Book 8

           1.Anotherencouragementtohumility:youcan’tclaimtohavelivedyourlifeasaphilosopher—notevenyourwholeadulthood.Youcanseeforyourselfhowfaryouarefromphilosophy.Andsocanmanyothers.You’retainted.It’snotsoeasynow—tohaveareputationasaphilosopher.Andyourpositionisanobstacleaswell.

           Soyouknowhowthingsstand.Nowforgetwhattheythinkofyou.Besatisfiedifyoucanlivetherestofyourlife,howevershort,asyournaturedemands.Focusonthat,anddon’tletanythingdistractyou.You’vewanderedalloverandfinallyrealizedthatyouneverfoundwhatyouwereafter:howtolive.Notinsyllogisms,notinmoney,orfame,orself-indulgence.Nowhere.

           —Thenwhereisittobefound?

           Indoingwhathumannaturerequires.

           —How?

           Throughfirstprinciples.Whichshouldgovernyourintentionsandyouractions.

           —Whatprinciples?

           Thosetodowithgoodandevil.Thatnothingisgoodexceptwhatleadstofairness,andself-control,andcourage,andfreewill.Andnothingbadexceptwhatdoestheopposite.

           2.Foreveryaction,ask:Howdoesitaffectme?CouldIchangemymindaboutit?

           ButsoonI’llbedead,andtheslate’sempty.Sothisistheonlyquestion:Isittheactionofaresponsiblebeing,partofsociety,andsubjecttothesamedecreesasGod?

           3.AlexanderandCaesarandPompey.