Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/233

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Meditations, &c.
53

at Home, but wants the Assistance of another. He that frets himself Sore because Things don't happen just as he would have them, is but a sort of an Ulcer of the World; By murmuring at the Course of Nature, he quits the Universal Body, and gains only the Distinction of a Disease. Never considering that the same Cause which produced the displeasing Accident, made him too. And lastly. He that is Selfish, narrow-Soul'd, and sets up for a Separate Interest, is a kind of Voluntary Out-Law, and Disincorporates himself from Mankind.

XXX. This Philosopher has never a Wastcoat to his Coat, t'other ne'er a Book to Read, and a third is half naked, and yet They are none of them discouraged: One Learned Man has nothing for his Stomach, nor Another for his Lectures; However they are resolved to starve on, and be Wise in Despight of Misfortune.

XXXI. Be satisfyed with your Business, and learn to Love what you were Bred too: And as to the Remainder of your Life, be entirely resign'd, and let the Gods do their Pleasure: And when this is done, be neither Slave, nor Tyrant, to any Body.

XXXII. To begin some-where, consider how Business, Humour, and Fortune, went with the World in Vespasian's Time;

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