Размышления
Book 4
31.Lovethedisciplineyouknow,andletitsupportyou.Entrusteverythingwillinglytothegods,andthenmakeyourwaythroughlife—noone’smasterandnoone’sslave.
32.TheageofVespasian,forexample.Peopledoingtheexactsamethings:marrying,raisingchildren,gettingsick,dying,wagingwar,throwingparties,doingbusiness,farming,flattering,boasting,distrusting,plotting,hopingotherswilldie,complainingabouttheirownlives,fallinginlove,puttingawaymoney,seekinghighofficeandpower.
Andthatlifetheyledisnowheretobefound.
OrtheageofTrajan.Theexactsamethings.Andthatlifetoo—gone.
Surveytherecordsofothereras.Andseehowmanyothersgavetheirallandsoondiedanddecomposedintotheelementsthatformedthem.
Butmostofall,runthroughthelistofthoseyouknewyourself.Thosewhoworkedinvain,whofailedtodowhattheyshouldhave—whattheyshouldhaveremainedfixedonandfoundsatisfactionin.
Akeypointtobearinmind:Thevalueofattentivenessvariesinproportiontoitsobject.You’rebetteroffnotgivingthesmallthingsmoretimethantheydeserve.
33.Wordsonceincommonusenowsoundarchaic.Andthenamesofthefamousdeadaswell:Camillus,Caeso,Volesus,Dentatus...ScipioandCato...Augustus...HadrianandAntoninus,and...
Everythingfadessoquickly,turnsintolegend,andsoonoblivioncoversit.
