Размышления

           Becauseourelementsareeithersimplydispersed,oraresubjecttoakindofgravitation—thesolidportionsbeingpulledtowardearth,andwhatisetherealdrawnintotheair,untilthey’reabsorbedintotheuniversallogos—whichissubjecttoperiodicconflagrations,orrenewedthroughcontinualchange.

           Anddon’timagineeitherthatthoseelements—thesolidonesandtheethereal—arewithusfromourbirth.Theirinfluxtookplaceyesterday,orthedaybefore—fromthefoodweate,theairwebreathed.

           Andthat’swhatchanges—notthepersonyourmothergavebirthto.

           —Butifyou’reinextricablylinkedtoitthroughyoursenseofindividuality?

           That’snotwhatwe’retalkingabouthere.

           8.Epithetsforyourself:Upright.Modest.Straightforward.Sane.Cooperative.Disinterested.

           Trynottoexchangethemforothers.

           Andifyoushouldforfeitthem,setaboutgettingthemback.

           Keepinmindthat"sanity"meansunderstandingthings—eachindividualthing—forwhattheyare.Andnotlosingthethread.

           And"cooperation"meansacceptingwhatnatureassignsyou—acceptingitwillingly.

           And"disinterest"meansthattheintelligenceshouldriseabovethemovementsoftheflesh—theroughandthesmoothalike.Shouldriseabovefame,abovedeath,andeverythinglikethem.