Meditation I

Chapter 21

Second, think about what kind of people these people are at the dinner table, in bed, etc.In particular: what pressures their opinions bow to, and what arrogance they do it with.

Third, if a person is doing the right thing, we need not be angry; if they are not doing the right thing, it is either out of ignorance or unconsciousness.For every soul would not be deprived of his truth, but also of the power which nature has bestowed upon him as a virtue towards every man.Therefore, men must suffer when they are accused by others of being dishonest, ungrateful, greedy, and in short evildoers to their neighbors.

Fourthly, consider that you yourself may have made many mistakes, because you are not so different from them; Cowardice, fear of reputation, or similar base motives, keep you from making mistakes.

Fifth, think about it, you don't even know whether what they are doing is right or not, because many things are done in relation to various environmental factors.All in all, each has more to learn before he can make sound judgments about another's behavior.

Sixth, when you are extremely anxious or sad, think about it: human life is only a moment, and after a very short time, we will all return to death.

Seventh, what really makes us restless is not other people's behavior itself, because these behaviors will still be attributed to the ruling principles of these people's thoughts, what really makes us restless is our own thoughts.Then, it is better to clear your own bad perception first, and resolutely abandon your judgment that an action is a deplorable thing, so that your anger will disappear.So how do you get rid of these perceptions?Reflect, the evil deeds of others do not bring you shame.Unless the disgrace is a crime in the simple sense, you must have done much wrong yourself, and become a robber or something.

Eighth, think about it, the anger and annoyance that this behavior brings us is more painful than the behavior itself that brings us anger and annoyance.

Ninth, think about it, a good temperament is unconquerable, and it must be sincere, not a kind of artificial smirk and playful.Because you have to think about it, how would extremely evil people treat you?If you always maintain a kind attitude towards him, and when you can, and calmly correct his mistakes when he is about to hurt you, saying, "My child, don't do this. The reason why we Being selected by nature is for other things. I will definitely not be hurt by you, but you will hurt yourself, my child.” ——should use a gentle tone and use very simple principles to tell him Communicating, and pointing out that even bees would not do such a thing, let alone animals that naturally need to cooperate with each other.When you say this, you must never be equivocal or reproachful in your tone, you should be affectionate and have no bitterness in your heart; Don't seem to be trying to win the praise of the bystanders. If there are other people present, then you should choose to talk when you are alone with him...

Remember these nine rules and consider them a gift from the Muse so that, while you are alive, you can finally be a real human being.However, you should neither flatter people nor find trouble with them, it is anti-social and self-destructive.As you rage, let this truth come to your mind: it is unmanly to be emotional, it is natural and manly to be gentle and meek; a man who possesses these qualities also possesses strength, courage, and spirit, which are not possessed by the impulsive or whiny.For the nearer a man's feelings are to tranquility, the nearer they are to strength.Inner pain is a characteristic of a person's weakness, as is irritability.Because the person who is easily controlled by anger is as vulnerable to self-injury as the person who is prone to inner pain, and is an expression of submission.

If you want, you can also get a tenth gift from the leader of the muses (Apollo), this gift is - it is madness to hope that the bad guys will stop doing evil, because it is impossible to pray.Also, it is unreasonable and tyrannical to expect these people to do bad things only to others and not to you.

Always think of the virtuous

There are four main situations in which you should always be on guard, for they are all departures from your higher faculties, which you should eliminate as soon as you discover them, and in each case, say to yourself: This kind of thinking is unnecessary. and this tendency is destructive to the social union; what you say does not come from what you really think, because, you must consider that if a man does not express what he really thinks, it is the most absurd of all things.And fourthly, if you reproach yourself for anything, it means only one thing: the divine part of yourself, subject and subject to the perishable part, the body and its gross pleasures.

In you there are the air and fire parts which are absorbed into you, and though these elements have an upward inclination by nature, they are still subject to the arrangement of the universe and are controlled in the complex (the human body).In you there are also the earthy and watery parts, which, though their natural tendency is downward, are lifted up and occupy another place than their natural inclination.It is in this manner that all these elements are subject to the universe, and, once they have been placed somewhere, they must remain there unless the universe gives a signal to dissolve.Wouldn't it be strange if only the intellectual part of you would be disobedient or content to be where it belongs?Moreover, there is nothing imposed on it, everything is just what happens according to its nature, and it still refuses to accept it and turns to the opposite.Tendency to injustice, lust, irritability, sadness, and fear are all departures from human nature.Even if the dominant power is dissatisfied, it can only continue to maintain its original position.Because the reason why it was created is for the devotion and respect for the gods, and the degree is no less than the emphasis on justice.And these qualities, included in the grasp of the overall satisfaction of the structure of things, should be more important than justice.

If a person does not have a constant goal in life, then he cannot be consistent throughout his life.This is not enough, unless we add this point, namely: what should be the aim of our life?Moreover, because everyone has different ideas and ways of thinking, there is no consensus on the value recognition of good that is recognized by the vast majority of people. The only thing that can reach a consensus is on issues involving common interests.And we should take common attributes (social) and political goals as our pursuit direction.For if a man directs all his efforts toward this end, there is a unity in all his actions, so that he himself remains the same.

Think country mouse vs. city mouse, think of the panic and terror of the city mouse.

Socrates once called popular opinion a lamia—a monster that frightens children.

When holding public celebrations, the ancient Spartans usually arranged foreigners in shaded seats, where they themselves sat at will.

Socrates explained to Purdix why he was not going, because, he said, I did not want to die under the worst circumstances, that is, that I could not receive favors without being able to return them.

In the writings of the Ephesians there is a maxim: Keep in mind a virtuous man of a bygone age.

The philosophers of the Pythagorean school exhorted us to look up at the sky in the early morning. Doing so can remind us to remember to do consistent things, and to adhere to the same method and attitude when doing things, reminding us to be pure and frank.For there is no evil above the stars.

Think what kind of man Socrates was when Gentibe took away Socrates' coat and covered himself with furs; think of his friends when they saw him so dressed and went away, Socrates said something again.

Before you can make rules for others in writing and reading, you must first learn to obey your own rules.This is especially true in life.

You are a slave and free speech does not belong to you.

I laughed inwardly. 25
They will curse virtue, with harsh words. 26
To look for figs in winter is the act of a madman, like one who looks for his young son when he is no longer allowed. 27
Epictetus once said that when one kisses one's own child, one should say to oneself at the same time: "The child may die tomorrow"—but this is an ominous word. ——Epictetus said: "This is not a bad omen, because it only expresses the activities of nature. If it is a bad omen, then it is also a bad omen to say that the ears of wheat should be harvested." 28
Unripe grapes, ripe grapes, and raisins are all changes, not into nothingness, but into something that does not yet exist. 29
No one can take away our free will. 30
Epictetus also said: A man should find a motto (or rule) that conforms to his own opinion; whatever he does, he should do it according to the specific circumstances, in accordance with the public interest of society, and respect the unified goal and as for sensual desires, we should get rid of them completely; finally, speaking of things we should avoid (abstain from), that is, not to do or to think about anything that is beyond our ability.

That being the case, he said, the debate isn't about mediocrity, it's about whether or not it's crazy.

Socrates said, what do you want?A rational soul or an irrational soul? — A rational soul. —What kind of soul should a rational person have? —Sound or unsound? — sound.So why don't you go after it? —Because I already have a healthy soul. —Why are there still quarrels and quarrels?

20 This is the only passage where the emperor mentions Christians.

21 Mount Ciceron is an important location in Sophocles' Oedipus the King.Oedipus's cry means that he would rather die on Mount Ciceron that day than be doomed to tragedy in the future.

22 Fragments from a play of Euripides.

23 The story is narrated from Horace's Lesson (v. 2, line 6), and is told by others, but not as well.

24 A female monster with a human head and a snake body in Greek mythology who feeds on children. ——Translator's Note
25 Homer's Odyssey, Chapter 9, line 413.

26 Hesiod, Works and Days, line 184.

27 Writings of Epictetus.

28 Writings of Epictetus.

29 Writings of Epictetus.

30 Writings of Epictetus.

(End of this chapter)