Роздуми

           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.