Let the part of thy soul which leads and governs be undisturbed by the movements in the flesh, whether of pleasure or of pain; and let it not unite with them, but let it circumscribe itself and limit those affects to their parts.
Marcus Aurelius instructs the governing part of the soul to remain separate and undisturbed by physical pleasures or pains.
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How small a part of the boundless and unfathomable time is assigned to every man, for it is very soon swallowed up in the eternal!
But intellect in a peculiar manner tends to that which is of the same kin, and combines with it, and the feeling for communion is not interrupted.
What remains, except to enjoy life by joining one good thing to another so as not to leave even the smallest intervals between?
But everything else, whether it is in the power of thy will or not, is only lifeless ashes and smoke.
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