Роздуми
Book 9
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.
