Meditations — Marcus Aurelius

IV. 1. That which rules within, when it is according to nature, is so affected with respect to the events which happen, that it always easily adapts itself to that which is possible and is presented to it. For it requires no definite material, but it moves towards its purpose, 1 under certain conditions, however ; and it makes a material for itself out of that which opposes it, as fire lays hold of what falls into it, by which a small light would have been extinguished : but when the fire is strong, it soon appropriates to itself the matter which is heaped on it, and consumes it, and rises higher by means of this very material. 2. Let no act be done without a purpose, nor otherwise than according to the perfect principles of art. 3. Men seek retreats for themselves, houses in the country, sea-shores, and mountains ; and you too art wont to desire such things very much. But 1 irpbs t& TjyotfjLeva, literally "towards that which leads." The exact translation is doubtful. See Gataker's note.

MARCUS AURELIUS ANTONINUS. 127 this is altogether a mark of the most common sort of men, for it is in your power whenever you shall choose to retire into yourself. For nowhere either with more quiet or more freedom from trouble does a man retire than into his own soul, particularly when he has within him such thoughts that by looking into them he is immediately in perfect tranquillity ; and I affirm that tranquillity is nothing else than the good ordering of the mind. Constantly then give to yourself this retreat, and renew yourself ; and let your principles be brief and fundamental, which, as soon as you shall recur to them, will be sufficient to cleanse the soul completely, and to send you back free from all discontent with the things to which you returnest. For with what art you discontented? With the badness of men? Recall to your mind this conclusion, that rational animals exist for one another, and that to endure is a part of justice, and that men do wrong involuntarily ; and consider how many already, after mutual enmity, suspicion, hatred, and fighting, have been stretched dead, reduced to ashes ; and be quiet at last. — But perhaps you are dissatisfied with that which is assigned to you out of the universe. — Recall to your recollection this alternative ; either there is providence or atoms [fortuitous concurrence of things] ; or remember the arguments by which it has been proved that the world is a kind of political community [and be quiet at last].

128 MEDITATIONS. — But perhaps corporeal things will still fasten upon you. — Consider then further that the mind mingles not with the breath, whether moving gently or violently, when it has once drawn itself apart and discovered its own power, and think also of all that you have heard and assented to about pain and pleasure [and be quiet at last]. — But perhaps the desire of the thing called fame will torment you. — ■ See how soon everything is forgotten, and look at the chaos of infinite time on each side of [the present], and the emptiness of applause, and the changableness and want of judgment in those who pretend to give praise, and the narrowness of the space within which it is circumscribed [and be quiet at last]. For the whole earth is a point, and how small a nook in it is this your dwelling, and how few are there in it, and what kind of people are they who will praise you. This then remains : Remember to retire into this little territory of your own,1 and above all do not distract or strain yourself, but be free, and look at things as a man, as a human being, as a citizen, as a mortal. But among the things readiest to your hand to which you shall turn, let there be these, which are two. One is that things do not touch the soul, for they are external and remain immovable ; but our perturbations come only from the 1 Tecum habita, norig quam sit tibi curta supellex. — Persins, iv. 52.