its place, and this will be carried away too. IV, 43. APRIL 19. In the series of things, those which follow are al- ways aptly fitted to those which nave gone before. IV, 45. APRIL 20. Things which come into existence exhibit no mere succession but a certain wonderful relationship. IV, 45. APRIL 21. Pass through the little space of time of thy life con- formably to nature, and end thy journey In content, just as an olive falls olf when it is ripe, blessing na- ture who produced it and the tree on which it grew. IV, 48. 20 THOUGHTS OF THE APRIL 22. Remember on every occasion which leads thee to vexation, to apply this principle not that this is a misfortune, but that to bear it nobly is good fortune. IV, 49. APRIL 23. Will what has just happened to thee prevent thee from being just, magnanimous, temperate, prudent, true will it prevent thee from having modesty, free- dom and everything by the presence of which man's nature obtains all that is his own? IV, 49. APRIL 24. Unhappy am I because this has happened to me ? Not so, but happy am I because I can bear it, nobly. -IV, 49. APRIL 25. Be like the promontory against which the waves continually break; but it stands firm and tames the fury of the waters around it. IV. 49. APRIL 26. In the morning when thou risest unwillingly, let this thought be present I am rising to the work of a human being. V, 1. APRIL 27. Why am I dissatisfied if I am going to do the things for which I exist, and for which I was brought into the world ? V, 1. APRIL 28. Have I been made to lie in the bed-clothes and keep myself warm ? Dost thou not see the little plants, the little birds, the ants, spiders, bees working together to put in order their parts of the Universe and art thou unwilling to do thy part the work of a human being? V, 1. EMPEROR MARCUS AUREIdUS. 21 APRIL 29. Nature has fixed bounds both to eating and drinking and sleeping, and yet thou goest beyond what is suffi- cient. Yet in thy acts it is not so. Thou stoppest short of what thou canst do. V, 1. APRIL 30. It is easy to repel and wipe away every impression which is troublesome or unsuitable, and immediately to be in all tranquillity. V, 2. MAY 1. If a thing is good to be done or said, do not consider it unworthy of thee, and be not diverted by the blame which may Iollow T . Others have their peculiar lead- ing principles and follow them. Thou art to follow thy own nature and the common nature and the way of both is one. V, 3. MAY 2. k Thou sayest " Men cannot admire the sharpness of my wits." Be it so but there are many other qual- ities of which thou cannot say '" I am not fitted for them by nature. Show those in thy power, sincerity, endurance, contentment, benevolence, frankness, mag- nanimity. V, 5. MAY 3. Art thou compelled through beJrg 0. JUNE 1. Row hast thou behaved hitherto to the gjds, thy 26 THOUGHTS OF THE parents, children, teachers, friends, kinsfolk, servants ? Consider that this might be said of thee : " Never has he wronged a man in deed or word." V, 31. JUNE 2. Thou canst pass thy life in an equitable flow of hap- piness if thou canst go the right way, and think ana act the right way. V, 34. JUNE 3. If this is neither my own badness, nor the effects of my badness ; and if the common weal is not in- jured, why am 1 troubled? V, 35. JUNE 4. As my earthly part is a portion given me from cer- tain earth, and that which is water from another ele- ment, and that which is hot and fiery from some other source (for nothing c?mas out of that which is nothing, as no existing thing returns to non-existence) so also the intellectual part comes from some source. IV, 4. JUNE 5. It is one of the acts of life, this act of dying. It is sufficient then in this act also, to do well what we have in hand. VI, 2. JUNE 6. Look wiiliiu. Let neither the peculiar quality of anything, nor its value escape thee. VI, 3. JUNE 7. The best way of avenging yourself Is not to become like that which has wronged you. VI, (>. JUNE 8. Take pleasure in one thing, and rest in it, in passing from one social act to another, thinking of God. VI, 7. EMPEROR MARCUS AUREU.U6. 27 JUNE 9. When thou has been compelled by circumstances to be disturbed in a manner, quickly return to thyself, and do not continue out of tune longer than the com- pulsion lasts ; for thou wilt have more mastery over the harmony by continually recurring to it. VI. 11. JUNE 10. Outward show is a wonderful perverter of the rea- son. VI. 13. JUNE 11. When thou art most sure thou art employed about things worth thy pains, it is then outward show cheats thee most. VI. 13. JUNE 12. Some things are hurrying into existence and others are hurrying out of It, and of that which is coming into existence, part is already extinguished. VI, 15. JUNE 13. Motions and changes are continually renewing the world, just as the uninterrupted course of time is al ways renewing the infinite duration of ages. VI, 15. JUNE 14. In this flowing stream of life,, on which there is no abiding, what is there of the things which hurry by, on which a man would set a high price ? VI, 15. JUNE 15. Suppose thou tiasi: given up this worthless thing called fame, what remains that is worth valuing? In my opinion, to develop thyself according to thy proper constitution to which t-d all employments and art? lead. For every art aims at this that the thing which has been made, should be adapted to the work for which it has been made. VI, 16. 28 THOUGHTS OF THE JUNE 16. A man must be in a state of perturbation who wants ihings ; and besides must often find fault with the gods. -VI, 16. JUNE 17. If thou wilt not cease to value many things, thou wilt be neither free nor sufficient for thy own happi- ness, nor without passion for of necessity thou wilt be envious and jealous and suspicious of those who <:an take away those things, and plot against those wno possess the things which are valued by thee. VI, 16. JUNE 18. If a thing is difficult to be accomplished by thyself. do not think It is impossible for man but if anything is possible for man and conformable to his nature, chink that this can be obtained by thyself too. VI, 19. JUNE 19. In the gymnastic exercises, suppose a man has torn Ihee with his nails or wounded thee. We are neither vexed nor offended, yet wo are on our guard against him, not as an enemy, but we got quietly out of his way. Let thy behavior be something like this in life. Overlook many things like antagonists in a gymnasium. It is in our power to get out of the way, and to have no suspicion nor hatred. VI, 20. JUNE 20. If any m;in is able to convince and show me that I do not think or act right, I will gladly change ; for I seek the truth by which no man was ever injured. But he who abides in error and ignorance is injured. -VI, 21. JUNE 21. If I do my duty, other things trouble me not, for they are either things without life, or things without EMPEROR MARCUS AUREUUS. 29 reason, or things which have rambled and know not the way. VI, 22. JUNE 22. On all occasions call on the Cods, and do not per- plex thyself about the length of time in which thou shalt do this ; for even three hours so spent are suffi- cient. VI, 23. JUNE 23. In life remember that every duty is made up of certain parts. These it is thy duty to observe, and without being disturbed or showing anger, to go on thy way and finish that which is set before thee. VI, 26. JUNE 24. Death is a cessation of the impressions through the senses, and of the pulling of the strings which move the appetites, and of the discursive movements of the thoughts, and of the service to the flesh. VI, 28. JUNE 25. It is a shame for thy soul to be first to give way in this life, when the body does not give way. VI, 29. JUNE 26. Keep thyself simple, good, pure, serious, free from affectation, a friend of justice, a worshipper of the gods, kind, affectionate, strenuous in all proper acts. -VI, 30. JUNE 27. Strive to contlaue to be such as philosophy wished to make thee. VI, 30. JUNE 28. Reverence the gods and help men. VI, 30. JUNE 29. Short is life, there is only one fruit of this terrene life, a pious disposition and social acts. VI, 30. 30 THOUGHTS OF THE JUNE 30. Return to Iliy sober senses and call thyself back; and when thou hast roused thyself from sleep and per- ceived they were only dreams which troubled tnee. now in thy waking state, look at the things that trou- ble thee as thon didst look at the dreams. VI, 31. JULY 1. How many pleasures have been enjoyed by robbers, patricides aiid tyrants. VI, 34. JULY 2. Adapt thyself to the thlnss with which thy lot has been cast, and, the men among whom thou hast re- ceived thy portion. Love them, but love them truly. VI, 39. JULY 3. We are all working together for one end. Some with knowledge and desijrn. and others without know ing what they do as men who sleep. VI. 42. JULY 4. Does the sun undertake to do the work of the rain, or jE sculapius the work of Earth, the Fruit-Bearer ? And how is It with respect to each of the stars? Are they not different, and yet work together to the same end? VI, 43. JULY 5. Whatever is profitable to any man, is profitable to other men.- V[. 45. JULY 6. Whatever happens to any man this is for the in- terest, of the universal. VI, 45. JULY 7. One thing here is worth a great deal to pass thy EMPEROR MARCUS AUREIAUS. 31 life in truth and justice, with a benevolent disposition even to liars and unjust men. VI, 47. JULY 8. When thou wishest to delignt thyself, think of the virtues of those who live with thee. For instance, the activity of one, the modesty of another, the lib- erality of a third. VI, 48. JULY 9. Accustom thyself to attend carefully to what is said by another, and as much as possible be in the speak- er's mind. VI, 53. JULY 10. That which is not good for the swarm, neither Is it good for the bee. VI, 54. JULY 11. How many, together with whom I came into the world, have a' ready gone out of it. VI. 56. JULY 12. No man will hinder thee from living according to the reason of thy own nature nothing will happen to thee contrary to the reason of the universal nature. VI, 58. JULY 13. To the jaundiced, honey tastes bitter; to those bitten by mad dogs water causes fear. Why then am I angry ? Has a false opinion less power than bile in the jaundiced, or the poison of a mad dog? VI, 57. JULY 14. What kind of people are those whom men wish to please, and for what objects, and by what kind of acts? VI, 59. 32 THOUGHTS OF THE JULY 15. Let it make no difference to theo whether thou avt cold or warm, sleepy or wakeful, ill-spoken of or praised, if thou art doing thy duty. VI, 2. JULY 16. I can have that opinion about anything which I ought to have. VII, 2. JULY 17. The things which are external to my mind, have no relation at all to my mind. Let this be the state of thy affects, and thou standest erect. VII. t JULY 18. The idle business of show, plays on the of sheep, herds, a bone cast to little dogs, a 15TT of bread into fish-ponds, laborings of ants and burden carrying, runnings about of frightened little mice, puppets pulled by strings, all alike it is thy duty in the midst of such things to show good humor and not a proud air. VII, 3. JULY 19. Every man is worth just so much as the things about which he busies himself. VII, 3. JULY 20. In discourse thou must attend to what is said, and in every movement thou must observe what is doing. And in the one, thou shouldest see immediately to what end it refers, and in the other watch carefully what is the thing signified. VII, 4. JULY 21. Is my understanding sufficient for this work or not ? If it is sufficient. I use it for the work as an instru- ment given by the universal nature. VII. 5. EMPEROR MARCUS AURELiUS. 33 JULY 22. If my understanding is not sufficient for this work. I retire from it and give way to him who is able to do it better; unless theio be some reason why I ought not to retire, when I do it as well as I can, taking to help me the man who can be most useful for the gen- era] good. VII, 5. JULY 23. Whatsoever 1 can do by myself, or with another, ought to be directed to this only ; to that which Is useful and well suited to society. VII, 5. JULY 24. Be not ashamed to be helped, for it is thy business to do thy duty like a soldier in the assault on a town. If thou are lame and canst not mount the battlements, with the help of another it is possible. VII, 7. JULY 25. Let not future things disturb theo, for thou wilt, come to them if it shall be necessary., having with thee the same reason which thou now usest for present things. VII, 8. JULY 26. All things are implicated with one another, and the bond is holy. VII, 9. JULY 27. To the rational being, the act which is according to nature is according to reason. VII, 11. JULY 28. Be thou erect, or be made erect. VII, 12. JULY 29. Often say to thyself " I am a member of a system of rational beings" : if thou fealest thyself separated 34 THOUGHTS OF THE thou dost not yet love men from thy heart. Good delights thee not for its own sake, and as doing good to thyself, but as a thing of propriety. VII. 13. JULY 30. Unless I think that what has happened is an evil I am not injured; and it is in my power not to think so. VII, 14. JULY 31. Whatever any one does or says, I must be good, just as if the gold or the emerald or the purple were always saying this, " Whatever any one does or says, I must be emerald and keep my color." VII. 15. AUGUST 1. Is any man afraid of change? Why, what that is useful, can be accomplished without change? Canst thou take a bath unless the wood undergoes a change ? Canst thou be nourished unless the food undergoes a change ? Dost thou then not see that for thyself also to change is just the same and is frequently necessary for the universal nature ? VII, 18. AUGUST 2. Near is thy forgetfulness of all things ; and near the forgetfulness of thee by all things. VII, 21. AUGUST 3. It is peculiar to man to love even those who do wrong. And this happens, if when they do wrong, it occurs to ihee they are kinsmen, and thai they do wrong through ignorance a.nd unintentionally and that soon both of you will die and above all, that the wrong-doer has done thee no harm for he has not made thy ruling faculty worse than it was before. VII, 22. EMPEROR MARCUS AURELJT S. 35 AUGUST 4. A scowling look is altogether unnatural, and when often worn, the result is that all comeliness dies away, and at last is so completely extinguished, that it cannot be lighted up at all. VII, 24. AUGUST 5. When a man has done thee any wrong, immediately think with what opinion about good or evil he has done wrong ; for when thou hast seen this, thou wilt pity him and neither wonder nor be angry. VII. 20. AUGUST 6. Think not so much of what thou hast not, as of what thou hast. VII, 27. AUGUST 7. Retire into thyself. Do what is just and thus se- cure tranquillity. VII, 28. AUGUST 8. Confine thyself to the present. VII, 29. AUGUST 9. Understand well what happens to thee or to an- other. VII, 29. AUGUST 10. Think of thy last hour. VII, 29. AUGUST 11. Let the wrong which was done by a man stay where /he wrong was done. VII, 29. AUGUST 12. Direct thy attention to what is said. VII. 30. 36 THOUGHTS OF THE AUGUST 13. Let thy understanding enter into the things that are doing, and into the things that do them. VII, 30. AUGUST 14. Adorn thyself with simplicity and modesty and with indifference to the things which lie between virtue and vice. VII, 31. AUGUST 15. Love mankind; follow God. VII, 31. AUGUST 16. The pain which is intolerable carries us off. but that which lasts a long time is tolerable. VII. 33. AUGUST 17. From Antisthenes. It is royal to do good and to be abused. VII, 36. AUGUST 18. It is a base thing for the countenance to be obedient and to regulate and compose itself as the mind com- mands,, and for the mind not to be regulated and com- posed by itself VII, 37. AUGUST 19. It is not right to vex ourselves at things, for they care naught about it. Euripides. VII. 38. AUGUST 20. Life must be reaped like the ripe ears of corn. One man is born; another dies. Euripides. VII, 40. AUGUST 21. If tne gods care not for me and for my children, there is i reason for it. VII, 41. EMPEROR MARCUS AUREUUS. 37 AUGUST 22. From Plato. A man who is good for anything at all, ought not to compute the hazard of life or death, but should rather look to this in all he does is it just or unjust ? VII, 44. AUGUST 23. Wherever a man has placed himself thinking it the best place for him, or has been placed by a command- er, there he ought to stay and abide the hazard, tak- ing nothing into account neither death or everything else before the baseness of deserting his post. VII, 45. AUGUST 24. Look around at the courses of the stars as if Jhou wort going along with them and constantly consider the changes of the elements into one another for such thoughts purge away the filth of the terrene life. VII, 47. AUGUST 25. That which has grown from the earth, to the earth; that which has sprung from heavenlv seed, back to tho heavenly realms returns. Eurinides. VII. 50. AUGUST 26. Love that only which happens to thee and is spun with the thread of thy destiny. For what is more suitable? VII, 57. AUGUST 27. Another may be more expert in throwing his op- ponent, but let him not bo more social, nor more mod- est, nor better disciplined to meet all that happens, nor more considerate with respect to the faults of his neighbors. VII, 52. AUGUST 28. Where my work can be done conformably to the 38 THOUGHTS OF THE reason which is common to gods and men, there we have nothing to fear. VII, 53. AUGUST 29. Consider thyself to be dead and to have completed thy life up to the present time, and live according to nature the remainer that is allowed thee. VII. 56. AUGUST 30. Why art thou not altogether intent upon the right way of making use of the things which happen to thee, for then thou wilt use them well, and they will ba material to work on. VII, 58. AUGUST 31. Attend to thyself and resolve to be a good man in every act which thon doest. VII, 58. SEPT EMBER 1. Look within. Within is the fountain of good, and It will ever bubble up if tnou wilt ever dig. VII, 59. SEPTEMBER 2. The art of life is like the wrestler's art, that it should stand firm and ready to meet onsets which are sudden and unexpected. VII. 61. SEPTEMBER 3. Constantly observe those whoso approbation thou wishest, and see what is their ruling principle. For then thou wilt neither blame those who offend invol- untarily, nor wilt thou want their approbation if thon lookest at the sources of their opinions and appetites. VII, 62. SEPTEMBER 4. Epicurus says that pain is neither intolerable nor everlasting If thou bearest in mind that it has its EMPEROR MARCUS AUREU.US. 39 Limits, and if thou addest nothing to it in imagina- tion. VII, 64. SEPTEMBER 5. Take care not to feel towards the inhuaiaji as they feel towards men. VII, 65. SEPTEMBER 6. Be not idly vexed at man's villany, neither make yourself a slave to any man ; s ignorance. VII, 66. SEPTEMBER 7. It is very possible to be a divine man and to be recognized as such by no one. VII, 67. SEPTEMBER 8. Very little is needed for a happy life. Because thou hast despaired of becoming a dialectician and skilled in the knowledge of nature, do not for this reason renounce the hope of being both free and mod- est and social and obedient to God. VII, 67. SEPTEMBER 9. The use shall say to that which falls under the hand " Thou arc the thing I was seeking" ; for to me that which presents itself to me is always material for virtue, and for the exercise of art which belongs to man or to God. VII, 68. SEPTEMBER 10. The perfection of moral character consists in this in passing each day as thy last, in being neither excited nor torpid- nor playing the hypocrite. VII, 69. SEPTEMBER 11. It is a ridiculous thing for a man not to fly from his own badness which is possible; but it is impos sible to fly from that of other men. VII, 71. 40 THOUGHTS OF THE, SEPTEMBER 12. When thou hast donu a good act and another has received it, why dost thou look for more, as fools do. either to have the reputation of having done a good act, or to obtain a return? VII, 73. SEPTEMBER 13. Throw away the thought how thou shalt seem to others ; and be content to live as thy nature wills in the belief that there is nothing good for man that does not make him just, temperate, manly, free and there is nothing bad that does not do to the contrary. VIII, 1. SEPTEMBER 14. On the occasion of every act, ask " How is this in respect of me ?" " Shall I repent of it ?" VIII, 2. SEPTEMBER 15. Is what I am doing the work of an intelligent, liv- ing, social being and of one who is under the same law with God? VIII, 2. SEPTEMBER 16. Consider that men will do the same things never- theless, even though thou shouldest burst. VIII, 4. SEPTEMBER 17. This is the chief thing. Be not perturbed, for all things are according to the nature of the universal. VIII, 5. SEPTEMBER 18. It is thy duty to be a good man, and what man's nature demands, do that without turning aside. VIII, 5. SEPTEMBER 19. Speak as it seems to thee most just, only let it be with a good disposition, with modesty and without hypocrisy. VIII, 5. EMPEROR MARCUS AUREHUS. 41 SEPTEMBER 20. The nature of the universal is change. Yet we need not fear anything new. VIII, 6. SEPTEMBER 21. Every particular nature is part of a common nature, as the leaf is part of the common nature of the plant. VIII, 7. SEPTEMBER 22. Examine nor to discover that any one thing com- pared with any other single thing is equal in all re- spects, t but compare all the parts taken together of one thing with all the parts' taken together of an- other. VIII, 7. SEPTEMBER 23. Thou hast not leisure (or ability) to read. But thou hast leisure (or ability) to check thy arrogance to be superior to pleasure or pain, or to the love of fame and leisure not to be vexed at stupid or un- grateful people, nay even to care for them. VIII, 8. SEPTEMBER 24. Let no man any more hear thee finding fault with life or with thy own life. VIII, 9. SEPTEMBER 25. This thing, what is it in itself, in irs own constitu- tion, its substance, its material, its casual nature and what is it doing in the world? And how long ' does it subsist? VIII, 11. SEPTEMBER 26. Whatever man thou meetest, say to thyself, what opinions has he about good and bad? For if ho has such and such opinions with respect to pleasure and pain and their causes with respect to fame and ig- nominy, death and life it is not strange that he does 42 THOUGHTS OF THE such and such things and I shall bear in mind that he is compelled to. VIII, 14. SEPTEMBER 27. Remember that as It is a shame to be surprised, if the fig tree produces figs, so it is a shame to be surprised that the world produces the things of which it is productive. VIII, 15. SEPTEMBER 28. Remember that to change thy opinion and to follow him who corrects thy error, is as consistent with free- dom as to persist in thy error. VIII, 16. SEPTEMBER 29. If it is a thing in thy own power, why dost thou do it? If it is in the power of another, whom dost thou blame? VIII, 17. SEPTEMBER 30. That which has died, falls not out of the universe. -VIII, 18. OCTOBER 1. Everything exists for some end a horse, a vine. For what purpose art thou? To enjoy pleasure? See if common sense allows this. VIII, 19. OCTOBER 2. Short lived are both the praiser and the praised and all this is a nook in this part of the world and not even here do all agree, not even any one with him- self. VIII, 21. OCTOBER 3. Attend to the matter which is before thee ; whether it is an opinion, an act, or a word. VIII, 22. EMPEROR MARCUS AURELITJS. 43 OCTOBER 4. Thou sufferest this justly, for thou choosost this rather to become good to-morrow than to-day. VIII, 22. OCTOBER 5. Man has three relations one to the body which surrounds him, one to the divine cause from which all / things come to all, and one to those who live with ' Mm. VIII, 27. OCTOBER 6. Pain 4s either an evil to the body then let the body say what it thinks about it or to the soul. But the soul can maintain its serenity and not think it an evil. Every judgment, desire or aversion is within, and no evil ascends so high. VIII, 28. OCTOBER 7. Speak both in the senate and to every man appro- priately without any affectation. Use plain dis- course. VIII, 30. OCTOBER 8. It is thy duty to order thy life well in every single act. VIII, 32. OCTOBER 9. Receive prosperity without arrogance, and be ready to let it go. VIII, 33. OCTOBER 10. Didst thou ever see a hand cut off, or a foot or a head lying anywhere apart from the rest of the body ? Such doss a man make himself who is not content with what happens, and who separates himself from others and does anything unsocial. VIII, 34. OCTOBER 11. Do not disturb thyself by thinking of the whole of thy life. VIII, 36. 44 TIIOUUHTS OF THE OCTOBER 12. Let not thy thoughts at once embrace all the vari- ous troubles thon mayest expect, but on every occa- sion ask thyself. " What is there in this, past bearing?" VIII, 36. OCTOBER 13. If thon takes r away thy opinion about that which appeai-s to give thee pain, thou thyself standest in perfect security. VIII, 40. OCTOBER 14. Different things delight different men, but I delight to look at and receive all with welcome eyes and to use everything according to its value. VIII, 43. OCTOBER 15. Take me and cast me whore thou wilt, for then I shall keep my divine part tranquil if it can feel and act conformably to its proper constitution.- -VIII. 45. OCTOBER 16. Is change of place sufficient reason why my soul should be unhappy, and worse than it was depressed, expanded, shrinking, affrighted? VIII, 45. OCTOBER 17. The mind which is freo from passions is a citadel VIII, 48. OCTOBER 18. A cucumber is bitter Throw it away There are briars in the road turn aside from them This is enough. VIII, 50. OCTOBER 19. Be not sluggish in thy actions, nor without method in thy conversation, nor wandering in thy thoughts nor let there be inward contention in thy soul, nor external effusion. VIII, 51. EMPEROR MARCUS AUREU. US. 45 OCTOBER 20. In life be not so busy as to have no leisure. VIII, 51. OCTOBER 21. If a man should stand by a limpid pure spring and curse it. still the spring never ceases sending up good water. VIII, 51. OCTOBER 22. Dosfr thon wish to be praised by a man who curses himself thrice every hour? Wouldst thou wish to please a man who does not please himself ? VIII, 53. OCTOBER 23. Generally, wickedness does no harm at all to the Universe, and particularly one man's wickedness does no harm to another. . It is only harmful to him who has lt in his power to be released from it as soon as he shall choose. VIII. 55. OCTOBER 24.' Men exist for one another. Teach them then, or boar with them. VIII, 59. OCTOBER 25. Enter into every man's ruling faculty and also let every other man enter into thine. VIII, (il. OCTOBER 26. lie who pursues pleasure will not abstain from in- justice. IX, 1. OCTOBER 27. Mas not experience induced thee yet to fly from the pestilence, and hasi thou determined to abide with vice? IX, 2. OCTOBER 28. Do not despise death, but be well content with it, i6 THOUGHTS OF THE since it is one of those things which nature wills. IX, 3. OCTOBER 29. Ho who dees wrong, does wrong against himself. -IX, 4. OCTOBER 30. He who acts unjustly is unjust to himself because he makes himself bad. IX, 4. OCTOBER 31. Not only he who does a certain tiling acts unjustly, but often ho who does not do a certain thing. IX, 5. NOVEMBER 1. $ If thou art able, correct by teaching th;>se who do wrong. If thou canst not, remember that indulgence is given thee for this purpose. IX, 11. NOVEMBER 2. Labor not as one who is wretched, nor yet as one who would be pitded or admired. IX. 1-2. NOVEMBER 3. To-day I have got out of all trouble, or rather I have cast out all trouble, for it was not outside, but within and in my opinions. IX, 13. NOVEMBER 4. All things are changing. Thou thyself art in con- tinuous mutation and destruction, and so is the uni- verse. IX, 19. NOVEMBER 5. It is thy duty to leave another man's wrongful act. there where it is. IX, 20. NOVEMBER 0. Turn thy thoughts to thy life as a child, as a youth, EMPEROR MARCUS AUREIAUS. 47 as a man, and as an old man for in these also every change was a death. Is this anything to fear? IX, 21. NOVEMBER 7. Examine thy own ruling faculty that thou mayest make it just. IX, 22. NOVEMBER 8. Examdne the ruling faculty of the Universe, that thou mayest remember of what thou art a part. IX. 22. NOVEMBER 9. Examine the ruling faculty of thy neighbor, that thou mayest know if he has acted ignorantly or with knowledge, and that thou mayest consider that he is akin to thee. IX, 22. NOVEMBER 10. As thou thyself art a component part of a social system, so let every act of thine be a component part of social life. IX. 23. NOVEMBER 11. Whatever act of thine has no reference either Im- mediately or remotely to a social end, tears asunder thy life, does nor, allow it to be one. and is in the nature of a mutiny. IX, 23. NOVEMBER 12. Quarrels of little children and their sports, and poor spirits carrying about dead bodies such is every- thing. IX, 24. NOVEMBER 13. Thou hast endured infinite troubles, through not being contented with thy ruling faculty when it does the things which it is constituted by nature to do. IX, 26. 48 THOUGHTS OF THE NOVEMBER 14. When another blames theo or hates thee. or when men say injurious things about thee, approach their poor souls, penetrate within and see what hind of men they are. Thou wilt find thou hast no reason to be troubled. Thou must be well disposed to them, how- ever, for by nature they are friends. IX. '2(1 NOVEMBER 15. If a man reflects on the changes and transforma- tions which follow one another like wave after wave, and on their rapidity, he will despise everything per ishable.-IX, 28. NOVEMBER 16. The universal cause is like a winter torrent it <-ar- ries everything along with it. IX, 29. NOVEMBER 17. Simple and modest is the work of philosophy. Draw me not aside to insolence and pride. IX, 29. NOVEMBER 18. Thou canst remove out of the way many useless things among those which disturb theo, for they lie entirely in thy opinion. IX, 32. NOVEMBER 19. When men think they do harm by their blame or good by their praise, what an idea ! IX, 34. NOVEMBER 20. ^Loss is nothing else than change. IX. 35. NOVEMBER 21. Enough of this wretched life and murmuring and apish tricks. IX, 37. EMPEROR MARCUS AUREL.1US. 40 NOVEMBER 22. Why art thou disturbed? What is there new In this? What unsettles thee? Is it the form of the thing? Look at it Is it the matter? Look at it Besides these there is nothing. IX, 37. NOVEMBER 23. If any man has done wrong the harm is his own. But pferhaps he has not done wrong. IX, 38. NOVEMBER 24. When thou blames t a man as faithless or ungrate- ful, turn to thyself. For the fault is manifestly thy own, whether thou did^t trust that a man who had such a disposition would keep his promise, or when conferring thy kindness thou didst not do it absolutely and in such a way as to have received all the profit from thy very act. IX, 42. NOVEMBER 25. Wilt thou then, my soul, never be good, and sim- ple, and one, and naked, more manifest than the body which surrounds thee. X, 1. NOVEMBER 26. Remember that thou art formed by nature to bear everything which depends on thy own opinion to make bearable, by thinking it either for thy interest, or for thy duty to do this. X, 3. NOVEMBER 27. If a man is mistaken, instruct him kindly and show him his error. But if thou art not able, blame thy- self or blame not even thyself. X, 4. NOVEMBER 28. When thou hast assumed these names, good, true, modest, rational, a man of equanimity and magnani- 50 THOUGHTS OF THE mous, take care thou dost not change them, and if thou shouldest lose them, quickly return to them. X, 8. NOVEMBER 29. It will greatly help thee to keep the names which thou hast assumed of good, true, modest, rational, if t,hou wilt remember the gods that they do not wish to be nattered, but wish all reasonable beings to be made like themselves. X, 8. NOVEMBER 30. Equanimity is voluntary acceptance of the things assigned to thee by the common nature. X, 8. DECEMBER 1. Magnanimity is the elevation of the intelligent part above the pleasures or pains of the flesh, above fame, death and all such things. X, 8. DECEMBER 2. It will help thee if thou rememberest that what does the work of a fig tree is a fig tree, that what does the work of a bee is a bee, and that what does the work of a man is a man. X, 8. DECEMBER 3. A spider is proud when it has caught a fly, a man when he has caught a poor hare, or taken a little fish in a net Are thesa not robbers, if thou lookest at their opinions? X, 10. DECEMBER 4. Acquire the contemplative way of seeing how all things change into one another. Nothing is so much adapted to produce magnanimity. X, 11. EMPEROR MAKCUS AURELJ.US. 51 DECEMBER 5. If thou seest clear, go by this way content without . turning back. If thou dost not see clear, stop and take the best advisers. But if any other things op- pose thee, go on according to thy powers with due consideration, keeping to that which appears to be just X, 12. DECEMBER 6. If thou dost fail, let it be in attempting what is just X, 12. DECEMBER 7. Inquire of thyself as soon as thou wakest from sleep, whether it will make any difference to thee, if another does what is just and right. It will make no difference. X, 13. DECEMBER 8. Short is the little which remains to thee of life- Live as on a mountain. X, 15. DECEMBER 9. No longer talk at all about the Mnd of man that a good man ought to bo; but bo such. X, 10. DECEMBER 10. When thou art offended at any man's fault, forth- with turn to thyself and reflect in what like manner thou dost err for example, in thinking that money is a good thing, or pleasure, or a bit of reputation, and the like. X, 30. DECEMBER 11. All things that happen in thy life are exorcises for the reason. Persevere, therefore, and make all things thy own, as the blazing fire makes flame and bright- ness of all that is thrown into it. X, 31. 52 THOUGHTS OF THE DECEMBER 12. Lot it not bo in auy man's power to say truly of thee that thou art not simple, or that thon art not good This Is in thy power. X, 32. DECEMBER 13. Accustom thyself as much as possible to inquire for what object does this man do this. But begin with thyself and examine thyself first. X, 37. DECEMBER 14. Have 1 done something lor the general interest? Well, then I have had my reward. XI, 4. DECEMBER 15. A branch cut off from the adjacent branch must of necessity be cut off from the w T hole tree also So too a man, when ho is separated from another man, has fallen off from the whole social community. XT, 8. DECEMBER 16. Look to guard steady judgment and action, as well as gentleness, to those who would hinder and trouble thee. XI, 9. DECEMBER 17. Suppose any man shall despise me. Let him look to it. But I will look to this, that I neither do nor say anything deserving of contempt. Shall any man hate me? Let him look to it. But I will be mild and benevolent, noble and honest. X, 13. DECEMBER 18. Men despise one another, and Hatter one another ; and men wish to raise themselves above one another, and do crouch before one another. XI, 14. DECEMBER 19. The man who is honest and good, ought to be like EMPEROR MARCUS AUREL.1US. 58 the man who smells strong, so that the bystander, when he comes near, must smell him whether he chooses or not. XI, 15. DECEMBER 20. A man must learn a great deal to enable him to pass a correct judgment on another man's acts. XI. 18. DECEMBER 21. A good disposition is invincible if it is genuine ; and not an affected smile and acting a part. XI, 18. DECEMBER 22. In the same degree that a man's mind is free from passion, in the same degree it is nearer to strength. XI, 18. DECEMBER 23. As a sense of pain is characteristic of weakness, so also is anger. He who yields to pain and ho who yields to anger, both are wounded and both are sub- dued. XI, 18. DECEMBER 24. Socrates used to call the opinions of the many Lamiae bugbears to frighten children. XI, 23. DECEMBER 25. Epictetus says "the unripe grape, the ripe bunch, the dried grape are all changes not into nothing, but into something which exists not yet." XI, 35. DECEMBER 26. Epictetuy says " No man can rob us of our free- will." XI, 36. DECEMBER 27. If it is not right, do not do it. If it is not true, do not say it. XII, 17. 54 THOUGHTS OF MAKCUS AUKELIUS. DECEMBER 28. Practise thyself in the things thou despairest of accomplishing ; for even the left hand holds the bridle stronger than the right, because in that it has been practised. XII, 6. DECEMBER 29. I have often wondered how it is that each man loves himself bettor than all the rest of men, but yet sets less value on his own opinion of himself, than on the opinion of others. XII, 4. DECEMBER 30. What is there now in my mind? Is it fear or sus- picion, or desire, or any such thing? Then perceive that thou hasl in thee something better and diviner than the things which cause those various effects and pull thee by their strings. XII, 19. DECEMBER 31. When thou art troubled, thou hast forgotten that all things happen according to the universal nature forgotten that another man's wrong act is nothing to thee forgotten that the kinship between man and the race is not of blood or seed, but of intelligence for- gotten that every man's intelligence is an efflux from the Deity and that nothing is a man's own but even his child and his own body and his very soul came from the Deity and thou hast forgotten that every man lives the present timo only and loses only this. -XII, 26. &WK? 1 9iu jset ^ * f- c? => 6 .mw f OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA ^i^ 3*6 f OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY OF TH