The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1906 edition. Excerpt: ...only use his nails as weapons of offence, but collide with us and work considerable havoc on our skull. Still we take it all in good part; we bear no malice, nor do we look askance on him, for the rest of his natural life, as an underhand sort of fellow! And yet we are on our guard against him, though not as an enemy, open or suspect; we simply good-humouredly get out of his way.--And so let it be in other spheres of life: let us make many allowances for our fellow-gymnasts; for it rests with us, as I have said, simply to keep out of the way, without either suspicion or hatred. If any one is able to convict me of error in thought 21 or deed, I will gladly change. For I seek after truth, by which man was never yet injured.--The injury lies in remaining constant to self-deception and ignorance. I do my duty. Other things vex me not; for they 22 are either inanimate or irrational, or have strayed from their path and know not whither they go. In making use of irrational life, and material objects 23 in general, be generous and free; for thou hast reason and they have none. But, in thy dealings with man, treat him as befits a member of the same community; for he has reason as well as thou. And, on all occasions, call in the help of Heaven; and take no thought how long or how short a span shall comprehend these acts; for three hours so spent are time enough. Alexander of Macedon and his groom are equals now 24 in death. For both have either been received back into the same generative principle of the universe, or dispersed impartially into the atoms. Think what a multitude of events, corporeal and 25 psychic alike, take place within each of us during the same infinitesimal portion of time; and it will seem to thee no marvel that far more things--nay, ..