Book Eight

BookEight

Thisreflectionalsotendstotheremovalofthedesireofemptyfame,thatitisnolongerinthypowertohavelivedthewholeofthylife,oratleastthylifefromthyyouthupwards,likeaphilosopher;butbothtomanyothersandtothyselfitisplainthatthouartfarfromphilosophy.Thouhastfallenintodisorderthen,sothatitisnolongereasyfortheetogetthereputationofaphilosopher;andthyplanoflifealsoopposesit.Ifthenthouhasttrulyseenwherethematterlies,throwawaythethought,Howthoushaltseemtoothers,andbecontentifthoushaltlivetherestofthylifeinsuchwiseasthynaturewills.Observethenwhatitwills,andletnothingelsedistractthee;forthouhasthadexperienceofmanywanderingswithouthavingfoundhappinessanywhere,notinsyllogisms,norinwealth,norinreputation,norinenjoyment,noranywhere.Whereisitthen?Indoingwhatman-snaturerequires.Howthenshallamandothis?Ifhehasprinciplesfromwhichcomehisaffectsandhisacts.Whatprinciples?Thosewhichrelatetogoodandbad:thebeliefthatthereisnothinggoodforman,whichdoesnotmakehimjust,temperate,manly,free;andthatthereisnothingbad,whichdoesnotdothecontrarytowhathasbeenmentioned.

Ontheoccasionofeveryactaskthyself,Howisthiswithrespecttome?ShallIrepentofit?AlittletimeandIamdead,andallisgone.WhatmoredoIseek,ifwhatIamnowdoingisworkofanintelligentlivingbeing,andasocialbeing,andonewhoisunderthesamelawwithGod?

AlexanderandGaiusandPompeius,whataretheyincomparisonwithDiogenesandHeraclitusandSocrates?Fortheywereacquaintedwiththings,andtheircauses(forms),andtheirmatter,andtherulingprinciplesofthesemenwerethesame.Butastotheothers,howmanythingshadtheytocarefor,andtohowmanythingsweretheyslaves?

Considerthatmenwilldothesamethingsnevertheless,eventhoughthoushouldstburst.

Thisisthechiefthing:Benotperturbed,forallthingsareaccordingtothenatureoftheuniversal;andinalittletimethouwiltbenobodyandnowhere,likeHadrianandAugustus.Inthenextplacehavingfixedthyeyessteadilyonthybusinesslookatit,andatthesametimerememberingthatitisthydutytobeagoodman,andwhatman-snaturedemands,dothatwithoutturningaside;andspeakasitseemstotheemostjust,onlyletitbewithagooddispositionandwithmodestyandwithouthypocrisy.

Thenatureoftheuniversalhasthisworktodo,toremovetothatplacethethingswhichareinthis,tochangethem,totakethemawayhence,andtocarrythemthere.Allthingsarechange,yetweneednotfearanythingnew.Allthingsarefamiliartous;butthedistributionofthemstillremainsthesame.

Everynatureiscontentedwithitselfwhenitgoesonitswaywell;andarationalnaturegoesonitswaywell,wheninitsthoughtsitassentstonothingfalseoruncertain,andwhenitdirectsitsmovementstosocialactsonly,andwhenitconfinesitsdesiresandaversionstothethingswhichareinitspower,andwhenitissatisfiedwitheverythingthatisassignedtoitbythecommonnature.Forofthiscommonnatureeveryparticularnatureisapart,asthenatureoftheleafisapartofthenatureoftheplant;exceptthatintheplantthenatureoftheleafispartofanaturewhichhasnotperceptionorreason,andissubjecttobeimpeded;butthenatureofmanispartofanaturewhichisnotsubjecttoimpediments,andisintelligentandjust,sinceitgivestoeverythinginequalportionsandaccordingtoitsworth,times,substance,cause(form),activity,andincident.Butexamine,nottodiscoverthatanyonethingcomparedwithanyothersinglethingisequalinallrespects,butbytakingallthepartstogetherofonethingandcomparingthemwithallthepartstogetherofanother.

Thouhastnotleisureorabilitytoread.Butthouhastleisureorabilitytocheckarrogance:thouhastleisuretobesuperiortopleasureandpain:thouhastleisuretobesuperiortoloveoffame,andnottobevexedatstupidandungratefulpeople,nayeventocareforthem.

Letnomananylongerheartheefindingfaultwiththecourtlifeorwiththyown.

Repentanceisakindofself-reproofforhavingneglectedsomethinguseful;butthatwhichisgoodmustbesomethinguseful,andtheperfectgoodmanshouldlookafterit.Butnosuchmanwouldeverrepentofhavingrefusedanysensualpleasure.Pleasurethenisneithergoodnoruseful.

Thisthing,whatisitinitself,initsownconstitution?Whatisitssubstanceandmaterial?Andwhatitscausalnature(orform)?Andwhatisitdoingintheworld?Andhowlongdoesitsubsist?

Whenthourisestfromsleepwithreluctance,rememberthatitisaccordingtothyconstitutionandaccordingtohumannaturetoperformsocialacts,butsleepingiscommonalsotoirrationalanimals.Butthatwhichisaccordingtoeachindividual-snatureisalsomorepeculiarlyitsown,andmoresuitabletoitsnature,andindeedalsomoreagreeable.

Constantlyand,ifitbepossible,ontheoccasionofeveryimpressiononthesoul,applytoittheprinciplesofPhysic,ofEthic,andofDialectic.

Whatevermanthoumeetestwith,immediatelysaytothyself:Whatopinionshasthismanaboutgoodandbad?Forifwithrespecttopleasureandpainandthecausesofeach,andwithrespecttofameandignominy,deathandlife,hehassuchandsuchopinions,itwillseemnothingwonderfulorstrangetome,ifhedoessuchandsuchthings;andIshallbearinmindthatheiscompelledtodoso.

Rememberthatasitisashametobesurprisedifthefig-treeproducesfigs,soitistobesurprisediftheworldproducessuchandsuchthingsofwhichitisproductive;andforthephysicianandthehelmsmanitisashametobesurprised,ifamanhasafever,orifthewindisunfavourable.

Rememberthattochangethyopinionandtofollowhimwhocorrectsthyerrorisasconsistentwithfreedomasitistopersistinthyerror.Foritisthyown,theactivitywhichisexertedaccordingtothyownmovementandjudgement,andindeedaccordingtothyownunderstandingtoo.

Ifathingisinthyownpower,whydostthoudoit?Butifitisinthepowerofanother,whomdostthoublame?Theatoms(chance)orthegods?Botharefoolish.Thoumustblamenobody.Forifthoucanst,correctthatwhichisthecause;butifthoucanstnotdothis,correctatleastthethingitself;butifthoucanstnotdoeventhis,ofwhatuseisittotheetofindfault?Fornothingshouldbedonewithoutapurpose.

Thatwhichhasdiedfallsnotoutoftheuniverse.Ifitstayshere,italsochangeshere,andisdissolvedintoitsproperparts,whichareelementsoftheuniverseandofthyself.Andthesetoochange,andtheymurmurnot.

Everythingexistsforsomeend,ahorse,avine.Whydostthouwonder?Eventhesunwillsay,Iamforsomepurpose,andtherestofthegodswillsaythesame.Forwhatpurposethenartthou?toenjoypleasure?Seeifcommonsenseallowsthis.

Naturehashadregardineverythingnolesstotheendthantothebeginningandthecontinuance,justlikethemanwhothrowsupaball.Whatgoodisitthenfortheballtobethrownup,orharmforittocomedown,oreventohavefallen?Andwhatgoodisittothebubblewhileitholdstogether,orwhatharmwhenitisburst?Thesamemaybesaidofalightalso.

Turnit(thebody)insideout,andseewhatkindofthingitis;andwhenithasgrownold,whatkindofthingitbecomes,andwhenitisdiseased.

Short-livedareboththepraiserandthepraised,andtheremembererandtheremembered:andallthisinanookofthispartoftheworld;andnotevenheredoallagree,no,notanyonewithhimself:andthewholeearthtooisapoint.

Attendtothematterwhichisbeforethee,whetheritisanopinionoranactoraword.

Thousufferestthisjustly:forthouchoosestrathertobecomegoodto-morrowthantobegoodto-day.

AmIdoinganything?Idoitwithreferencetothegoodofmankind.Doesanythinghappentome?Ireceiveitandreferittothegods,andthesourceofallthings,fromwhichallthathappensisderived.

Suchasbathingappearstothee-oil,sweat,dirt,filthywater,allthingsdisgusting-soiseverypartoflifeandeverything.

LucillasawVerusdie,andthenLucilladied.SecundasawMaximusdie,andthenSecundadied.EpitynchanussawDiotimusdie,andEpitynchanusdied.AntoninussawFaustinadie,andthenAntoninusdied.Suchiseverything.CelersawHadriandie,andthenCelerdied.Andthosesharp-wittedmen,eitherseersormeninflatedwithpride,wherearethey?Forinstancethesharp-wittedmen,CharaxandDemetriusthePlatonistandEudaemon,andanyoneelselikethem.Allephemeral,deadlongago.Someindeedhavenotbeenrememberedevenforashorttime,andothershavebecometheheroesoffables,andagainothershavedisappearedevenfromfables.Rememberthisthen,thatthislittlecompound,thyself,musteitherbedissolved,orthypoorbreathmustbeextinguished,orberemovedandplacedelsewhere.

Itissatisfactiontoamantodotheproperworksofaman.Nowitisaproperworkofamantobebenevolenttohisownkind,todespisethemovementsofthesenses,toformajustjudgementofplausibleappearances,andtotakeasurveyofthenatureoftheuniverseandofthethingswhichhappeninit.

Therearethreerelationsbetweentheeandotherthings:theonetothebodywhichsurroundsthee;thesecondtothedivinecausefromwhichallthingscometoall;andthethirdtothosewholivewiththee.

Painiseitheraneviltothebody-thenletthebodysaywhatitthinksofit-ortothesoul;butitisinthepowerofthesoultomaintainitsownserenityandtranquility,andnottothinkthatpainisanevil.Foreveryjudgementandmovementanddesireandaversioniswithin,andnoevilascendssohigh.

Wipeoutthyimaginationsbyoftensayingtothyself:nowitisinmypowertoletnobadnessbeinthissoul,nordesirenoranyperturbationatall;butlookingatallthingsIseewhatistheirnature,andIuseeachaccordingtoitsvalue-Rememberthispowerwhichthouhastfromnature.

Speakbothinthesenateandtoeveryman,whoeverhemaybe,appropriately,notwithanyaffectation:useplaindiscourse.

Augustus-court,wife,daughter,descendants,ancestors,sister,Agrippa,kinsmen,intimates,friends,Areius,Maecenas,physiciansandsacrificingpriests-thewholecourtisdead.Thenturntotherest,notconsideringthedeathofasingleman,butofawholerace,asofthePompeii;andthatwhichisinscribedonthetombs-Thelastofhisrace.Thenconsiderwhattroublethosebeforethemhavehadthattheymightleaveasuccessor;andthen,thatofnecessitysomeonemustbethelast.Againhereconsiderthedeathofawholerace.

Itisthydutytoorderthylifewellineverysingleact;andifeveryactdoesitsduty,asfarasispossible,becontent;andnooneisabletohindertheesothateachactshallnotdoitsduty-Butsomethingexternalwillstandintheway-Nothingwillstandinthewayofthyactingjustlyandsoberlyandconsiderately-Butperhapssomeotheractivepowerwillbehindered-Well,butbyacquiescinginthehindranceandbybeingcontenttotransferthyeffortstothatwhichisallowed,anotheropportunityofactionisimmediatelyputbeforetheeinplaceofthatwhichwashindered,andonewhichwilladaptitselftothisorderingofwhichwearespeaking.

Receivewealthorprosperitywithoutarrogance;andbereadytoletitgo.

Ifthoudidsteverseeahandcutoff,orafoot,orahead,lyinganywhereapartfromtherestofthebody,suchdoesamanmakehimself,asfarashecan,whoisnotcontentwithwhathappens,andseparateshimselffromothers,ordoesanythingunsocial.Supposethatthouhastdetachedthyselffromthenaturalunity-forthouwastmadebynatureapart,butnowthouhastcutthyselfoff-yetherethereisthisbeautifulprovision,thatitisinthypoweragaintounitethyself.Godhasallowedthistonootherpart,afterithasbeenseparatedandcutasunder,tocometogetheragain.Butconsiderthekindnessbywhichhehasdistinguishedman,forhehasputitinhispowernottobeseparatedatallfromtheuniversal;andwhenhehasbeenseparated,hehasallowedhimtoreturnandtobeunitedandtoresumehisplaceasapart.

Asthenatureoftheuniversalhasgiventoeveryrationalbeingalltheotherpowersthatithas,sowehavereceivedfromitthispoweralso.Forastheuniversalnatureconvertsandfixesinitspredestinedplaceeverythingwhichstandsinthewayandopposesit,andmakessuchthingsapartofitself,soalsotherationalanimalisabletomakeeveryhindranceitsownmaterial,andtouseitforsuchpurposesasitmayhavedesigned.

Donotdisturbthyselfbythinkingofthewholeofthylife.Letnotthythoughtsatonceembraceallthevarioustroubleswhichthoumayestexpecttobefallthee:butoneveryoccasionaskthyself,Whatisthereinthiswhichisintolerableandpastbearing?Forthouwiltbeashamedtoconfess.Inthenextplacerememberthatneitherthefuturenorthepastpainsthee,butonlythepresent.Butthisisreducedtoaverylittle,ifthouonlycircumscribestit,andchidestthymind,ifitisunabletoholdoutagainsteventhis.

DoesPantheaorPergamusnowsitbythetombofVerus?DoesChauriasorDiotimussitbythetombofHadrian?Thatwouldberidiculous.Well,supposetheydidsitthere,wouldthedeadbeconsciousofit?Andifthedeadwereconscious,wouldtheybepleased?Andiftheywerepleased,wouldthatmakethemimmortal?Wasitnotintheorderofdestinythatthesepersonstooshouldfirstbecomeoldwomenandoldmenandthendie?Whatthenwouldthosedoaftertheseweredead?Allthisisfoulsmellandbloodinabag.

Ifthoucanstseesharp,lookandjudgewisely,saysthephilosopher.

IntheconstitutionoftherationalanimalIseenovirtuewhichisopposedtojustice;butIseeavirtuewhichisopposedtoloveofpleasure,andthatistemperance.

Ifthoutakestawaythyopinionaboutthatwhichappearstogivetheepain,thouthyselfstandestinperfectsecurity-Whoisthisself?-Thereason-ButIamnotreason-Beitso.Letthenthereasonitselfnottroubleitself.Butifanyotherpartoftheesuffers,letithaveitsownopinionaboutitself.

Hindrancetotheperceptionsofsenseisaneviltotheanimalnature.Hindrancetothemovements(desires)isequallyaneviltotheanimalnature.Andsomethingelsealsoisequallyanimpedimentandaneviltotheconstitutionofplants.Sothenthatwhichisahindrancetotheintelligenceisaneviltotheintelligentnature.Applyallthesethingsthentothyself.Doespainorsensuouspleasureaffectthee?Thesenseswilllooktothat-Hasanyobstacleopposedtheeinthyeffortstowardsanobject?ifindeedthouwastmakingthiseffortabsolutely(unconditionally,orwithoutanyreservation),certainlythisobstacleisaneviltotheeconsideredasarationalanimal.Butifthoutakestintoconsiderationtheusualcourseofthings,thouhastnotyetbeeninjurednorevenimpeded.Thethingshoweverwhicharepropertotheunderstandingnoothermanisusedtoimpede,forneitherfire,noriron,nortyrant,norabuse,touchesitinanyway.Whenithasbeenmadeasphere,itcontinuesasphere.

ItisnotfitthatIshouldgivemyselfpain,forIhaveneverintentionallygivenpaineventoanother.

Differentthingsdelightdifferentpeople.Butitismydelighttokeeptherulingfacultysoundwithoutturningawayeitherfromanymanorfromanyofthethingswhichhappentomen,butlookingatandreceivingallwithwelcomeeyesandusingeverythingaccordingtoitsvalue.

Seethatthousecurethispresenttimetothyself:forthosewhoratherpursueposthumousfamedoconsiderthatthemenofaftertimewillbeexactlysuchasthesewhomtheycannotbearnow;andbotharemortal.Andwhatisitinanywaytotheeifthesemenofaftertimeutterthisorthatsound,orhavethisorthatopinionaboutthee?

Takemeandcastmewherethouwilt;forthereIshallkeepmydivineparttranquil,thatis,content,ifitcanfeelandactconformablytoitsproperconstitution.Isthischangeofplacesufficientreasonwhymysoulshouldbeunhappyandworsethanitwas,depressed,expanded,shrinking,affrighted?Andwhatwiltthoufindwhichissufficientreasonforthis?

Nothingcanhappentoanymanwhichisnotahumanaccident,nortoanoxwhichisnotaccordingtothenatureofanox,nortoavinewhichisnotaccordingtothenatureofavine,nortoastonewhichisnotpropertoastone.Ifthentherehappenstoeachthingbothwhatisusualandnatural,whyshouldstthoucomplain?Forthecommonnaturebringsnothingwhichmaynotbebornebythee.

Ifthouartpainedbyanyexternalthing,itisnotthisthingthatdisturbsthee,butthyownjudgementaboutit.Anditisinthypowertowipeoutthisjudgementnow.Butifanythinginthyowndispositiongivestheepain,whohinderstheefromcorrectingthyopinion?Andevenifthouartpainedbecausethouartnotdoingsomeparticularthingwhichseemstotheetoberight,whydostthounotratheractthancomplain?-Butsomeinsuperableobstacleisintheway?-Donotbegrievedthen,forthecauseofitsnotbeingdonedependsnotonthee-Butitisnotworthwhiletoliveifthiscannotbedone-Takethydeparturethenfromlifecontentedly,justashedieswhoisinfullactivity,andwellpleasedtoowiththethingswhichareobstacles.

Rememberthattherulingfacultyisinvincible,whenself-collecteditissatisfiedwithitself,ifitdoesnothingwhichitdoesnotchoosetodo,evenifitresistfrommereobstinacy.Whatthenwillitbewhenitformsajudgementaboutanythingaidedbyreasonanddeliberately?Thereforethemindwhichisfreefrompassionsisacitadel,formanhasnothingmoresecuretowhichhecanflyfor,refugeandforthefuturebeinexpugnable.Hethenwhohasnotseenthisisanignorantman;buthewhohasseenitanddoesnotflytothisrefugeisunhappy.

Saynothingmoretothyselfthanwhatthefirstappearancesreport.Supposethatithasbeenreportedtotheethatacertainpersonspeaksillofthee.Thishasbeenreported;butthatthouhastbeeninjured,thathasnotbeenreported.Iseethatmychildissick.Idosee;butthatheisindanger,Idonotsee.Thusthenalwaysabidebythefirstappearances,andaddnothingthyselffromwithin,andthennothinghappenstothee.Orratheraddsomething,likeamanwhoknowseverythingthathappensintheworld.

Acucumberisbitter-Throwitaway-Therearebriarsintheroad-Turnasidefromthem-Thisisenough.Donotadd,Andwhyweresuchthingsmadeintheworld?Forthouwiltberidiculedbyamanwhoisacquaintedwithnature,asthouwouldstberidiculedbyacarpenterandshoemakerifthoudidstfindfaultbecausethouseestintheirworkshopshavingsandcuttingsfromthethingswhichtheymake.Andyettheyhaveplacesintowhichtheycanthrowtheseshavingsandcuttings,andtheuniversalnaturehasnoexternalspace;butthewondrouspartofherartisthatthoughshehascircumscribedherself,everythingwithinherwhichappearstodecayandtogrowoldandtobeuselessshechangesintoherself,andagainmakesothernewthingsfromtheseverysame,sothatsherequiresneithersubstancefromwithoutnorwantsaplaceintowhichshemaycastthatwhichdecays.Sheiscontentthenwithherownspace,andherownmatterandherownart.

Neitherinthyactionsbesluggishnorinthyconversationwithoutmethod,norwanderinginthythoughts,norlettherebeinthysoulinwardcontentionnorexternaleffusion,norinlifebesobusyastohavenoleisure.

Supposethatmenkillthee,cuttheeinpieces,cursethee.Whatthencanthesethingsdotopreventthymindfromremainingpure,wise,sober,just?Forinstance,ifamanshouldstandbyalimpidpurespring,andcurseit,thespringneverceasessendinguppotablewater;andifheshouldcastclayintoitorfilth,itwillspeedilydispersethemandwashthemout,andwillnotbeatallpolluted.Howthenshaltthoupossessaperpetualfountainandnotamerewell?Byformingthyselfhourlytofreedomconjoinedwithcontentment,simplicityandmodesty.

Hewhodoesnotknowwhattheworldis,doesnotknowwhereheis.Andhewhodoesnotknowforwhatpurposetheworldexists,doesnotknowwhoheis,norwhattheworldis.Buthewhohasfailedinanyoneofthesethingscouldnotevensayforwhatpurposeheexistshimself.Whatthendostthouthinkofhimwhoavoidsorseeksthepraiseofthosewhoapplaud,ofmenwhoknownoteitherwheretheyareorwhotheyare?

Dostthouwishtobepraisedbyamanwhocurseshimselfthriceeveryhour?Wouldstthouwishtopleaseamanwhodoesnotpleasehimself?Doesamanpleasehimselfwhorepentsofnearlyeverythingthathedoes?

Nolongerletthybreathingonlyactinconcertwiththeairwhichsurroundsthee,butletthyintelligencealsonowbeinharmonywiththeintelligencewhichembracesallthings.Fortheintelligentpowerisnolessdiffusedinallpartsandpervadesallthingsforhimwhoiswillingtodrawittohimthantheaerialpowerforhimwhoisabletorespireit.

Generally,wickednessdoesnoharmatalltotheuniverse;andparticularly,thewickednessofonemandoesnoharmtoanother.Itisonlyharmfultohimwhohasitinhispowertobereleasedfromit,assoonasheshallchoose.

Tomyownfreewillthefreewillofmyneighbourisjustasindifferentashispoorbreathandflesh.Forthoughwearemadeespeciallyforthesakeofoneanother,stilltherulingpowerofeachofushasitsownoffice,forotherwisemyneighbour-swickednesswouldbemyharm,whichGodhasnotwilledinorderthatmyunhappinessmaynotdependonanother.

Thesunappearstobepoureddown,andinalldirectionsindeeditisdiffused,yetitisnoteffused.Forthisdiffusionisextension:AccordinglyitsraysarecalledExtensions[aktines]becausetheyareextended[apotouekteinesthai].Butonemayjudgewhatkindofathingarayis,ifhelooksatthesun-slightpassingthroughanarrowopeningintoadarkenedroom,foritisextendedinarightline,andasitwereisdividedwhenitmeetswithanysolidbodywhichstandsinthewayandinterceptstheairbeyond;buttherethelightremainsfixedanddoesnotglideorfalloff.Suchthenoughttobetheout-pouringanddiffusionoftheunderstanding,anditshouldinnowaybeaneffusion,butanextension,anditshouldmakenoviolentorimpetuouscollisionwiththeobstacleswhichareinitsway;noryetfalldown,butbefixedandenlightenthatwhichreceivesit.Forabodywilldepriveitselfoftheillumination,ifitdoesnotadmitit.

Hewhofearsdeatheitherfearsthelossofsensationoradifferentkindofsensation.Butifthoushalthavenosensation,neitherwiltthoufeelanyharm;andifthoushaltacquireanotherkindofsensation,thouwiltbeadifferentkindoflivingbeingandthouwiltnotceasetolive.

Menexistforthesakeofoneanother.Teachthemthenorbearwiththem.

Inonewayanarrowmoves,inanotherwaythemind.Themindindeed,bothwhenitexercisescautionandwhenitisemployedaboutinquiry,movesstraightonwardnottheless,andtoitsobject.

Enterintoeveryman-srulingfaculty;andalsoleteveryothermanenterintothine.