Размышления
Book 7
And,aboveall,thattheyhaven’treallyhurtyou.Theyhaven’tdiminishedyourabilitytochoose.
23.Naturetakessubstanceandmakesahorse.Likeasculptorwithwax.Andthenmeltsitdownandusesthematerialforatree.Thenforaperson.Thenforsomethingelse.Eachexistingonlybriefly.
Itdoesthecontainernoharmtobeputtogether,andnonetobetakenapart.
24.Angerinthefaceisunnatural.†...†orintheendisputoutforgood,sothatitcan’tberekindled.Trytoconcludeitsunnaturalnessfromthat.(Ifeventheconsciousnessofactingbadlyhasgone,whygoonliving?)
25.Beforelong,nature,whichcontrolsitall,willaltereverythingyouseeanduseitasmaterialforsomethingelse—overandoveragain.Sothattheworldiscontinuallyrenewed.
26.Whenpeopleinjureyou,askyourselfwhatgoodorharmtheythoughtwouldcomeofit.Ifyouunderstandthat,you’llfeelsympathyratherthanoutrageoranger.Yoursenseofgoodandevilmaybethesameastheirs,ornearit,inwhichcaseyouhavetoexcusethem.Oryoursenseofgoodandevilmaydifferfromtheirs.Inwhichcasethey’remisguidedanddeserveyourcompassion.Isthatsohard?
27.Treatwhatyoudon’thaveasnonexistent.Lookatwhatyouhave,thethingsyouvaluemost,andthinkofhowmuchyou’dcravethemifyoudidn’thavethem.Butbecareful.