Роздуми

           Howmanyareswalloweduplikethat,entombedinthebodiesofthosenourishedbythem,andyetthereisroomforthemall—convertedintofleshandblood,transformedtoairandfire.

           Howisthetruthofthisdetermined?

           Throughanalysis:materialandcause.

           22.Nottobedriventhiswayandthat,butalwaystobehavewithjusticeandseethingsastheyare.

           23.Totheworld:Yourharmonyismine.Whatevertimeyouchooseistherighttime.Notlate,notearly.

           Tonature:Whattheturnofyourseasonsbringsmefallslikeripefruit.Allthingsarebornfromyou,existinyou,returntoyou.

           Thepoetsays"dearcityofCecrops..."Can’tyoubringyourselftosay"ofZeus"?

           24."Ifyouseektranquillity,doless."Or(moreaccurately)dowhat’sessential—whatthelogosofasocialbeingrequires,andintherequisiteway.Whichbringsadoublesatisfaction:todoless,better.

           Becausemostofwhatwesayanddoisnotessential.Ifyoucaneliminateit,you’llhavemoretime,andmoretranquillity.Askyourselfateverymoment,"Isthisnecessary?"

           Butweneedtoeliminateunnecessaryassumptionsaswell.Toeliminatetheunnecessaryactionsthatfollow.

           25.Andthenyoumightseewhatthelifeofthegoodmanislike—someonecontentwithwhatnatureassignshim,andsatisfiedwithbeingjustandkindhimself.

           26.You’veseenthat.Nowlookatthis.