Размышления

           Getamoveon—ifyouhaveitinyou—anddon’tworrywhetheranyonewillgiveyoucreditforit.Anddon’tgoexpectingPlato’sRepublic;besatisfiedwitheventhesmallestprogress,andtreattheoutcomeofitallasunimportant.

           Whocanchangetheirminds?Andwithoutthatchange,whatistherebutgroaning,slavery,apretenseofobedience?GoonandciteAlexander,Philip,DemetriusofPhalerum.Whethertheyknewnature’swillandmadethemselvesitsstudentisforthemtosay.Andiftheypreferredtoplaytheking?Well,nooneforcedmetobetheirunderstudy.

           Thetaskofphilosophyismodestandstraightforward.Don’ttemptmetopresumption.

           30.Toseethemfromabove:thethousandsofanimalherds,therituals,thevoyagesoncalmorstormyseas,thedifferentwayswecomeintotheworld,shareitwithoneanother,andleaveit.Considerthelivesledoncebyothers,longago,thelivestobeledbyothersafteryou,thelivesledevennow,inforeignlands.Howmanypeopledon’tevenknowyourname.Howmanywillsoonhaveforgottenit.Howmanyofferyoupraisenow—andtomorrow,perhaps,contempt.

           Thattoberememberedisworthless.Likefame.Likeeverything.

           31.Indifferencetoexternalevents.

           Andacommitmenttojusticeinyourownacts.

           Whichmeans:thoughtandactionresultinginthecommongood.

           Whatyouwereborntodo.

           32.