Page:The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus.pdf/102

Desire promises the fulfilment of its object, aversion the reverse; he, therefore, who fails in the former or incurs the latter, is unhappy. If, then, dost confine thy dislike to what lies within thy power, thou canst never be assailed by anything thou dost dread; but if thou fliest disease, or death, or poverty, must, of necessity, prove miserable. Transfer thy aversion, then, from things which do not depend on thee, to those which fall within thy control. Lay desire for the present aside, for if thou dost aim at what is beyond thy power, must needs be wretched. If thou wouldst possess that which is fair and good, 'tis not as yet thy turn to succeed; but whether thou dost pursue what is desirable, or avoid that which is otherwise, conduct thyself with calmness, prudence, and reserve.

As regards things useful or pleasurable, remember what they are, beginning with the least important. Art fond of an earthen vase; 'tis well, but do not despair if it should be broken. Dost love wife or child; recollect that wife and child may die, so that thou mayest not prove miserable?

If about to undertake anything, think beforehand in what it consists. Art going to bathe, bring to mind the occurrences of the bath—the splashing, jostling, abuse, theft. Thoult manage the business better, if thou dost recollect that it was not only to bathe, but also to act aright that thou didst go. And this with regard to other matters; but thou canst not both succeed and quarrel with the course of events.

Men are fretted not so much with what happens, as with their notions thereon. Were death, for instance, terrible, it must have been so to Socrates; but in truth, it is only what we think of it that is terrible. When, therefore, we are accused or troubled, let us not accuse others but ourselves—that is to say, our opinions. The uninstructed, indeed, blame others, when aught assails