Historical voices

It is no evil for things to undergo change, and no good for things to subsist in consequence of change.

And if that which is nearest to it, the poor body, is cut, burnt, filled with matter and rottenness, nevertheless let the part which forms opinions about these things be quiet; that is, let it judge that nothing is either bad or good which…

What is evil to thee does not subsist in the ruling principle of another; nor yet in any turning and mutation of thy corporeal covering.

Examine men's ruling principles, even those of the wise, what kind of things they avoid, and what kind they pursue.

Thou wilt soon die, and thou art not yet simple, nor free from perturbations, nor without suspicion of being hurt by external things, nor kindly disposed towards all; nor dost thou yet place wisdom only in acting justly.

For everything that exists is in a manner the seed of that which will be.

Observe constantly that all things take place by change, and accustom thyself to consider that the nature of the universe loves nothing so much as to change the things which are and to make new things like them.

Everything is only for a day, both that which remembers and that which is remembered.

This one thing, thoughts just, and acts social, and words which never lie, and a disposition which gladly accepts all that happens, as necessary, as usual, as flowing from a principle and source of the same kind.

For the rest, as soon as they have breathed out their breath they are gone, and no man speaks of them.

For all things soon pass away and become a mere tale, and complete oblivion soon buries them.

For thus thou wilt not be dissatisfied, if thou appliest thyself to smaller matters no further than is fit.

And herein it is necessary to remember that the attention given to everything has its proper value and proportion.

But chiefly thou shouldst think of those whom thou hast thyself known distracting themselves about idle things, neglecting to do what was in accordance with their proper constitution, and to hold firmly to this and to be content with it.

In like manner view also the other epochs of time and of whole nations, and see how many after great efforts soon fell and were resolved into the elements.

Love the art, poor as it may be, which thou hast learned, and be content with it; and pass through the rest of life like one who has intrusted to the gods with his whole soul all that he has, making thyself neither the tyrant nor the slave…

He is a runaway, who flies from social reason; he is blind, who shuts the eyes of understanding; he is poor, who has need of another, and has not from himself all things which are useful for life.

If he is a stranger to the universe who does not know what is in it, no less is he a stranger who does not know what is going on in it.

Thou must turn to profit the present by the aid of reason and justice.

Well; out of the universe from the beginning everything which happens has been apportioned and spun out to thee.

Try how the life of the good man suits thee, the life of him who is satisfied with his portion out of the whole, and satisfied with his own just acts and benevolent disposition.

Now a man should take away not only unnecessary acts, but also unnecessary thoughts, for thus superfluous acts will not follow after.

Accordingly, on every occasion a man should ask himself, Is this one of the unnecessary things?

For the greatest part of what we say and do being unnecessary, if a man takes this away, he will have more leisure and less uneasiness.