The Public Record
Now as to a branch, another cuts it off; but a man by his own act separates himself from his neighbor when he hates him and turns away from him, and he does not know that he has at the same time cut himself off from the whole social system.
So too a man when he is separated from another man has fallen off from the whole social community.
A branch cut off from the adjacent branch must of necessity be cut off from the whole tree also.
How plain does it appear that there is not another condition of life so well suited for philosophizing as this in which thou now happenest to be.
At first tragedies were brought on the stage as means of reminding men of the things which happen to them, and that it is according to nature for things to happen so, and that, if you are delighted with what is shown on the stage, you…
And how is this accomplished well except by general principles, some about the nature of the universe, and others about the proper constitution of man?
In all things, then, except virtue and the acts of virtue, remember to apply thyself to their several parts, and by this division to come to value them little: and apply this rule also to thy whole life.
Not as in a dance and in a play and in such like things, where the whole action is incomplete if anything cuts it short; but in every part, and wherever it may be stopped, it makes what has been set before it full and complete, so that it…
These are the properties of the rational soul: it sees itself, analyzes itself, and makes itself such as it chooses; the fruit which it bears itself enjoys--for the fruits of plants and that in animals which corresponds to fruits others…
In contemplating thyself never include the vessel which surrounds thee and these instruments which are attached about it.
Remember that this which pulls the strings is the thing which is hidden within: this is the power of persuasion, this is life, this, if one may so say, is man.
Accustom thyself as much as possible on the occasion of anything being done by any person to inquire with thyself, For what object is this man doing this?
Well, I am separated as from kinsmen, not however dragged resisting, but without compulsion; for this, too, is one of the things according to nature.
Thou wilt consider this, then, when thou art dying, and thou wilt depart more contentedly by reflecting thus: I am going away from such a life, in which even my associates in behalf of whom I have striven so much, prayed, and cared…
And accordingly the healthy understanding ought to be prepared for everything which happens; but that which says, Let my dear children live, and let all men praise whatever I may do, is an eye which seeks for green things, or teeth which…
The healthy eye ought to see all visible things and not to say, I wish for green things; for this is the condition of a diseased eye.
A little time, and thou shalt close thy eyes; and him who has attended thee to thy grave another soon will lament.
But a brief existence is common to all things, and yet thou avoidest and pursuest all things as if they would be eternal.
Leaves, also, are thy children; and leaves, too, are they who cry out as if they were worthy of credit and bestow their praise, or on the contrary curse, or secretly blame and sneer; and leaves, in like manner, are those who shall receive…
To him who is penetrated by true principles even the briefest precept is sufficient, and any common precept, to remind him that he should be free from grief and fear.
Politicians like Marcus Aurelius
