Размышления

           Thenisn’titbettertodowhat’suptoyou—likeafreeman—thantobepassivelycontrolledbywhatisn’t,likeaslaveorbeggar?Andwhatmakesyouthinkthegodsdon’tcareaboutwhat’suptous?

           Startprayinglikethisandyou’llsee.

           Not"somewaytosleepwithher"—butawaytostopwantingto.

           Not"somewaytogetridofhim"—butawaytostoptrying.

           Not"somewaytosavemychild"—butawaytoloseyourfear.

           Redirectyourprayerslikethat,andwatchwhathappens.

           41.Epicurus:"Duringmyillness,myconversationswerenotaboutmyphysicalstate;Ididnotwastemyvisitors’timewiththingsofthatsort,butwentondiscussingphilosophy,andconcentratedononepointinparticular:howthemindcanparticipateinthesensationsofthebodyandyetmaintainitsserenity,andfocusonitsownwell-being.NordidIletmydoctorsstrutaboutlikegrandees.Iwentonlivingmylifethewayitshouldbelived."

           Likethat.Inillness—oranyothersituation.

           Nottoletgoofphilosophy,nomatterwhathappens;nottobandywordswithcrackpotsandphilistines—goodrulesforanyphilosopher.

           Concentrateonwhatyou’redoing,andwhatyou’redoingitwith.

           42.Whenyourunupagainstsomeoneelse’sshamelessness,askyourselfthis:Isaworldwithoutshamelessnesspossible?

           No.