Размышления
Book 1
Nottowritetreatisesonabstractquestions,ordelivermoralizinglittlesermons,orcomposeimaginarydescriptionsofTheSimpleLifeorTheManWhoLivesOnlyforOthers.Tosteerclearoforatory,poetryandbelleslettres.
Nottodressupjusttostrollaroundthehouse,orthingslikethat.Towritestraightforwardletters(liketheonehesentmymotherfromSinuessa).Andtobehaveinaconciliatorywaywhenpeoplewhohaveangeredorannoyeduswanttomakeup.
Toreadattentively—nottobesatisfiedwith"justgettingthegistofit."Andnottofallforeverysmoothtalker.
AndforintroducingmetoEpictetus’slectures—andloaningmehisowncopy.
8.APOLLONIUS
Independenceandunvaryingreliability,andtopayattentiontonothing,nomatterhowfleetingly,exceptthelogos.Andtobethesameinallcircumstances—intensepain,thelossofachild,chronicillness.Andtoseeclearly,fromhisexample,thatamancanshowbothstrengthandflexibility.
Hispatienceinteaching.Andtohaveseensomeonewhoclearlyviewedhisexpertiseandabilityasateacherasthehumblestofvirtues.
Andtohavelearnedhowtoacceptfavorsfromfriendswithoutlosingyourself-respectorappearingungrateful.
9.SEXTUS
Kindness.
Anexampleoffatherlyauthorityinthehome.Whatitmeanstoliveasnaturerequires.
Gravitywithoutairs.