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to have the intelligence that guides to the things which appear suitable
belongs also to those who do not believe in the gods, and who betray
their country, and do their impure deeds when they have shut the doors.
If then everything else is common to all that I have mentioned, there
remains that which is peculiar to the good man, to be pleased and
content with what happens, and with the thread which is spun for him;
and not to defile the divinity which is planted in his breast, nor
disturb it by a crowd of images, but to preserve it tranquil, following
it obediently as a god, neither saying anything contrary to the truth,
nor doing anything contrary to justice. And if all men refuse to believe
that he lives a simple, modest, and contented life, he is neither
angry with any of them, nor does he deviate from the way which leads
to the end of life, to which a man ought to come pure, tranquil, ready
to depart, and without any compulsion perfectly reconciled to his
lot.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 have the intelligence that guides to the things which appear suitable

belongs also to those who do not believe in the gods, and who betray

their country, and do their impure deeds when they have shut the doors.

If then everything else is common to all that I have mentioned, there

remains that which is peculiar to the good man, to be pleased and

content with what happens, and with the thread which is spun for him;

and not to defile the divinity which is planted in his breast, nor

disturb it by a crowd of images, but to preserve it tranquil, following

it obediently as a god, neither saying anything contrary to the truth,

nor doing anything contrary to justice. And if all men refuse to believe

that he lives a simple, modest, and contented life, he is neither

angry with any of them, nor does he deviate from the way which leads

to the end of life, to which a man ought to come pure, tranquil, ready

to depart, and without any compulsion perfectly reconciled to his

lot.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

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