第3章

Does it pass by you? Don't stop it.Is it not yet come? Don't stretch your desire towards it, but wait till it reaches you.Do this with regard to children, to a wife, to public posts, to riches, and you will eventually be a worthy partner of the feasts of the gods.And if you don't even take the things which are set before you, but are able even to reject them, then you will not only be a partner at the feasts of the gods, but also of their empire.For, by doing this, Diogenes, Heraclitus and others like them, deservedly became, and were called, divine.16.When you see anyone weeping in grief because his son has gone abroad, or is dead, or because he has suffered in his affairs, be careful that the appearance may not misdirect you.Instead, distinguish within your own mind, and be prepared to say, "It's not the accident that distresses this person., because it doesn't distress another person; it is the judgment which he makes about it." As far as words go, however, don't reduce yourself to his level, and certainly do not moan with him.Do not moan inwardly either.17.Remember that you are an actor in a drama, of such a kind as the author pleases to make it.If short, of a short one; if long, of a long one.If it is his pleasure you should act a poor man, a cripple, a governor, or a private person, see that you act it naturally.For this is your business, to act well the character assigned you; to choose it is another's.18.When a raven happens to croak unluckily, don't allow the appearance hurry you away with it, but immediately make the distinction to yourself, and say, "None of these things are foretold to me; but either to my paltry body, or property, or reputation, or children, or wife.But to me all omens are lucky, if I will.For whichever of these things happens, it is in my control to derive advantage from it." 19.You may be unconquerable, if you enter into no combat in which it is not in your own control to conquer.When, therefore, you see anyone eminent in honors, or power, or in high esteem on any other account, take heed not to be hurried away with the appearance, and to pronounce him happy;for, if the essence of good consists in things in our own control, there will be no room for envy or emulation.But, for your part, don't wish to be a general, or a senator, or a consul, but to be free; and the only way to this is a contempt of things not in our own control.20.Remember, that not he who gives ill language or a blow insults, but the principle which represents these things as insulting.When, therefore, anyone provokes you, be assured that it is your own opinion which provokes you.Try, therefore, in the first place, not to be hurried away with the appearance.For if you once gain time and respite, you will more easily command yourself.21.Let death and exile, and all other things which appear terrible be daily before your eyes, but chiefly death, and you win never entertain any abject thought, nor too eagerly covet anything.22.If you have an earnest desire of attaining to philosophy, prepare yourself from the very first to be laughed at, to be sneered by the multitude, to hear them say,." He is returned to us a philosopher all at once," and " Whence this supercilious look?" Now, for your part, don't have a supercilious look indeed; but keep steadily to those things which appear best to you as one appointed by God to this station.For remember that, if you adhere to the same point, those very persons who at first ridiculed will afterwards admire you.But if you are conquered by them, you will incur a double ridicule.23.If you ever happen to turn your attention to externals, so as to wish to please anyone, be assured that you have ruined your scheme of life.

Be contented, then, in everything with being a philosopher; and, if you wish to be thought so likewise by anyone, appear so to yourself, and it will suffice you.24.Don't allow such considerations as these distress you."I will live in dishonor, and be nobody anywhere." For, if dishonor is an evil, you can no more be involved in any evil by the means of another, than be engaged in anything base.Is it any business of yours, then, to get power, or to be admitted to an entertainment? By no means.How, then, after all, is this a dishonor? And how is it true that you will be nobody anywhere, when you ought to be somebody in those things only which are in your own control, in which you may be of the greatest consequence? "But my friends will be unassisted." -- What do you mean by unassisted? They will not have money from you, nor will you make them Roman citizens.Who told you, then, that these are among the things in our own control, and not the affair of others?