Throw away thy books; no longer distract thyself: it is not allowed; but as if thou wast now dying, despise the flesh; it is blood and bones and network, a contexture of nerves, veins, and arteries.
From his personal reflections, urging a focus on the essential self and detachment from physical distractions and the body.
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One is that things do not touch the soul, for they are external and remain immovable; but our perturbations come only from the opinion which is within.
Labor not unwillingly, nor without regard to the common interest, nor without due consideration, nor with distraction; nor let studied ornament set off thy thoughts, and be not either a man of many words, or busy about too many things.
For every judgment and movement and desire and aversion is within, and no evil ascends so high.
But to be strong enough both to bear the one and to be sober in the other is the mark of a man who has a perfect and invincible soul, such as he showed in the illness of Maximus.
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