Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/227

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Meditations, &c.
47

XIII. Have you any Sense in your Head? Yes : Why don't you make use on't then? For if this Faculty does but do its Part, I can't see what more you need wish for.

XIV. At present your Nature is Distinguish'd, and stands apart ; But e'er long you'l vanish into the Whole: Or if you please you'l be return'd into that Active and Prolifick Reason which gave you your Being. [1]

XV. When Frankincense is thrown upon the Altar, one Grain usually falls before another; but then the Distance of Time is Infignificant. [2]

XVI. The seeming Singularitys of Reason quickly wear off : Do but stick close to the Principles of Wisdom, and Those who take you now for a Monkey, or a Madman, will make a God of you in a Weeks time.

XVII. Don't manage as if you had ten Thousand Years to throw away: Look you; Death stands at your Elbow; make the most of your Minute, and be Good for Something, while 'tis in your Power.

XVIII. What a great deal of Time and Ease that Man gains who is not troubled with the Spirit of Curiosity: Who lets his Neighbours Thoughts and Behaviour alone, confines his Inspections to himself; And takes care of the Points of Honesty

and
  1. The Stoicks suppos'd the Soul a part of the Deity; and that it was absorb'd in him after Death.
  2. This thought is to shew that the difference between a long and short life as we call it, is inconsiderable with respect to Eternity.