Размышления
Book 2
Whatisdivinedeservesourrespectbecauseitisgood;whatishumandeservesouraffectionbecauseitislikeus.Andourpitytoo,sometimes,foritsinabilitytotellgoodfrombad—asterribleablindnessasthekindthatcan’ttellwhitefromblack.
14.Evenifyou’regoingtolivethreethousandmoreyears,ortentimesthat,remember:youcannotloseanotherlifethantheoneyou’relivingnow,orliveanotheronethantheoneyou’relosing.Thelongestamountstothesameastheshortest.Thepresentisthesameforeveryone;itslossisthesameforeveryone;anditshouldbeclearthatabriefinstantisallthatislost.Foryoucan’tloseeitherthepastorthefuture;howcouldyoulosewhatyoudon’thave?
Remembertwothings:
I.thateverythinghasalwaysbeenthesame,andkeepsrecurring,anditmakesnodifferencewhetheryouseethesamethingsrecurinahundredyearsortwohundred,orinaninfiniteperiod;
II.thatthelongest-livedandthosewhowilldiesoonestlosethesamething.Thepresentisallthattheycangiveup,sincethatisallyouhave,andwhatyoudonothave,youcannotlose.
15."Everythingisjustanimpression."—MonimustheCynic.Andtheresponseisobviousenough.Butthepointisausefulone,ifyoutakeitforwhatit’sworth.
16.Thehumansouldegradesitself:
I.Aboveall,whenitdoesitsbesttobecomeanabscess,akindofdetachedgrowthontheworld.
