Book Six

BookSix

Thesubstanceoftheuniverseisobedientandcompliant;andthereasonwhichgovernsithasinitselfnocausefordoingevil,forithasnomalice,nordoesitdoeviltoanything,norisanythingharmedbyit.Butallthingsaremadeandperfectedaccordingtothisreason.

Letitmakenodifferencetotheewhetherthouartcoldorwarm,ifthouartdoingthyduty;andwhetherthouartdrowsyorsatisfiedwithsleep;andwhetherill-spokenoforpraised;andwhetherdyingordoingsomethingelse.Foritisoneoftheactsoflife,thisactbywhichwedie:itissufficienttheninthisactalsotodowellwhatwehaveinhand.

Lookwithin.Letneitherthepeculiarqualityofanythingnoritsvalueescapethee.

Allexistingthingssoonchange,andtheywilleitherbereducedtovapour,ifindeedallsubstanceisone,ortheywillbedispersed.

Thereasonwhichgovernsknowswhatitsowndispositionis,andwhatitdoes,andonwhatmaterialitworks.

Thebestwayofavengingthyselfisnottobecomelikethewrongdoer.

Takepleasureinonethingandrestinit,inpassingfromonesocialacttoanothersocialact,thinkingofGod.

Therulingprincipleisthatwhichrousesandturnsitself,andwhileitmakesitselfsuchasitisandsuchasitwillstobe,italsomakeseverythingwhichhappensappeartoitselftobesuchasitwills.

Inconformitytothenatureoftheuniverseeverysinglethingisaccomplished,forcertainlyitisnotinconformitytoanyothernaturethateachthingisaccomplished,eitheranaturewhichexternallycomprehendsthis,oranaturewhichiscomprehendedwithinthisnature,oranatureexternalandindependentofthis.

Theuniverseiseitheraconfusion,andamutualinvolutionofthings,andadispersion;oritisunityandorderandprovidence.Ifthenitistheformer,whydoIdesiretotarryinafortuitouscombinationofthingsandsuchadisorder?AndwhydoIcareaboutanythingelsethanhowIshallatlastbecomeearth?AndwhyamIdisturbed,forthedispersionofmyelementswillhappenwhateverIdo.Butiftheothersuppositionistrue,Ivenerate,andIamfirm,andItrustinhimwhogoverns.

Whenthouhastbeencompelledbycircumstancestobedisturbedinamanner,quicklyreturntothyselfanddonotcontinueoutoftunelongerthanthecompulsionlasts;forthouwilthavemoremasteryovertheharmonybycontinuallyrecurringtoit.

Ifthouhadstastep-motherandamotheratthesametime,thouwouldstbedutifultothystep-mother,butstillthouwouldstconstantlyreturntothymother.Letthecourtandphilosophynowbetotheestep-motherandmother:returntophilosophyfrequentlyandreposeinher,throughwhomwhatthoumeetestwithinthecourtappearstotheetolerable,andthouappearesttolerableinthecourt.

Whenwehavemeatbeforeusandsucheatableswereceivetheimpression,thatthisisthedeadbodyofafish,andthisisthedeadbodyofabirdorofapig;andagain,thatthisFalernianisonlyalittlegrapejuice,andthispurplerobesomesheep-swooldyedwiththebloodofashell-fish:suchthenaretheseimpressions,andtheyreachthethingsthemselvesandpenetratethem,andsoweseewhatkindofthingstheyare.Justinthesamewayoughtwetoactallthroughlife,andwheretherearethingswhichappearmostworthyofourapprobation,weoughttolaythembareandlookattheirworthlessnessandstripthemofallthewordsbywhichtheyareexalted.Foroutwardshowisawonderfulperverterofthereason,andwhenthouartmostsurethatthouartemployedaboutthingsworththypains,itisthenthatitcheatstheemost.ConsiderthenwhatCratessaysofXenocrateshimself.

Mostofthethingswhichthemultitudeadmirearereferredtoobjectsofthemostgeneralkind,thosewhichareheldtogetherbycohesionornaturalorganization,suchasstones,wood,fig-trees,vines,olives.Butthosewhichareadmiredbymenwhoarealittlemorereasonablearereferredtothethingswhichareheldtogetherbyalivingprinciple,asflocks,herds.Thosewhichareadmiredbymenwhoarestillmoreinstructedarethethingswhichareheldtogetherbyarationalsoul,nothoweverauniversalsoul,butrationalsofarasitisasoulskilledinsomeart,orexpertinsomeotherway,orsimplyrationalsofarasitpossessesanumberofslaves.Buthewhovaluesrationalsoul,asouluniversalandfittedforpoliticallife,regardsnothingelseexceptthis;andaboveallthingshekeepshissoulinaconditionandinanactivityconformabletoreasonandsociallife,andheco-operatestothisendwiththosewhoareofthesamekindashimself.

Somethingsarehurryingintoexistence,andothersarehurryingoutofit;andofthatwhichiscomingintoexistencepartisalreadyextinguished.Motionsandchangesarecontinuallyrenewingtheworld,justastheuninterruptedcourseoftimeisalwaysrenewingtheinfinitedurationofages.Inthisflowingstreamthen,onwhichthereisnoabiding,whatisthereofthethingswhichhurrybyonwhichamanwouldsetahighprice?Itwouldbejustasifamanshouldfallinlovewithoneofthesparrowswhichflyby,butithasalreadypassedoutofsight.Somethingofthiskindistheverylifeofeveryman,liketheexhalationofthebloodandtherespirationoftheair.Forsuchasitistohaveoncedrawnintheairandtohavegivenitback,whichwedoeverymoment,justthesameisitwiththewholerespiratorypower,whichthoudidstreceiveatthybirthyesterdayandthedaybefore,togiveitbacktotheelementfromwhichthoudidstfirstdrawit.

Neitheristranspiration,asinplants,athingtobevalued,norrespiration,asindomesticatedanimalsandwildbeasts,northereceivingofimpressionsbytheappearancesofthings,norbeingmovedbydesiresaspuppetsbystrings,norassemblinginherds,norbeingnourishedbyfood;forthisisjustliketheactofseparatingandpartingwiththeuselesspartofourfood.Whatthenisworthbeingvalued?Tobereceivedwithclappingofhands?No.Neithermustwevaluetheclappingoftongues,forthepraisewhichcomesfromthemanyisaclappingoftongues.Supposethenthatthouhastgivenupthisworthlessthingcalledfame,whatremainsthatisworthvaluing?Thisinmyopinion,tomovethyselfandtorestrainthyselfinconformitytothyproperconstitution,towhichendbothallemploymentsandartslead.Foreveryartaimsatthis,thatthethingwhichhasbeenmadeshouldbeadaptedtotheworkforwhichithasbeenmade;andboththevine-planterwholooksafterthevine,andthehorse-breaker,andhewhotrainsthedog,seekthisend.Buttheeducationandtheteachingofyouthaimatsomething.Inthisthenisthevalueoftheeducationandtheteaching.Andifthisiswell,thouwiltnotseekanythingelse.Wiltthounotceasetovaluemanyotherthingstoo?Thenthouwiltbeneitherfree,norsufficientforthyownhappiness,norwithoutpassion.Forofnecessitythoumustbeenvious,jealous,andsuspiciousofthosewhocantakeawaythosethings,andplotagainstthosewhohavethatwhichisvaluedbythee.Ofnecessityamanmustbealtogetherinastateofperturbationwhowantsanyofthesethings;andbesides,hemustoftenfindfaultwiththegods.Buttoreverenceandhonourthyownmindwillmaketheecontentwiththyself,andinharmonywithsociety,andinagreementwiththegods,thatis,praisingallthattheygiveandhaveordered.

Above,below,allaroundarethemovementsoftheelements.Butthemotionofvirtueisinnoneofthese:itissomethingmoredivine,andadvancingbyawayhardlyobserveditgoeshappilyonitsroad.

Howstrangelymenact.Theywillnotpraisethosewhoarelivingatthesametimeandlivingwiththemselves;buttobethemselvespraisedbyposterity,bythosewhomtheyhaveneverseenoreverwillsee,thistheysetmuchvalueon.Butthisisverymuchthesameasifthoushouldstbegrievedbecausethosewhohavelivedbeforetheedidnotpraisethee.

Ifathingisdifficulttobeaccomplishedbythyself,donotthinkthatitisimpossibleforman:butifanythingispossibleformanandconformabletohisnature,thinkthatthiscanbeattainedbythyselftoo.

Inthegymnasticexercisessupposethatamanhastorntheewithhisnails,andbydashingagainstthyheadhasinflictedawound.Well,weneithershowanysignsofvexation,norareweoffended,nordowesuspecthimafterwardsasatreacherousfellow;andyetweareonourguardagainsthim,nothoweverasanenemy,noryetwithsuspicion,butwequietlygetoutofhisway.Somethinglikethisletthybehaviourbeinalltheotherpartsoflife;letusoverlookmanythingsinthosewhoarelikeantagonistsinthegymnasium.Foritisinourpower,asIsaid,togetoutoftheway,andtohavenosuspicionnorhatred.

IfanymanisabletoconvincemeandshowmethatIdonotthinkoractright,Iwillgladlychange;forIseekthetruthbywhichnomanwaseverinjured.Butheisinjuredwhoabidesinhiserrorandignorance.

Idomydutytherthingstroublemenot;fortheyareeitherthingswithoutlife,orthingswithoutreason,orthingsthathaverambledandknownottheway.

Astotheanimalswhichhavenoreasonandgenerallyallthingsandobjects,dothou,sincethouhastreasonandtheyhavenone,makeuseofthemwithagenerousandliberalspirit.Buttowardshumanbeings,astheyhavereason,behaveinasocialspirit.Andonalloccasionscallonthegods,anddonotperplexthyselfaboutthelengthoftimeinwhichthoushaltdothis;foreventhreehourssospentaresufficient.

AlexandertheMacedonianandhisgroombydeathwerebroughttothesamestate;foreithertheywerereceivedamongthesameseminalprinciplesoftheuniverse,ortheywerealikedispersedamongtheatoms.

Considerhowmanythingsinthesameindivisibletimetakeplaceineachofus,thingswhichconcernthebodyandthingswhichconcernthesoul:andsothouwiltnotwonderifmanymorethings,orratherallthingswhichcomeintoexistenceinthatwhichistheoneandall,whichwecallCosmos,existinitatthesametime.

Ifanymanshouldproposetotheethequestion,howthenameAntoninusiswritten,wouldstthouwithastrainingofthevoiceuttereachletter?Whattheniftheygrowangry,wiltthoubeangrytoo?Wiltthounotgoonwithcomposureandnumbereveryletter?justsotheninthislifealsorememberthateverydutyismadeupofcertainparts.Theseitisthydutytoobserveandwithoutbeingdisturbedorshowingangertowardsthosewhoareangrywiththeetogoonthywayandfinishthatwhichissetbeforethee.

Howcruelitisnottoallowmentostriveafterthethingswhichappeartothemtobesuitabletotheirnatureandprofitable!Andyetinamannerthoudostnotallowthemtodothis,whenthouartvexedbecausetheydowrong.Fortheyarecertainlymovedtowardsthingsbecausetheysupposethemtobesuitabletotheirnatureandprofitabletothem-Butitisnotso-Teachthemthen,andshowthemwithoutbeingangry.

Deathisacessationoftheimpressionsthroughthesenses,andofthepullingofthestringswhichmovetheappetites,andofthediscursivemovementsofthethoughts,andoftheservicetotheflesh.

Itisashameforthesoultobefirsttogivewayinthislife,whenthybodydoesnotgiveway.

TakecarethatthouartnotmadeintoaCaesar,thatthouartnotdyedwiththisdye;forsuchthingshappen.Keepthyselfthensimple,good,pure,serious,freefromaffectation,afriendofjustice,aworshipperofthegods,kind,affectionate,strenuousinallproperacts.Strivetocontinuetobesuchasphilosophywishedtomakethee.Reverencethegods,andhelpmen.Shortislife.Thereisonlyonefruitofthisterrenelife,apiousdispositionandsocialacts.DoeverythingasadiscipleofAntoninus.Rememberhisconstancyineveryactwhichwasconformabletoreason,andhisevennessinallthings,andhispiety,andtheserenityofhiscountenance,andhissweetness,andhisdisregardofemptyfame,andhiseffortstounderstandthings;andhowhewouldneverletanythingpasswithouthavingfirstmostcarefullyexamineditandclearlyunderstoodit;andhowheborewiththosewhoblamedhimunjustlywithoutblamingtheminreturn;howhedidnothinginahurry;andhowhelistenednottocalumnies,andhowexactanexaminerofmannersandactionshewas;andnotgiventoreproachpeople,nortimid,norsuspicious,norasophist;andwithhowlittlehewassatisfied,suchaslodging,bed,dress,food,servants;andhowlaboriousandpatient;andhowhewasableonaccountofhissparingdiettoholdouttotheevening,notevenrequiringtorelievehimselfbyanyevacuationsexceptattheusualhour;andhisfirmnessanduniformityinhisfriendships;andhowhetoleratedfreedomofspeechinthosewhoopposedhisopinions;andthepleasurethathehadwhenanymanshowedhimanythingbetter;andhowreligioushewaswithoutsuperstition.Imitateallthisthatthoumayesthaveasgoodaconscience,whenthylasthourcomes,ashehad.

Returntothysobersensesandcallthyselfback;andwhenthouhastrousedthyselffromsleepandhastperceivedthattheywereonlydreamswhichtroubledthee,nowinthywakinghourslookatthese(thethingsaboutthee)asthoudidstlookatthose(thedreams).

Iconsistofalittlebodyandasoul.Nowtothislittlebodyallthingsareindifferent,foritisnotabletoperceivedifferences.Buttotheunderstandingthosethingsonlyareindifferent,whicharenottheworksofitsownactivity.Butwhateverthingsaretheworksofitsownactivity,alltheseareinitspower.Andofthesehoweveronlythosewhicharedonewithreferencetothepresent;forastothefutureandthepastactivitiesofthemind,eventheseareforthepresentindifferent.

Neitherthelabourwhichthehanddoesnorthatofthefootiscontrarytonature,solongasthefootdoesthefoot-sworkandthehandthehand-s.Sothenneithertoamanasamanishislabourcontrarytonature,solongasitdoesthethingsofaman.Butifthelabourisnotcontrarytohisnature,neitherisitaneviltohim.

Howmanypleasureshavebeenenjoyedbyrobbers,patricides,tyrants.

Dostthounotseehowthehandicraftsmenaccommodatethemselvesuptoacertainpointtothosewhoarenotskilledintheircraft-neverthelesstheyclingtothereason(theprinciples)oftheirartanddonotenduretodepartfromit?Isitnotstrangeifthearchitectandthephysicianshallhavemorerespecttothereason(theprinciples)oftheirownartsthanmantohisownreason,whichiscommontohimandthegods?

Asia,Europearecornersoftheuniverse:alltheseaadropintheuniverse;Athosalittleclodoftheuniverse:allthepresenttimeisapointineternity.Allthingsarelittle,changeable,perishable.Allthingscomefromthence,fromthatuniversalrulingpowereitherdirectlyproceedingorbywayofsequence.Andaccordinglythelion-sgapingjaws,andthatwhichispoisonous,andeveryharmfulthing,asathorn,asmud,areafter-productsofthegrandandbeautiful.Donotthenimaginethattheyareofanotherkindfromthatwhichthoudostvenerate,butformajustopinionofthesourceofall.

Hewhohasseenpresentthingshasseenall,botheverythingwhichhastakenplacefromalleternityandeverythingwhichwillbefortimewithoutend;forallthingsareofonekinandofoneform.

Frequentlyconsidertheconnexionofallthingsintheuniverseandtheirrelationtooneanother.Forinamannerallthingsareimplicatedwithoneanother,andallinthiswayarefriendlytooneanother;foronethingcomesinorderafteranother,andthisisbyvirtueoftheactivemovementandmutualconspirationandtheunityofthesubstance.

Adaptthyselftothethingswithwhichthylothasbeencast:andthemenamongwhomthouhastreceivedthyportion,lovethem,butdoittruly,sincerely.

Everyinstrument,tool,vessel,ifitdoesthatforwhichithasbeenmade,iswell,andyethewhomadeitisnotthere.Butinthethingswhichareheldtogetherbynaturethereiswithinandthereabidesinthemthepowerwhichmadethem;whereforethemoreisitfittoreverencethispower,andtothink,that,ifthoudostliveandactaccordingtoitswill,everythingintheeisinconformitytointelligence.Andthusalsointheuniversethethingswhichbelongtoitareinconformitytointelligence.

Whateverofthethingswhicharenotwithinthypowerthoushaltsupposetobegoodfortheeorevil,itmustofnecessitybethat,ifsuchabadthingbefalltheeorthelossofsuchagoodthing,thouwiltblamethegods,andhatementoo,thosewhoarethecauseofthemisfortuneortheloss,orthosewhoaresuspectedofbeinglikelytobethecause;andindeedwedomuchinjustice,becausewemakeadifferencebetweenthesethings.Butifwejudgeonlythosethingswhichareinourpowertobegoodorbad,thereremainsnoreasoneitherforfindingfaultwithGodorstandinginahostileattitudetoman.

Weareallworkingtogethertooneend,somewithknowledgeanddesign,andotherswithoutknowingwhattheydo;asmenalsowhentheyareasleep,ofwhomitisHeraclitus,Ithink,whosaysthattheyarelabourersandco-operatorsinthethingswhichtakeplaceintheuniverse.Butmenco-operateafterdifferentfashions:andeventhoseco-operateabundantly,whofindfaultwithwhathappensandthosewhotrytoopposeitandtohinderit;fortheuniversehadneedevenofsuchmenasthese.Itremainsthenfortheetounderstandamongwhatkindofworkmenthouplacestthyself;forhewhorulesallthingswillcertainlymakearightuseofthee,andhewillreceivetheeamongsomepartoftheco-operatorsandofthosewhoselaboursconducetooneend.Butbenotthousuchapartasthemeanandridiculousverseintheplay,whichChrysippusspeaksof.

Doesthesunundertaketodotheworkoftherain,orAesculapiustheworkoftheFruit-bearer(theearth)?Andhowisitwithrespecttoeachofthestars,aretheynotdifferentandyettheyworktogethertothesameend?

Ifthegodshavedeterminedaboutmeandaboutthethingswhichmusthappentome,theyhavedeterminedwell,foritisnoteasyeventoimagineadeitywithoutforethought;andastodoingmeharm,whyshouldtheyhaveanydesiretowardsthat?Forwhatadvantagewouldresulttothemfromthisortothewhole,whichisthespecialobjectoftheirprovidence?Butiftheyhavenotdeterminedaboutmeindividually,theyhavecertainlydeterminedaboutthewholeatleast,andthethingswhichhappenbywayofsequenceinthisgeneralarrangementIoughttoacceptwithpleasureandtobecontentwiththem.Butiftheydetermineaboutnothing-whichitiswickedtobelieve,orifwedobelieveit,letusneithersacrificenorpraynorswearbythemnordoanythingelsewhichwedoasifthegodswerepresentandlivedwithus-butifhoweverthegodsdetermineaboutnoneofthethingswhichconcernus,Iamabletodetermineaboutmyself,andIcaninquireaboutthatwhichisuseful;andthatisusefultoeverymanwhichisconformabletohisownconstitutionandnature.Butmynatureisrationalandsocial;andmycityandcountry,sofarasIamAntoninus,isRome,butsofarasIamaman,itistheworld.Thethingsthenwhichareusefultothesecitiesarealoneusefultome.Whateverhappenstoeveryman,thisisfortheinterestoftheuniversal:thismightbesufficient.Butfurtherthouwiltobservethisalsoasageneraltruth,ifthoudostobserve,thatwhateverisprofitabletoanymanisprofitablealsotoothermen.Butletthewordprofitablebetakenhereinthecommonsenseassaidofthingsofthemiddlekind,neithergoodnorbad.

Asithappenstotheeintheamphitheatreandsuchplaces,thatthecontinualsightofthesamethingsandtheuniformitymakethespectaclewearisome,soitisinthewholeoflife;forallthingsabove,below,arethesameandfromthesame.Howlongthen?

Thinkcontinuallythatallkindsofmenandofallkindsofpursuitsandofallnationsaredead,sothatthythoughtscomedowneventoPhilistionandPhoebusandOriganion.Nowturnthythoughtstotheotherkindsofmen.Tothatplacethenwemustremove,wheretherearesomanygreatorators,andsomanynoblephilosophers,Heraclitus,Pythagoras,Socrates;somanyheroesofformerdays,andsomanygeneralsafterthem,andtyrants;besidesthese,Eudoxus,Hipparchus,Archimedes,andothermenofacutenaturaltalents,greatminds,loversoflabour,versatile,confident,mockersevenoftheperishableandephemerallifeofman,asMenippusandsuchasarelikehim.Astoalltheseconsiderthattheyhavelongbeeninthedust.Whatharmthenisthistothem;andwhattothosewhosenamesarealtogetherunknown?Onethinghereisworthagreatdeal,topassthylifeintruthandjustice,withabenevolentdispositioneventoliarsandunjustmen.

Whenthouwishesttodelightthyself,thinkofthevirtuesofthosewholivewiththee;forinstance,theactivityofone,andthemodestyofanother,andtheliberalityofathird,andsomeothergoodqualityofafourth.Fornothingdelightssomuchastheexamplesofthevirtues,whentheyareexhibitedinthemoralsofthosewholivewithusandpresentthemselvesinabundance,asfarasispossible.Whereforewemustkeepthembeforeus.

Thouartnotdissatisfied,Isuppose,becausethouweighestonlysomanylitraeandnotthreehundred.Benotdissatisfiedthenthatthoumustliveonlysomanyyearsandnotmore;forasthouartsatisfiedwiththeamountofsubstancewhichhasbeenassignedtothee,sobecontentwiththetime.

Letustrytopersuadethem(men).Butactevenagainsttheirwill,whentheprinciplesofjusticeleadthatway.Ifhoweveranymanbyusingforcestandsinthyway,betakethyselftocontentmentandtranquility,andatthesametimeemploythehindrancetowardstheexerciseofsomeothervirtue;andrememberthatthyattemptwaswithareservation,thatthoudidstnotdesiretodoimpossibilities.Whatthendidstthoudesire?-Somesucheffortasthis-Butthouattainestthyobject,ifthethingstowhichthouwastmovedareaccomplished.

Hewholovesfameconsidersanotherman-sactivitytobehisowngood;andhewholovespleasure,hisownsensations;buthewhohasunderstanding,considershisownactstobehisowngood.

Itisinourpowertohavenoopinionaboutathing,andnottobedisturbedinoursoul;forthingsthemselveshavenonaturalpowertoformourjudgements.

Accustomthyselftoattendcarefullytowhatissaidbyanother,andasmuchasitispossible,beinthespeaker-smind.

Thatwhichisnotgoodfortheswarm,neitherisitgoodforthebee.

Ifsailorsabusedthehelmsmanorthesickthedoctor,wouldtheylistentoanybodyelse;orhowcouldthehelmsmansecurethesafetyofthoseintheshiporthedoctorthehealthofthosewhomheattends?

HowmanytogetherwithwhomIcameintotheworldarealreadygoneoutofit.

Tothejaundicedhoneytastesbitter,andtothosebittenbymaddogswatercausesfear;andtolittlechildrentheballisafinething.WhythenamIangry?Dostthouthinkthatafalseopinionhaslesspowerthanthebileinthejaundicedorthepoisoninhimwhoisbittenbyamaddog?

Nomanwillhindertheefromlivingaccordingtothereasonofthyownnature:nothingwillhappentotheecontrarytothereasonoftheuniversalnature.

Whatkindofpeoplearethosewhommenwishtoplease,andforwhatobjects,andbywhatkindofacts?Howsoonwilltimecoverallthings,andhowmanyithascoveredalready.