Роздуми

           Tobearinmindconstantlythatallofthishashappenedbefore.Andwillhappenagain—thesameplotfrombeginningtoend,theidenticalstaging.Producetheminyourmind,asyouknowthemfromexperienceorfromhistory:thecourtofHadrian,ofAntoninus.ThecourtsofPhilip,Alexander,Croesus.Alljustthesame.Onlythepeopledifferent.

           28.Peoplewhofeelhurtandresentment:picturethemasthepigatthesacrifice,kickingandsquealingalltheway.

           Likethemanaloneinhisbed,silentlyweepingoverthechainsthatbindus.

           Thateverythinghastosubmit.Butonlyrationalbeingscandosovoluntarily.

           29.Stopwhateveryou’redoingforamomentandaskyourself:AmIafraidofdeathbecauseIwon’tbeabletodothisanymore?

           30.Whenfacedwithpeople’sbadbehavior,turnaroundandaskwhenyouhaveactedlikethat.Whenyousawmoneyasagood,orpleasure,orsocialposition.Yourangerwillsubsideassoonasyourecognizethattheyactedundercompulsion(whatelsecouldtheydo?).

           Orremovethecompulsion,ifyoucan.

           31.WhenyoulookatSatyron,seeSocraticus,orEutyches,orHymen.

           WhenyoulookatEuphrates,seeEutychionorSilvanus.

           WithAlciphron,seeTropaeophorus.

           WhenyoulookatXenophon,seeCritoorSeverus.

           Whenyoulookatyourself,seeanyoftheemperors.

           Andthesamewitheveryoneelse.