Meditations — Marcus Aurelius
p. 181dance, as far as is possible. Wherefore we must keep them before us. 49. Thou art not dissatisfied, I suppose, because thou weighest only so many litrae and not three hundred. Be not dissatisfied then that thou must live only so many years and not more ; for as thou art satisfied with the amount of substance which has been assigned to thee, so be content with the time. 50. Let us try to persuade them [men].
But act even against their will, when the principles of justice lead that way. If however any man by using force stands in thy way, betake thyself to contentment and tranquillity, and at the same time employ the hindrance towards the exercise of some other virtue ; and remember that thy attempt was with a reservation [conditionally], that thou didst not desire to do impossibilities.
What then didst thou desire ? — Some such effort as this. — But thou attainest thy object, if the things to which thou wast moved are [not] accomplished, f 51. He who loves fame considers another man's activity to be his own good ; and he who loves pleasure, his own sensations; but he who has understanding considers his own acts to be his own good. 52. It is in our power to have no opinion about a thing, and not to be disturbed in our soul ; for p. 182things themselves have no natural power to form our judgments. 53. Accustom thyself to attend carefully to what is said by another, and as much as it is possible, be in the speaker's mind. 54. That which is not good for the swarm, neither is it good for the bee. 55.
If sailors abused the helmsman or the sick the doctor, would they listen to anybody else ; or how could the helmsman secure the safety of those in the ship, or the doctor the health of those whom he attends ? 56. How many together with whom I came into the world are already gone out of it. 57. To the jaundiced honey tastes bitter, and to those bitten by mad dogs water causes fear ; and to little children the ball is a fine thing.
Why then am I angry ? Dost thou think that a false opinion has less power than the bile in the jaundiced or the poison in him who is bitten by a mad dog? 58. 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. 59. What kind of people are those whom men wish to please, and for what objects, and by what kind of acts ? How soon will time cover all things, and how many it has covered already.
VII. 1. What is badness? It is that which thou hast often seen. And on the occasion of everything which happens keep this in mind, that it is that which thou hast often seen. Everywhere up and down thou wilt find the same things, with which the old histories are filled, those of the middle ages and those of our own day ; with which cities and houses are filled now. There is nothing new : all things are both familiar and short-lived. 2.
How can our principles become dead, unless the impressions [thoughts] which correspond to them are extinguished? But it is in thy power continuously to fan these thoughts into a flame. I can have that opinion about anything which I ought to have. If I can, why am I disturbed? 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.
To recover thy life is in thy power. Look at things again as thou didst use to look at them j for in this consists the recovery of thy life.
MABCUS AUBELIUS ANTONINUS. 181 dance, as far as is possible. Wherefore we must keep them before us. 49. You are not dissatisfied, I suppose, because you weighest only so many litrae and not three hundred. Be not dissatisfied then that you must live only so many years and not more ; for as you are satisfied with the amount of substance which has been assigned to you, so be content with the time. 50. Let us try to persuade them [men]. But act even against their will, when the principles of justice lead that way. If however any man by using force stands in your way, betake yourself to contentment and tranquillity, and at the same time employ the hindrance towards the exercise of some other virtue ; and remember that your attempt was with a reservation [conditionally], that you did not desire to do impossibilities. What then did you desire ? — Some such effort as this. — But you attainest your object, if the things to which you were moved are [not] accomplished, f 51. He who loves fame considers another man's activity to be his own good ; and he who loves pleasure, his own sensations; but he who has understanding considers his own acts to be his own good. 52. It is in our power to have no opinion about a thing, and not to be disturbed in our soul ; for 182 MEDITATIONS. things themselves have no natural power to form our judgments. 53. Accustom yourself to attend carefully to what is said by another, and as much as it is possible, be in the speaker's mind. 54. That which is not good for the swarm, neither is it good for the bee. 55. If sailors abused the helmsman or the sick the doctor, would they listen to anybody else ; or how could the helmsman secure the safety of those in the ship, or the doctor the health of those whom he attends ? 56. How many together with whom I came into the world are already gone out of it. 57. To the jaundiced honey tastes bitter, and to those bitten by mad dogs water causes fear ; and to little children the ball is a fine thing. Why then am I angry ? Dost you think that a false opinion has less power than the bile in the jaundiced or the poison in him who is bitten by a mad dog? 58. No man will hinder you from living according to the reason of your own nature : nothing will happen to you contrary to the reason of the universal nature. 59. What kind of people are those whom men wish to please, and for what objects, and by what kind of acts ? How soon will time cover all things, and how many it has covered already.
VII. 1. What is badness? It is that which you have often seen. And on the occasion of everything which happens keep this in mind, that it is that which you have often seen. Everywhere up and down you will find the same things, with which the old histories are filled, those of the middle ages and those of our own day ; with which cities and houses are filled now. There is nothing new : all things are both familiar and short-lived. 2. How can our principles become dead, unless the impressions [thoughts] which correspond to them are extinguished? But it is in your power continuously to fan these thoughts into a flame. I can have that opinion about anything which I ought to have. If I can, why am I disturbed? The things which are external to my mind have no relation at all to my mind. — Let this be the state of your affects, and you stand erect. To recover your life is in your power. Look at things again as you did use to look at them j for in this consists the recovery of your life.
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