(podcast episode) (original Greek part 1, part 2)
Tuesday, 30 April 2019
Meditations 06.44
If the gods have determined about me and about the things which must happen to me, they have determined well, for it is not easy even to imagine a deity without forethought; and as to doing me harm, why should they have any desire towards that? For what advantage would result to them from this or to the whole, which is the special object of their providence? But if they have not determined about me individually, they have certainly determined about the whole at least, and the things which happen by way of sequence in this general arrangement I ought to accept with pleasure and to be content with them. But if they determine about nothing- which it is wicked to believe, or if we do believe it, let us neither sacrifice nor pray nor swear by them nor do anything else which we do as if the gods were present and lived with us- but if however the gods determine about none of the things which concern us, I am able to determine about myself, and I can inquire about that which is useful; and that is useful to every man which is conformable to his own constitution and nature. But my nature is rational and social; and my city and country, so far as I am Antoninus, is Rome, but so far as I am a man, it is the world.
Monday, 29 April 2019
Meditations 06.43
Does the sun undertake to do the work of the rain, or Aesculapius the work of the Fruit-bearer (the earth)? And how is it with respect to each of the stars, are they not different and yet they work together to the same end?
(podcast episode) (original Greek)
Sunday, 28 April 2019
Meditations 06.42
We are all working together to one end, some with knowledge and design, and others without knowing what they do; as men also when they are asleep, of whom it is Heraclitus, I think, who says that they are labourers and co-operators in the things which take place in the universe. But men co-operate after different fashions: and even those co-operate abundantly, who find fault with what happens and those who try to oppose it and to hinder it; for the universe had need even of such men as these. It remains then for thee to understand among what kind of workmen thou placest thyself; for he who rules all things will certainly make a right use of thee, and he will receive thee among some part of the co-operators and of those whose labours conduce to one end. But be not thou such a part as the mean and ridiculous verse in the play, which Chrysippus speaks of.
(podcast episode) (original Greek)
Saturday, 27 April 2019
Meditations 06.41
Whatever of the things which are not within thy power thou shalt suppose to be good for thee or evil, it must of necessity be that, if such a bad thing befall thee or the loss of such a good thing, thou wilt blame the gods, and hate men too, those who are the cause of the misfortune or the loss, or those who are suspected of being likely to be the cause; and indeed we do much injustice, because we make a difference between these things. But if we judge only those things which are in our power to be good or bad, there remains no reason either for finding fault with God or standing in a hostile attitude to man.
(podcast episode) (original Greek)
Friday, 26 April 2019
Meditations 06.40
Every
instrument, tool, vessel, if it does that for which it has been made,
is well, and yet he who made it is not there. But in the things which
are held together by nature there is within and there abides in them
the power which made them; wherefore the more is it fit to reverence
this power, and to think, that, if thou dost live and act according
to its will, everything in thee is in conformity to intelligence. And
thus also in the universe the things which belong to it are in
conformity to intelligence.
(podcast episode) (original Greek)
Thursday, 25 April 2019
Meditations 06.39
Adapt
thyself to the things with which thy lot has been cast: and the men
among whom thou hast received thy portion, love them, but do it
truly, sincerely.
(podcast episode) (original Greek)
Wednesday, 24 April 2019
Meditations 06.38
Frequently
consider the connexion of all things in the universe and their
relation to one another. For in a manner all things are implicated
with one another, and all in this way are friendly to one another;
for one thing comes in order after another, and this is by virtue of
the active movement and mutual conspiration and the unity of the
substance.
(podcast episode) (original Greek)
Tuesday, 23 April 2019
Meditations 06.37
He
who has seen present things has seen all, both everything which has
taken place from all eternity and everything which will be for time
without end; for all things are of one kin and of one form.
(podcast episode) (original Greek)
Monday, 22 April 2019
Meditations 06.36
Asia,
Europe are corners of the universe: all the sea a drop in the
universe; Athos a little clod of the universe: all the present time
is a point in eternity. All things are little, changeable,
perishable. All things come from thence, from that universal ruling
power either directly proceeding or by way of sequence. And
accordingly the lion's gaping jaws, and that which is poisonous, and
every harmful thing, as a thorn, as mud, are after-products of the
grand and beautiful. Do not then imagine that they are of another
kind from that which thou dost venerate, but form a just opinion of
the source of all.
(podcast episode) (original Greek)
Sunday, 21 April 2019
Meditations 06.35
Dost
thou not see how the handicraftsmen accommodate themselves up to a
certain point to those who are not skilled in their craft-
nevertheless they cling to the reason (the principles) of their art
and do not endure to depart from it? Is it not strange if the
architect and the physician shall have more respect to the reason
(the principles) of their own arts than man to his own reason, which
is common to him and the gods?
(podcast episode) (original Greek)
Saturday, 20 April 2019
Meditations 06.34
How
many pleasures have been enjoyed by robbers, patricides, tyrants.
(podcast episode) (original Greek)
Friday, 19 April 2019
Meditations 06.33
Neither
the labour which the hand does nor that of the foot is contrary to
nature, so long as the foot does the foot's work and the hand the
hand's. So then neither to a man as a man is his labour contrary to
nature, so long as it does the things of a man. But if the labour is
not contrary to his nature, neither is it an evil to him.
(podcast episode) (original Greek)
Wednesday, 17 April 2019
Meditations 06.32
I
consist of a little body and a soul. Now to this little body all
things are indifferent, for it is not able to perceive differences.
But to the understanding those things only are indifferent, which are
not the works of its own activity. But whatever things are the works
of its own activity, all these are in its power. And of these however
only those which are done with reference to the present; for as to
the future and the past activities of the mind, even these are for
the present indifferent.
(podcast episode) (original Greek)
Tuesday, 16 April 2019
Meditations 06.31
Return
to thy sober senses and call thyself back; and when thou hast roused
thyself from sleep and hast perceived that they were only dreams
which troubled thee, now in thy waking hours look at these (the
things about thee) as thou didst look at those (the dreams).
(podcast episode) (original Greek)
Monday, 15 April 2019
Meditations 06.30
Take
care that thou art not made into a Caesar, that thou art not dyed
with this dye; for such things happen. Keep thyself then simple,
good, pure, serious, free from affectation, a friend of justice, a
worshipper of the gods, kind, affectionate, strenuous in all proper
acts. Strive to continue to be such as philosophy wished to make
thee. Reverence the gods, and help men. Short is life. There is only
one fruit of this terrene life, a pious disposition and social acts.
Do everything as a disciple of Antoninus. Remember his constancy in
every act which was conformable to reason, and his evenness in all
things, and his piety, and the serenity of his countenance, and his
sweetness, and his disregard of empty fame, and his efforts to
understand things; and how he would never let anything pass without
having first most carefully examined it and clearly understood it;
and how he bore with those who blamed him unjustly without blaming
them in return; how he did nothing in a hurry; and how he listened
not to calumnies, and how exact an examiner of manners and actions he
was; and not given to reproach people, nor timid, nor suspicious, nor
a sophist; and with how little he was satisfied, such as lodging,
bed, dress, food, servants; and how laborious and patient; and how he
was able on account of his sparing diet to hold out to the evening,
not even requiring to relieve himself by any evacuations except at
the usual hour; and his firmness and uniformity in his friendships;
and how he tolerated freedom of speech in those who opposed his
opinions; and the pleasure that he had when any man showed him
anything better; and how religious he was without superstition.
Imitate all this that thou mayest have as good a conscience, when thy
last hour comes, as he had.
(podcast episode) (original Greek part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4)
Sunday, 14 April 2019
Meditations 06.29
It
is a shame for the soul to be first to give way in this life, when
thy body does not give way.
(podcast episode) (original Greek)
Saturday, 13 April 2019
Meditations 06.28
Death
is a cessation of the impressions through the senses, and of the
pulling of the strings which move the appetites, and of the
discursive movements of the thoughts, and of the service to the
flesh.
(podcast episode) (original Greek)
Friday, 12 April 2019
Meditations 06.27
How
cruel it is not to allow men to strive after the things which appear
to them to be suitable to their nature and profitable! And yet in a
manner thou dost not allow them to do this, when thou art vexed
because they do wrong. For they are certainly moved towards things
because they suppose them to be suitable to their nature and
profitable to them.- But it is not so.- Teach them then, and show
them without being angry.
(podcast episode) (original Greek)
Thursday, 11 April 2019
Meditations 06.26
If
any man should propose to thee the question, how the name Antoninus
is written, wouldst thou with a straining of the voice utter each
letter? What then if they grow angry, wilt thou be angry too? Wilt
thou not go on with composure and number every letter? just so then
in this life also remember that every duty is made up of certain
parts. These it is thy duty to observe and without being disturbed or
showing anger towards those who are angry with thee to go on thy way
and finish that which is set before thee.
(podcast episode) (original Greek)
Wednesday, 10 April 2019
Meditations 06.25
Consider
how many things in the same indivisible time take place in each of
us, things which concern the body and things which concern the soul:
and so thou wilt not wonder if many more things, or rather all things
which come into existence in that which is the one and all, which we
call Cosmos, exist in it at the same time.
(podcast episode) (original Greek)
Tuesday, 9 April 2019
Meditations 06.24
Alexander
the Macedonian and his groom by death were brought to the same state;
for either they were received among the same seminal principles of
the universe, or they were alike dispersed among the atoms.
(podcast episode) (original Greek)
Monday, 8 April 2019
Meditations 06.23
As
to the animals which have no reason and generally all things and
objects, do thou, since thou hast reason and they have none, make use
of them with a generous and liberal spirit. But towards human beings,
as they have reason, behave in a social spirit. And on all occasions
call on the gods, and do not perplex thyself about the length of time
in which thou shalt do this; for even three hours so spent are
sufficient.
(podcast episode) (original Greek)
Sunday, 7 April 2019
Meditations 06.22
I
do my duty: other things trouble me not; for they are either things
without life, or things without reason, or things that have rambled
and know not the way.
(podcast episode) (original Greek)
Saturday, 6 April 2019
Meditations 06.21
If
any man is able to convince me and show me that I do not think or act
right, I will gladly change; for I seek the truth by which no man was
ever injured. But he is injured who abides in his error and
ignorance.
(podcast episode) (original Greek)
Friday, 5 April 2019
Meditations 06.20
In
the gymnastic exercises suppose that a man has torn thee with his
nails, and by dashing against thy head has inflicted a wound. Well,
we neither show any signs of vexation, nor are we offended, nor do we
suspect him afterwards as a treacherous fellow; and yet we are on our
guard against him, not however as an enemy, nor yet with suspicion,
but we quietly get out of his way. Something like this let thy
behaviour be in all the other parts of life; let us overlook many
things in those who are like antagonists in the gymnasium. For it is
in our power, as I said, to get out of the way, and to have no
suspicion nor hatred.
(podcast episode) (original Greek)
Thursday, 4 April 2019
Meditations 06.19
If
a thing is difficult to be accomplished by thyself, do not think that
it is impossible for man: but if anything is possible for man and
conformable to his nature, think that this can be attained by thyself
too.
(podcast episode) (original Greek)
Wednesday, 3 April 2019
Meditations 06.18
How
strangely men act. They will not praise those who are living at the
same time and living with themselves; but to be themselves praised by
posterity, by those whom they have never seen or ever will see, this
they set much value on. But this is very much the same as if thou
shouldst be grieved because those who have lived before thee did not
praise thee.
(podcast episode) (original Greek)
Tuesday, 2 April 2019
Meditations 06.17
Above,
below, all around are the movements of the elements. But the motion
of virtue is in none of these: it is something more divine, and
advancing by a way hardly observed it goes happily on its road.
(podcast episode) (original Greek)
Monday, 1 April 2019
Meditations 06.16
Neither
is transpiration, as in plants, a thing to be valued, nor
respiration, as in domesticated animals and wild beasts, nor the
receiving of impressions by the appearances of things, nor being
moved by desires as puppets by strings, nor assembling in herds, nor
being nourished by food; for this is just like the act of separating
and parting with the useless part of our food. What then is worth
being valued? To be received with clapping of hands? No. Neither must
we value the clapping of tongues, for the praise which comes from the
many is a clapping of tongues. Suppose then that thou hast given up
this worthless thing called fame, what remains that is worth valuing?
This in my opinion, to move thyself and to restrain thyself in
conformity to thy proper constitution, to which end both all
employments and arts lead. For every art aims at this, that the thing
which has been made should be adapted to the work for which it has
been made; and both the vine-planter who looks after the vine, and
the horse-breaker, and he who trains the dog, seek this end. But the
education and the teaching of youth aim at something. In this then is
the value of the education and the teaching. And if this is well,
thou wilt not seek anything else. Wilt thou not cease to value many
other things too? Then thou wilt be neither free, nor sufficient for
thy own happiness, nor without passion. For of necessity thou must be
envious, jealous, and suspicious of those who can take away those
things, and plot against those who have that which is valued by thee.
Of necessity a man must be altogether in a state of perturbation who
wants any of these things; and besides, he must often find fault with
the gods. But to reverence and honour thy own mind will make thee
content with thyself, and in harmony with society, and in agreement
with the gods, that is, praising all that they give and have ordered.
(podcast episode) (original Greek part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5)
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