Роздуми

           CATULUS

           Nottoshrugoffafriend’sresentment—evenunjustifiedresentment—buttrytoputthingsright.

           Toshowyourteachersungrudgingrespect(theDomitiusandAthenodotusstory),andyourchildrenunfeignedlove.

           14.[MYBROTHER]SEVERUS

           Tolovemyfamily,truthandjustice.ItwasthroughhimthatIencounteredThrasea,Helvidius,Cato,DionandBrutus,andconceivedofasocietyofequallaws,governedbyequalityofstatusandofspeech,andofrulerswhorespectthelibertyoftheirsubjectsaboveallelse.

           Andfromhimaswell,tobesteadyandconsistentinvaluingphilosophy.

           Andtohelpothersandbeeagertoshare,nottobeapessimist,andnevertodoubtyourfriends’affectionforyou.Andthatwhenpeopleincurredhisdisapproval,theyalwaysknewit.Andthathisfriendsneverhadtospeculateabouthisattitudetoanything:itwasalwaysclear.

           15.MAXIMUS

           Self-controlandresistancetodistractions.

           Optimisminadversity—especiallyillness.

           Apersonalityinbalance:dignityandgracetogether.

           Doingyourjobwithoutwhining.

           Otherpeople’scertaintythatwhathesaidwaswhathethought,andwhathedidwasdonewithoutmalice.

           Nevertakenabackorapprehensive.Neitherrashnorhesitant—orbewildered,orataloss.Notobsequious—butnotaggressiveorparanoideither.