Meditations — Marcus Aurelius
p. 123gentleness, manliness, truth, fidelity, simplicity, contentment, and the rest. Wherefore, on every occasion a man should say : This comes from god ; and this is according to the apportionment f and spinning of the thread of destiny, and such-like coincidence and chance ; and this is from one of the same stock, and a kinsman and partner, one who knows not, however, what is according to his nature.
But I know; for this reason I behave towards him according to the natural law of fellowship with benevolence and justice. At the same time, however, in things indifferent 1 1 attempt to ascertain the value of each. 12.
If thou workest at that which is before thee, following right reason seriously, vigorously, calmly, without allowing anything else to distract thee, but keeping thy divine part pure, as if thou shouldst be bound to give it back immediately ; if thou holdest to this, expecting nothing, fearing nothing, but satisfied with thy present activity according to nature, and with heroic truth in every word and sound which thou utterest, thou wilt live happy.
And there is no man who is able to prevent this. 13. As physicians have always their instruments and knives ready for cases which suddenly require their skill, so do thou have principles ready for the understanding of things divine and human, and for 1 Est et horam quae media appellamus grande discrimen. — Beneca, Ep. 82.
124 MEDITA TIONS. doing everything, even the smallest, with a recollection of the bond which unites the divine and human to one another. For neither wilt thou do anything well which pertains to man without at the same time having a reference to things divine ; nor the contrary. 14.
No longer wander at hazard ; for neither wilt thou read thy own memoirs,1 nor the acts of the ancient Romans and Hellenes, and the selections from books which thou wast reserving for thy old age. 2 Hasten then to the end which thou hast before thee, and, throwing away idle hopes, come to thy own aid, if thou carest at all for thyself, while it is in thy power. 15.
They know not how many things are signified by the words stealing, sowing, buying, keeping quiet, seeing what ought to be done ; for this is not effected by the eyes, but by another kind of vision. 16. Body, soul, intelligence : to the body belong sensations, to the soul appetites, to the intelligence principles.
To receive the impressions of forms by means of appearances belongs even to animals ; to be pulled by the strings 3 of desire belongs both to 1 {nrofiv^/xaTa : or memoranda, notes, and the like. See i. 17. 8 Compare Pronto, ii. 9 ; a letter of Marcus to Fronto, who was then consul : *' Feci tamen mihi per hos dies excerpta ex libris sexaginta in quinque tomis. But he says some of them were small books. 3 Compare Plato, De Legibus, i. p. 644, &ri ravra t& vddri etc. j and Antoninus, ii. 2 ; vii. 3 ; xii. 19.
p. 125wild beasts and to men who have made themselves into women, and to a Phalaris and a Nero: and to have the intelligence that guides to the things which appear suitable belongs also to those who do not believe in the gods, and who betray their country, and do their impure deeds when they have shut the doors.
If then everything else is common to all that I have mentioned, there remains that which is peculiar to the good man^Jto be pleased and content with what happens, and with the thread which is spun for him ; and not to defile the divinity which is planted in his breast, nor disturb it by a crowd of images, but to preserve it tranquil, following it obediently as a godJ neither saying anything contrary to the truth, nor doing anything contrary to justice.
And if all men refuse to believe that he lives a simple, modest, and contented life, he is neither angry with any of them, nor does he deviate from the way which leads to the end of life, to which a man ought to come pure, tranquil, ready to depart, and without any compulsion perfectly reconciled to his lot.
MABCUS AURELIUS ANTONINUS. 123 gentleness, manliness, truth, fidelity, simplicity, contentment, and the rest. Wherefore, on every occasion a man should say : This comes from god ; and this is according to the apportionment f and spinning of the thread of destiny, and such-like coincidence and chance ; and this is from one of the same stock, and a kinsman and partner, one who knows not, however, what is according to his nature. But I know; for this reason I behave towards him according to the natural law of fellowship with benevolence and justice. At the same time, however, in things indifferent 1 1 attempt to ascertain the value of each. 12. If you work at that which is before you, following right reason seriously, vigorously, calmly, without allowing anything else to distract you, but keeping your divine part pure, as if you should be bound to give it back immediately ; if you hold to this, expecting nothing, fearing nothing, but satisfied with your present activity according to nature, and with heroic truth in every word and sound which you utterest, you will live happy. And there is no man who is able to prevent this. 13. As physicians have always their instruments and knives ready for cases which suddenly require their skill, so do you have principles ready for the understanding of things divine and human, and for 1 Est et horam quae media appellamus grande discrimen. — Beneca, Ep. 82.
124 MEDITA TIONS. doing everything, even the smallest, with a recollection of the bond which unites the divine and human to one another. For neither will you do anything well which pertains to man without at the same time having a reference to things divine ; nor the contrary. 14. No longer wander at hazard ; for neither will you read your own memoirs,1 nor the acts of the ancient Romans and Hellenes, and the selections from books which you were reserving for your old age. 2 Hasten then to the end which you have before you, and, throwing away idle hopes, come to your own aid, if you carest at all for yourself, while it is in your power. 15. They know not how many things are signified by the words stealing, sowing, buying, keeping quiet, seeing what ought to be done ; for this is not effected by the eyes, but by another kind of vision. 16. Body, soul, intelligence : to the body belong sensations, to the soul appetites, to the intelligence principles. To receive the impressions of forms by means of appearances belongs even to animals ; to be pulled by the strings 3 of desire belongs both to 1 {nrofiv^/xaTa : or memoranda, notes, and the like. See i. 17. 8 Compare Pronto, ii. 9 ; a letter of Marcus to Fronto, who was then consul : *' Feci tamen mihi per hos dies excerpta ex libris sexaginta in quinque tomis." But he says some of them were small books. 3 Compare Plato, De Legibus, i. p. 644, &ri ravra t& vddri etc. j and Antoninus, ii. 2 ; vii. 3 ; xii. 19.
MABCUS AURELIUS ANTONINUS. 125 wild beasts and to men who have made themselves into women, and to a Phalaris and a Nero: and to have the intelligence that guides to the things which appear suitable belongs also to those who do not believe in the gods, and who betray their country, and do their impure deeds when they have shut the doors.
If then everything else is common to all that I have mentioned, there remains that which is peculiar to the good man^Jto be pleased and content with what happens, and with the thread which is spun for him ; and not to defile the divinity which is planted in his breast, nor disturb it by a crowd of images, but to preserve it tranquil, following it obediently as a godJ neither saying anything contrary to the truth, nor doing anything contrary to justice.
And if all men refuse to believe that he lives a simple, modest, and contented life, he is neither angry with any of them, nor does he deviate from the way which leads to the end of life, to which a man ought to come pure, tranquil, ready to depart, and without any compulsion perfectly reconciled to his lot.
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