Written 167 A.C.E.
Translated by George Long
Book Four
That which rules within, when it is according to nature, is so affected
with respect to the events which happen, that it always easily adapts
itself to that which is and is presented to it. For it requires no
definite material, but it moves towards its purpose, under certain
conditions however; and it makes a material for itself out of that which
opposes it, as fire lays hold of what falls into it, by which a small
light would have been extinguished: but when the fire is strong, it soon
appropriates to itself the matter which is heaped on it, and consumes it,
and rises higher by means of this very material.
Let no act be done without a purpose, nor otherwise than according to the
perfect principles of art.
Men seek retreats for themselves, houses in the country, sea-shores, and
mountains; and thou too art wont to desire such things very much. But this
is altogether a mark of the most common sort of men, for it is in thy
power whenever thou shalt choose to retire into thyself. For nowhere
either with more quiet or more freedom from trouble does a man retire than
into his own soul, particularly when he has within him such thoughts that
by looking into them he is immediately in perfect tranquility; and I
affirm that tranquility is nothing else than the good ordering of the
mind. Constantly then give to thyself this retreat, and renew thyself; and
let thy principles be brief and fundamental, which, as soon as thou shalt
recur to them, will be sufficient to cleanse the soul completely, and to
send thee back free from all discontent with the things to which thou
returnest. For with what art thou discontented? With the badness of men?
Recall to thy mind this conclusion, that rational animals exist for one
another, and that to endure is a part of justice, and that men do wrong
involuntarily; and consider how many already, after mutual enmity,
suspicion, hatred, and fighting, have been stretched dead, reduced to
ashes; and be quiet at last.- But perhaps thou art dissatisfied with that
which is assigned to thee out of the universe.- Recall to thy recollection
this alternative; either there is providence or atoms, fortuitous
concurrence of things; or remember the arguments by which it has been
proved that the world is a kind of political community, and be quiet at
last.- But perhaps corporeal things will still fasten upon thee.- Consider
then further that the mind mingles not with the breath, whether moving
gently or violently, when it has once drawn itself apart and discovered
its own power, and think also of all that thou hast heard and assented to
about pain and pleasure, and be quiet at last.- But perhaps the desire of
the thing called fame will torment thee.- See how soon everything is
forgotten, and look at the chaos of infinite time on each side of the
present, and the emptiness of applause, and the changeableness and want of
judgement in those who pretend to give praise, and the narrowness of the
space within which it is circumscribed, and be quiet at last. For the
whole earth is a point, and how small a nook in it is this thy dwelling,
and how few are there in it, and what kind of people are they who will
praise thee.
This then remains: Remember to retire into this little territory of thy
own, and above all do not distract or strain thyself, but be free, and
look at things as a man, as a human being, as a citizen, as a mortal. But
among the things readiest to thy hand to which thou shalt turn, let there
be these, which are two. 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. The other is that all these things,
which thou seest, change immediately and will no longer be; and constantly
bear in mind how many of these changes thou hast already witnessed. The
universe is transformation: life is opinion.
If our intellectual part is common, the reason also, in respect of which
we are rational beings, is common: if this is so, common also is the
reason which commands us what to do, and what not to do; if this is so,
there is a common law also; if this is so, we are fellow-citizens; if this
is so, we are members of some political community; if this is so, the
world is in a manner a state. For of what other common political community
will any one say that the whole human race are members? And from thence,
from this common political community comes also our very intellectual
faculty and reasoning faculty and our capacity for law; or whence do they
come? For as my earthly part is a portion given to me from certain earth,
and that which is watery from another element, and that which is hot and
fiery from some peculiar source (for nothing comes out of that which is
nothing, as nothing also returns to non-existence), so also the
intellectual part comes from some source.
Death is such as generation is, a mystery of nature; a composition out of
the same elements, and a decomposition into the same; and altogether not a
thing of which any man should be ashamed, for it is not contrary to the
nature of a reasonable animal, and not contrary to the reason of our
constitution.
It is natural that these things should be done by such persons, it is a
matter of necessity; and if a man will not have it so, he will not allow
the fig-tree to have juice. But by all means bear this in mind, that
within a very short time both thou and he will be dead; and soon not even
your names will be left behind.
Take away thy opinion, and then there is taken away the complaint, "I have
been harmed." Take away the complaint, "I have been harmed," and the harm
is taken away.
That which does not make a man worse than he was, also does not make his
life worse, nor does it harm him either from without or from within.
The nature of that which is universally useful has been compelled to do
this.
Consider that everything which happens, happens justly, and if thou
observest carefully, thou wilt find it to be so. I do not say only with
respect to the continuity of the series of things, but with respect to
what is just, and as if it were done by one who assigns to each thing its
value. Observe then as thou hast begun; and whatever thou doest, do it in
conjunction with this, the being good, and in the sense in which a man is
properly understood to be good. Keep to this in every action.
Do not have such an opinion of things as he has who does thee wrong, or
such as he wishes thee to have, but look at them as they are in truth.
A man should always have these two rules in readiness; the one, to do only
whatever the reason of the ruling and legislating faculty may suggest for
the use of men; the other, to change thy opinion, if there is any one at
hand who sets thee right and moves thee from any opinion. But this change
of opinion must proceed only from a certain persuasion, as of what is just
or of common advantage, and the like, not because it appears pleasant or
brings reputation.
Hast thou reason? I have.- Why then dost not thou use it? For if this does
its own work, what else dost thou wish?
Thou hast existed as a part. Thou shalt disappear in that which produced
thee; but rather thou shalt be received back into its seminal principle by
transmutation.
Many grains of frankincense on the same altar: one falls before, another
falls after; but it makes no difference.
Within ten days thou wilt seem a god to those to whom thou art now a beast
and an ape, if thou wilt return to thy principles and the worship of
reason.
Do not act as if thou wert going to live ten thousand years. Death hangs
over thee. While thou livest, while it is in thy power, be good.
How much trouble he avoids who does not look to see what his neighbour
says or does or thinks, but only to what he does himself, that it may be
just and pure; or as Agathon says, look not round at the depraved morals
of others, but run straight along the line without deviating from it.
He who has a vehement desire for posthumous fame does not consider that
every one of those who remember him will himself also die very soon; then
again also they who have succeeded them, until the whole remembrance shall
have been extinguished as it is transmitted through men who foolishly
admire and perish. But suppose that those who will remember are even
immortal, and that the remembrance will be immortal, what then is this to
thee? And I say not what is it to the dead, but what is it to the living?
What is praise except indeed so far as it has a certain utility? For thou
now rejectest unseasonably the gift of nature, clinging to something
else...
Everything which is in any way beautiful is beautiful in itself, and
terminates in itself, not having praise as part of itself. Neither worse
then nor better is a thing made by being praised. I affirm this also of
the things which are called beautiful by the vulgar, for example, material
things and works of art. That which is really beautiful has no need of
anything; not more than law, not more than truth, not more than
benevolence or modesty. Which of these things is beautiful because it is
praised, or spoiled by being blamed? Is such a thing as an emerald made
worse than it was, if it is not praised? Or gold, ivory, purple, a lyre, a
little knife, a flower, a shrub?
If souls continue to exist, how does the air contain them from eternity?-
But how does the earth contain the bodies of those who have been buried
from time so remote? For as here the mutation of these bodies after a
certain continuance, whatever it may be, and their dissolution make room
for other dead bodies; so the souls which are removed into the air after
subsisting for some time are transmuted and diffused, and assume a fiery
nature by being received into the seminal intelligence of the universe,
and in this way make room for the fresh souls which come to dwell there.
And this is the answer which a man might give on the hypothesis of souls
continuing to exist. But we must not only think of the number of bodies
which are thus buried, but also of the number of animals which are daily
eaten by us and the other animals. For what a number is consumed, and thus
in a manner buried in the bodies of those who feed on them! And
nevertheless this earth receives them by reason of the changes of these
bodies into blood, and the transformations into the aerial or the fiery
element.
What is the investigation into the truth in this matter? The division into
that which is material and that which is the cause of form, the formal.
Do not be whirled about, but in every movement have respect to justice,
and on the occasion of every impression maintain the faculty of
comprehension or understanding.
Everything harmonizes with me, which is harmonious to thee, O Universe.
Nothing for me is too early nor too late, which is in due time for thee.
Everything is fruit to me which thy seasons bring, O Nature: from thee are
all things, in thee are all things, to thee all things return. The poet
says, Dear city of Cecrops; and wilt not thou say, Dear city of Zeus?
Occupy thyself with few things, says the philosopher, if thou wouldst be
tranquil.- But consider if it would not be better to say, Do what is
necessary, and whatever the reason of the animal which is naturally social
requires, and as it requires. For this brings not only the tranquility
which comes from doing well, but also that which comes from doing few
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.
Accordingly on every occasion a man should ask himself, Is this one of the
unnecessary things? Now a man should take away not only unnecessary acts,
but also, unnecessary thoughts, for thus superfluous acts will not follow
after.
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.
Hast thou seen those things? Look also at these. Do not disturb thyself.
Make thyself all simplicity. Does any one do wrong? It is to himself that
he does the wrong. Has anything happened to thee? Well; out of the
universe from the beginning everything which happens has been apportioned
and spun out to thee. In a word, thy life is short. Thou must turn to
profit the present by the aid of reason and justice. Be sober in thy
relaxation.
Either it is a well-arranged universe or a chaos huddled together, but
still a universe. But can a certain order subsist in thee, and disorder in
the All? And this too when all things are so separated and diffused and
sympathetic.
A black character, a womanish character, a stubborn character, bestial,
childish, animal, stupid, counterfeit, scurrilous, fraudulent, tyrannical.
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. He is a
runaway, who flies from social reason; he is blind, who shuts the eyes of
the understanding; he is poor, who has need of another, and has not from
himself all things which are useful for life. He is an abscess on the
universe who withdraws and separates himself from the reason of our common
nature through being displeased with the things which happen, for the same
nature produces this, and has produced thee too: he is a piece rent
asunder from the state, who tears his own soul from that of reasonable
animals, which is one.
The one is a philosopher without a tunic, and the other without a book:
here is another half naked: Bread I have not, he says, and I abide by
reason.- And I do not get the means of living out of my learning, and I
abide by my reason.
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 of any man.
Consider, for example, the times of Vespasian. Thou wilt see all these
things, people marrying, bringing up children, sick, dying, warring,
feasting, trafficking, cultivating the ground, flattering, obstinately
arrogant, suspecting, plotting, wishing for some to die, grumbling about
the present, loving, heaping up treasure, desiring counsulship, kingly
power. Well then, that life of these people no longer exists at all.
Again, remove to the times of Trajan. Again, all is the same. Their life
too is gone. 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. 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. And herein it is
necessary to remember that the attention given to everything has its
proper value and proportion. For thus thou wilt not be dissatisfied, if
thou appliest thyself to smaller matters no further than is fit.
The words which were formerly familiar are now antiquated: so also the
names of those who were famed of old, are now in a manner antiquated,
Camillus, Caeso, Volesus, Leonnatus, and a little after also Scipio and
Cato, then Augustus, then also Hadrian and Antoninus. For all things soon
pass away and become a mere tale, and complete oblivion soon buries them.
And I say this of those who have shone in a wondrous way. For the rest, as
soon as they have breathed out their breath, they are gone, and no man
speaks of them. And, to conclude the matter, what is even an eternal
remembrance? A mere nothing. What then is that about which we ought to
employ our serious pains? 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.
Willingly give thyself up to Clotho, one of the Fates, allowing her to
spin thy thread into whatever things she pleases.
Everything is only for a day, both that which remembers and that which is
remembered.
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. For
everything that exists is in a manner the seed of that which will be. But
thou art thinking only of seeds which are cast into the earth or into a
womb: but this is a very vulgar notion.
Thou wilt soon die, and thou art not yet simple, not 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.
Examine men's ruling principles, even those of the wise, what kind of
things they avoid, and what kind they pursue.
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. Where is it
then? It is in that part of thee in which subsists the power of forming
opinions about evils. Let this power then not form such opinions, and all
is well. And if that which is nearest to it, the poor body, is 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 can happen equally to the bad man and the
good. For that which happens equally to him who lives contrary to nature
and to him who lives according to nature, is neither according to nature
nor contrary to nature.
Constantly regard the universe as one living being, having one substance
and one soul; and observe how all things have reference to one perception,
the perception of this one living being; and how all things act with one
movement; and how all things are the cooperating causes of all things
which exist; observe too the continuous spinning of the thread and the
contexture of the web.
Thou art a little soul bearing about a corpse, as Epictetus used to say.
It is no evil for things to undergo change, and no good for things to
subsist in consequence of change.
Time is like a river made up of the events which happen, and a violent
stream; for as soon as a thing has been seen, it is carried away, and
another comes in its place, and this will be carried away too.
Everything which happens is as familiar and well known as the rose in
spring and the fruit in summer; for such is disease, and death, and
calumny, and treachery, and whatever else delights fools or vexes them.
In the series of things those which follow are always aptly fitted to
those which have gone before; for this series is not like a mere
enumeration of disjointed things, which has only a necessary sequence, but
it is a rational connection: and as all existing things are arranged
together harmoniously, so the things which come into existence exhibit no
mere succession, but a certain wonderful relationship.
Always remember the saying of Heraclitus, that the death of earth is to
become water, and the death of water is to become air, and the death of
air is to become fire, and reversely. And think too of him who forgets
whither the way leads, and that men quarrel with that with which they are
most constantly in communion, the reason which governs the universe; and
the things which daily meet with seem to them strange: and consider that
we ought not to act and speak as if we were asleep, for even in sleep we
seem to act and speak; and that we ought not, like children who learn from
their parents, simply to act and speak as we have been taught.
If any god told thee that thou shalt die to-morrow, or certainly on the
day after to-morrow, thou wouldst not care much whether it was on the
third day or on the morrow, unless thou wast in the highest degree
mean-spirited- for how small is the difference?- So think it no great
thing to die after as many years as thou canst name rather than to-morrow.
Think continually how many physicians are dead after often contracting
their eyebrows over the sick; and how many astrologers after predicting
with great pretensions the deaths of others; and how many philosophers
after endless discourses on death or immortality; how many heroes after
killing thousands; and how many tyrants who have used their power over
men's lives with terrible insolence as if they were immortal; and how many
cities are entirely dead, so to speak, Helice and Pompeii and Herculaneum,
and others innumerable. Add to the reckoning all whom thou hast known, one
after another. One man after burying another has been laid out dead, and
another buries him: and all this in a short time. To conclude, always
observe how ephemeral and worthless human things are, and what was
yesterday a little mucus to-morrow will be a mummy or ashes. Pass then
through this little space of time conformably to nature, and end thy
journey in content, just as an olive falls off when it is ripe, blessing
nature who produced it, and thanking the tree on which it grew.
Be like the promontory against which the waves continually break, but it
stands firm and tames the fury of the water around it.
Unhappy am I because this has happened to me.- Not so, but happy am I,
though this has happened to me, because I continue free from pain, neither
crushed by the present nor fearing the future. For such a thing as this
might have happened to every man; but every man would not have continued
free from pain on such an occasion. Why then is that rather a misfortune
than this a good fortune? And dost thou in all cases call that a man's
misfortune, which is not a deviation from man's nature? And does a thing
seem to thee to be a deviation from man's nature, when it is not contrary
to the will of man's nature? Well, thou knowest the will of nature. Will
then this which has happened prevent thee from being just, magnanimous,
temperate, prudent, secure against inconsiderate opinions and falsehood;
will it prevent thee from having modesty, freedom, and everything else, by
the presence of which man's nature obtains all that is its own? Remember
too on every occasion which leads thee to vexation to apply this
principle: not that this is a misfortune, but that to bear it nobly is
good fortune.
It is a vulgar, but still a useful help towards contempt of death, to pass
in review those who have tenaciously stuck to life. What more then have
they gained than those who have died early? Certainly they lie in their
tombs somewhere at last, Cadicianus, Fabius, Julianus, Lepidus, or any one
else like them, who have carried out many to be buried, and then were
carried out themselves. Altogether the interval is small between birth and
death; and consider with how much trouble, and in company with what sort
of people and in what a feeble body this interval is laboriously passed.
Do not then consider life a thing of any value. For look to the immensity
of time behind thee, and to the time which is before thee, another
boundless space. In this infinity then what is the difference between him
who lives three days and him who lives three generations?
Always run to the short way; and the short way is the natural: accordingly
say and do everything in conformity with the soundest reason. For such a
purpose frees a man from trouble, and warfare, and all artifice and
ostentatious display.